Consultant in Community Older Persons Mental Health (OPMH) Psychiatry: Sponsorship Available

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and committed Consultant Psychiatrist in Older Persons Mental Health to join our well established Community Mental Health Team

Base: Taunton area Community Mental Health Teams (with wider Taunton & West Somerset coverage)

Contract Type: Permanent

Contracted Hours: 10 PAs per week 7.5 DCC +2.5 SPA for first 12 months, then 8.5/1.5 split – Part time and job share applicants will be considered

Additional PAs: Additional 1 SPA available for enhanced role Teaching/Research/Management

Working Pattern: This is a 1 in 12 rota operating 5pm to 9am on weekdays; at weekends the rota operates from 9am on Saturday morning to 9am on Monday morning.

Out of Hours/ On Call: There are no compulsory out of hours duties as part of this role and the post holder can opt to join the senior out-of-hours on-call rota subject to availability, please review job description for further information

This is an excellent opportunity to work within a supportive, multidisciplinary environment delivering high quality care to older adults with complex mental health needs and provides the opportunity to work across a varied and rewarding patch, combining urban, rural, and coastal communities.

You will join a friendly, forward thinking service committed to innovation, patient centred care, and supporting consultant wellbeing.

We look forward to receiving your application

Main duties of the job

*Provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health needs of community patients in their community area

*Work closely with the community teams to provide effective multidisciplinary collaborative care: this will include availability for consultation, regularly attending team meetings and providing case discussion and advice at the request of team members and / or team managers.

*Act as Responsible Clinician for community patients subject to a compulsory treatment order under the Mental Health Act; (CTOs)

*Undertake MHA assessments as the Trust Section 12 doctor for patients in their care (including those detained under S136);

*Provide Mental Capacity Act s49 reports for patients in their community area.

*Provide visible and clear clinical leadership to the mental health service both locally and across the Trust.

*Work collaboratively with inpatient staff to ensure smooth transition for patients admitted and discharged from the wards.

*Develop the services around them, in collaboration with management and other team members to continue to improve patient care

*Participate in the local arrangements for peer supervision with consultant colleagues, including case-based discussion.

*Provide mutual cross cover for planned leave with the other medical staff.

*Fulfil the duties agreed in the job plan.

*Comply with all Trust policies.

*Work within the financial and other constraints decided upon by the Trust

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Mental Health Act Approved Clinician / Section 12 approval — or eligible and willing to apply for these.
  • Full GMC registration with a licence to practice
  • Entry on GMC Specialist Register or eligible for entry on Register within 6 months of interview via Specialist Training (CCT) or CESR

Desirable

  • MRCPsych.
  • Accredited for the training of Higher trainees / junior doctors.
  • Further professional qualifications such as MRCP/DGM
  • A Higher degree such as a Masters Degree.

Experience

Essential

  • 3 years supervised training in an appropriate ST4-6 equivalent training programme or equivalent experience in working with older people’s mental health teams (CESR)
  • Significant experience of assessment and management of patients in Older People’s community psychiatry.
  • A clear understanding of mental health and mental capacity legislation and the application of these areas of legislation as they relate to community care.

Desirable

  • Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
  • Formal training or qualifications in leadership or organisational development
  • Experience of service development particularly related to old age psychiatric services

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 17 December 2026

To apply for this job please visit somersetft.tal.net.