Consultant Psychiatrist – Bristol North Assessment & Recovery

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Job summary

Lead. Inspire. Transform Community Mental Healthcare.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) is seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist to join the Bristol Mental Health Assessment & Recovery North Team, based at the Greenway Centre.

You will provide expert clinical leadership within a recovery-focused community mental health service supporting adults aged 18+ and those transitioning from CAMHS. Working as part of Mental Health Bristol, a partnership of local health and social care providers, you will help deliver accessible, person-centred care that improves outcomes and supports people within their communities.

The service operates 8am to 8pm, 365 days a year, with a focus on community integration, meaningful engagement and high-quality care. You will work within a skilled multidisciplinary team, influencing service development and contributing to innovative models of care.

AWP is committed to professional development and clinical excellence. Consultants benefit from established Peer Development Programme (PDP) groups, providing regular peer support, supervision and collaboration. The post also offers opportunities to contribute to the training of GP Trainees, Foundation Doctors, Higher Trainees and Medical Students.

Join a forward-thinking organisation and help shape the future of community mental health services in Bristol.

Main duties of the job

The Consultant Psychiatrist will provide clinical leadership within the Assessment and Recovery Service, delivering assessment, diagnosis and treatment for adults with complex mental health needs. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the post holder will provide direct clinical care, including for service users who are difficult to engage, and act as Responsible Clinician where appropriate.

The role includes supervising and supporting medical colleagues, contributing to caseload management, and ensuring safe, effective, recovery-focused care. The Consultant will work closely with acute services to support seamless care pathways, timely access to intensive support and effective discharge planning.

The post holder will undertake specialist assessments from primary care and other agreed referral routes, providing expert bio-psycho-social formulations to guide treatment. They will support strong partnerships with primary care, promote recovery principles and contribute to rapid re-access and step-down pathways.

The Consultant will contribute to Mental Health Act assessments, multidisciplinary reviews, service development, quality improvement and implementation of best practice. As a senior clinical leader, they will help shape local and Trust-wide services while having opportunities to develop specialist interests, research and innovation. AWP offers strong support for CPD, peer supervision and career development.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • MB BS or equivalent medical qualification

Desirable

  • Relevant Higher Degree e.g MD,PHD,Msc or other additional clinical qualifications
  • MRCPsych OR MRCPsych equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

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 of gaining CCT
  • Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
  • Approved under S12 OR able to achieve with 3 months of appointment

Desirable

  • CCT in General Adult Psychiatry

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of assessing and treating patients in a community setting.
  • Knowledge and evidence of participation in CPD
  • Evidence of effective multidisciplinary team involvement

Personal Skills

Essential

  • To possess leadership skills and be able to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
  • Ability to manage own time, workload and prioritise clinical work
  • Ability to appraise own performance as a Consultant.
  • Able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, in order to effectively work with patients, carers and staff.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills

Desirable

  • Evidence of specific achievements that demonstrate leadership skills

Clinical Skills

Essential

  • Ability to assess and treat psychiatric problems in Adults of working age and to deal with crisis situations.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of the management skills required to function successfully as a Consultant.
  • Awareness of current issues in mental health service provision, policy and legislation.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of alternatives to inpatient admission care approaches

Teaching

Essential

  • Commitment to and experience of undergraduate and postgraduate learning and teaching.

Desirable

  • Experience as an Educational Supervisor for trainees

Research and Audit

Essential

  • Experience or involvement in a research project and publication.
  • Experience of carrying out an audit project.

Management

Essential

  • Evidence of management/leadership skills training.

Desirable

  • Previous management experience including that of other junior medical staff

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: 12 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.