Consultant Psychiatrist, Assertive Outreach

Job summary

BHFT is an Advanced Foundation Trust and has an outstanding rating from the CQC. Our staff survey results are one of the best in the country, and we are leaders in digital maturity. We have a mature Quality Improvement approach to innovation and development.

Berkshire Healthcare Trust was also named third best performing NHS non-acute Trust in England in September 2025. In 2021 Berkshire Healthcare was 4th out of the 48 community and mental health trusts for the number of research projects we recruited to and have refreshed our research strategy and are looking for enthusiastic colleagues to develop and implement our research programme.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be working in a new post as the Consultant Psychiatrist for the new AO function across the Reading and Slough localities. They will be expected to case manage a cohort of around 30 patients in each location, giving a total full caseload of 60 for the AO function in Reading and Slough. This is open to review. Those patients will be selected by the place MDT (including input from the AO team members) from the cohort of patients with psychosis as those most requiring an AO approach for their wellbeing and for the safety of our communities.

The post holder will be expected to take a lead role in the clinical management of patients and to be the Responsible Clinician. Some of these patients with be subject to community treatment orders. The majority of these patients will be under existing services and the postholder will be expected to receive transfer of care of these patients in a manageable agreed timescale.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.

Desirable

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• MRCPsych
• Additional clinical qualifications, especially relevant to clinical role.

Eligibility

Essential

• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Included on the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months.
• Approved Clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.

Desirable

• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Excellent knowledge of evidence-base for management of psychosis, especially risk in psychosis, treatment innovations, Assertive outreach.
• Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty.
• Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others.
• Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA.

Desirable

• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
• Experience in Assertive Outreach, Assertive Community Treatment, FACT or Rehabilitation Psychiatry.
• Experience of Addiction’s Psychiatry or Dual Diagnosis.
• Any experience in forensic psychiatry or with patients subject to part III of the act.

Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning

Essential

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training.
• Ability to work in and lead team
• Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement.
• Participated in continuous professional development
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes.

Desirable

• Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post.
• Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken
• Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation.
• Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
• Has led clinical audits leading to service change or improved outcomes to patients.

Closing Date: 9 August 2026