The Trust is seeking a consultant psychiatrist to join the Croydon Mental Health in Learning Disability (MHLD) service. The post holder will provide assessment and treatment for adults with learning disabilities who have additional complex mental health problems in the community, according to an agreed job plan, and will help shape and deliver new and responsive care pathways.

Main duties of the job

To provide expert assessment of mental health in people with learning (intellectual) disability and to provide patients, referrers and carers (where appropriate) with management advice;

• To promote and develop best practice in the management of adults with learning disabilities and mental health problems, locally, regionally and nationally;
• To make contemporaneous clinical notes on the electronic patient journey system and adhere to Trust/service requirements for EPJS, including prompt verbal and written clinical and medico-legal communications;
• To lead the MDT in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating treatment options, including liaison with the patient, carers and the wider multi-disciplinary team;
• To facilitate admission and discharge pathways of patients with LD who require mental health admission, either into adult mental health wards or into specialist inpatient services, working with the MDT, patients, carers, referrers and commissioners to ensure effective processes and good communication;
• To act as a resource within the service and CAG, offering advice and support to colleagues to ensure safe and evidence-based practice
• To facilitate liaison with relevant outside agencies as appropriate, including with community services, referrers, GPs, other psychiatric services and medical specialties, social services, community and residential services, voluntary sector, legal and advocacy agencies, service user and carers groups etc.

About us

The Croydon MHLD is part of the Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group (CAG) at the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The post-holder will have an office on Monks Orchard House (Bethlem royal Hospital), Trust-networked computer and access to administrative staff (as above). Mobile network access and computer facilities will also be provided.

The MHLD team has good links with adult mental health services, and works in partnership with the Croydon Joint Community Learning Disabilities service (a health and social care team of approximately 65 staff) where there is a wealth of experience and good inter-team relationships with clinical psychology, challenging behaviour specialists, community nurses, social workers, speech and language therapists, acute liaison nurses, dieticians and physiotherapists.

Typically, where necessary, MHLD services admit to generic adult mental health wards (in line with Valuing People) and work to support adult mental health in achieving the shortest appropriate admissions, excellence in aspects of care related to intellectual disability, and well-coordinated discharge pathways.

The Trust delivers MHLD services across the boroughs of Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon. These have recently undergone revision and modernisation to ensure a flexible local service response and make best use of expertise across boroughs. Our MHLD and wider neurodevelopmental services were awarded 'outstanding' by the CQC.

Job description Job responsibilities

• The post-holder will be an integral part of the team involved in developing our neurodevelopmental disorders services. They will also take part in other clinical and organisational meetings as required (for example business meetings).
• Please note that if the balance of clinical activity changes the consultant may be required to alter the balance of the components of this post. This would only take place after discussion with the relevant clinical and managerial leads.
• The post holder will be expected to lead research. It is essential that he/she helps with ongoing research projects and facilitate the work of others. The post holder will be expected to actively contribute to the research agenda of the Clinical Academic Group.
• The Behavioural and Developmental CAG undertakes a wide range of training activities both within and without the organisation. The post holder will be encouraged to become involved in sharing and developing their expertise as appropriate.
• The post-holder will need to be expert in initiating clinical audit on a range of matters relating to quality of service delivery and outcome.
• The post-hold will participate in disseminating knowledge about our service and our clinical/research outcomes.
• The consultant will need to be approved under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and be able to take up AC/RC responsibilities.

Managerial responsibilities

• This will be monitored through monthly B&D Performance Meetings.
• The post holder will collaboratively assesses the needs of service users, maintain records associated with this process, provides further follow-up, and communicate with local agencies.
• The post-holder will assist with co-ordinating the clinical activities of the service and support the multidisciplinary team across the Directorate to further develop the assessment and treatment of patients referred to the service.
• The post-holder will take part in other clinical and organisational meetings as required (for example business meetings).
• The post-holder will take part in the Trust clinical governance programme, including active involvement in clinical audit, assessment of untoward incidents, and complaints management.
• Key personnel and peer group
• The post-holder will be an integral part of the team involved in delivering and developing our wider neurodevelopmental disorders services. There is a highly supportive peer group.

General duties

• To manage, appraise and give professional supervision to junior medical staff as agreed between consultant colleagues and the medical director and in accordance with the Trusts personnel policies and procedures.
• To ensure that junior medical staff working with the post holder operate within the parameters of the New Deal and are Working Time Directive compliant.
• To record clinical activity accurately and comprehensively using SLaMs ePJS (electronic patient journey system).
• To undertake the administrative duties and record-keeping associated with the care of patients.
• To carry a mobile smart phone during work hours provided and paid for by the service, and be contactable by members of the team or other colleagues by phone and email.
• To work flexibly and creatively as part of a multidisciplinary team promoting informed risk taking and anti-discriminatory practice.
• To communicate clearly and effectively with staff of all major disciplines concerned with the provision of mental health care.
• To participate in service and business planning activity for the locality and, as appropriate, for the whole mental health service.
• To participate in annual appraisal for consultants.
• To maintain professional registration with the General Medical Council, Mental Health Act Section 12(2) approval, and to abide by professional codes of conduct.
• To participate annually in a job plan review with the clinical manager, which will include consultation with a relevant manager in order to ensure that the post is developed to take into account changes in service configuration and delivery associated with modernisation.
• To work with local managers and professional colleagues in ensuring the efficient running of services and share with consultant colleagues in the medical contribution to management.
• To comply with the Trusts agreed policies, procedures, standing orders and financial instructions, and to take an active role in the financial management of the service and support the medical director and other managers in preparing plans for services.

Person Specification Qualifications & Training Essential

• Eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Register or within 3 months of gaining CCT
• GMC registration/revalidation and license to practice
• CCT in psychiatry of intellectual disability

Desirable

• Higher degree such as Master's degree, MD or PhD

Management/Audit Essential

• Experience in organisation and delivery of services for people with learning disabilities
• Ability to plan and supervise clinical audit projects and to translate findings into practice to improve quality
• Skills in negotiating with senior staff and other professional groups

Desirable

• Skills in proposing and implementing service development projects
• Additional training or experience in Health Service Management

Teaching Essential

• Skills in providing teaching and training at undergraduate and postgraduate level to medical staff and other professional groups

Desirable

• Evidence of 'training the trainer' or equivalent for provision of educational supervision to psychiatric trainees

Research Essential

• Ability to supervise health and multidisciplinary research for people with learning disabilities (E) Record of publications in peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books

Desirable

• Ability to contribute to research grants applications

Experience Essential

• Higher training relevant to the consultant post
• Section 12 (2) approved
• Eligible to take up Approved Clinician status
• Commitment to the development of excellence in services for people with learning disabilities and coexisting mental health problems

Desirable

• Additional experience e.g. neurodevelopmental disorders, personality disorders, forensic services in LD, inpatient services for MHLD

Personal Skills Essential

• Good written and verbal skills including communicating complex and sensitive information to colleagues, service users and their carers
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships
• Ability to work and negotiate with multidisciplinary colleagues
• Effective leadership skills

Other Qualities Essential

• Supportive of initiatives to enhance user involvement
• Commitment to continuing professional development, to partnership working and to reflective clinical practice

Desirable

• IT skills

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

334-CRY-4308975-JA