Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Job summary
We are seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist, with an interest in community forensic work and experience working with patients who have learning disability and/or autism, to join the Secure Services medical team.
This is a new post following a successful business case for service expansion. The post holder will join a group of 16 consultants (12 WTE) working in the service, 5 of whom work in community services.
The service supports a number of core and advanced psychiatry trainee posts. The post holder will work 6 PAs in the Forensic Intellectual, Neuropsychiatric and Developmental Disorders team (FIND) team and 4 PAs in the Specialist Community Forensic Team.
They will work with a caseload of approximately 22 patients who are under care-coordination in the community. They will regularly contribute to consultations with external teams and to assessments.
The service supports consultants to take additional leadership roles in medical education, management, quality improvement and research.
There are lots of opportunities for staff to be involved in service development work within AWP and SWPC. This includes the service’s current cultural quality improvement project “Making Secure a Great Place to”.
Interested candidates are encouraged to make contact with the Medical Lead to arrange a meeting and tour of the unit.
Interview Date: 22 October 2026
Main duties of the job
To act as consultant and Responsible Clinician for a caseload of patients in the community and fulfil associated duties related to the MHA, MAPPA and MoJ.
To provide forensic psychiatric and medico-legal expertise into the team. To support the development of multi-disciplinary formulations, assessments and treatment plans for patients on the caseload.
To provide clinical leadership into the team by overseeing clinical decisions, contributing to multi-disciplinary meetings and offering supervision and advice to colleagues.
To attend referral and bed management meetings as appropriate. To undertake access assessments and admission assessments for patients referred into the service. To provider senior clinical leadership into their teams. To work closely with the team manager and to contribute towards the management, governance and development of the ward.
To regularly attend team meetings and reflective practice. To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with other teams and external stakeholders.
To work closely with other senior leaders within the medical team and wider service and contribute to quality improvement and service development projects.
To participate in the consultant on-call rota for secure services. To participate in teaching and educational initiatives, and to supervise trainee psychiatrists.
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 Forensic Psychiatry or CCT in General Adult Psychiatry with significant experience of working in the community
Experience
Essential
- Experience of assessing and treating patients in a inpatient setting.
- Knowledge and evidence of participation in CPD
- Evidence of effective multidisciplinary team involvement
Desirable
- Experience of working in forensic psychiatry.
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 adults of working age with complex mental health and risk issues.
Desirable
- Previous experience of working with individuals in secure services.
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.
- Understand principles of 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
Closing Date: 6 October 2026
To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.