Job overview

Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry needed to join our team of enthusiastic, welcoming psychiatrists in Cornwall.

The Coombe CMHT is situated in the West of Cornwall and provides assessment and treatment for all those over 75 with dementia and mental health disorders as well as for younger patients with dementia. It is a cohesive team and the postholder works closely with another full time consultant based in Penzance to provide cover to the West Cornwall Integrated Care Area. The post has arisen as the previous incumbent has moved into a full time in patient role following service reorganisation.

We are a research active trust with a Brain Health Centre based in Bodmin.

We are lucky to have an actively engaged group of consultants in Cornwall who are working closely with management to develop our services; working with our GP colleagues to develop the Integrated Care Areas. We all meet regularly for continuing professional development once or twice a month on Wednesday mornings along with monthly Senior Medical Staff Committee Meeting.

There are many opportunities for special interests in Cornwall and we are encouraged to develop our own areas of expertise and interests.

The postholder will be joining a warm and welcoming group of specialist older adult psychiatrists who work closely and effectively with each other in a mutually supportive way.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will care for both functional and organic patients in the community as well as providing input to the Memory Assessment Service. There are Memory Assessment practitioners who support diagnosis in dementia and Dementia Liaison Nurses who offer support to targeted care homes who also form part of the multi-disciplinary team.

The home treatment team for the general adult psychiatry service will support people in crisis with functional mental illness with a view to preventing admission.

The post links with North Kerrier east, North Kerrier west, Penwith and South Kerrier and Isles of Scilly.

There is a planned programme of demand and capacity mapping funded by Health Education England (CLEAR – Clinically-Led workforce Activity and Redesign) across community mental health services in Cornwall.

The service is supported by specialist, old age consultant psychiatrist led, inpatient wards at both Bodmin Hospital and Longreach Hospital.

Working for our organisation

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) is the principal provider of mental health, learning disability and universal children’s and adult community services to people living in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The Trust employs 3,700 people with an annual budget in the region of £180 million and is one of the largest local employers. The Trust was formed as a specialist provider in April 2002 following re-organisation of local NHS Trusts. It was licensed as a Foundation Trust in March 2010 and acquired community children’s services in April 2011 and adult community services in April 2016.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To act as a consultant resource to the Coombe Dementia and Older Person’s mental health service, including individual casework with selected patients referred from the multidisciplinary teams and by consultant colleagues, together with providing broader advice to colleagues in psychiatry and other disciplines.

The consultant must be approved under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and be an Approved Clinician. There is no requirement to be a DOLS assessor.

• Attend the clinical team meetings. Maintain good open relations with all members of the clinical teams to provide consultation and discussion of cases.
• Join with other team members in the assessment and treatment of complex cases.
• Maintain Section 12 and Approved Clinician approval and where appropriate make assessments of patients under the Mental Health Act.
• Where admission is necessary, to assist patients prior to admission.
• Care plan and treatment formulation, guidance on evidence-based treatment and effectiveness.
• Liaison and collaborative working with other services/agencies including colleagues in education and social care as well as the voluntary sector.
• Liaison and collaboration with services to safeguard children.
• Working in the Memory Assessment Service: joint assessments with clinicians in clinic and providing diagnostic follow up appointments in the community where there are complexities.

Please see job descriptions for further details.

At Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are proud to prioritise the development of our people. To support this, the following opportunities are available:

• Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management
• Protected CPD time for registered staff
• Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff
• Leadership and Management development programmes
• Coaching and mentoring opportunities
• A full clinical induction programme for operational skills
• Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff
• A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff
• Individual professional development programmes

Being part of a successful NHS Foundation Trust brings a portfolio of rewards and benefits for our staff. These include:

• Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues physical and mental health
• Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff
• Free DBS checks where required
• Discounts available from retailers, UK hotels and main attractions
• NHS Pension Scheme
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• The Trust reimburses all application costs for staff eligible to apply for EU settlement status.

The Trust reserves the right to close this advert once a sufficient number of applications have been submitted. It is encouraged that you complete the application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process you will be contacted via TRAC.jobs email regarding interview details.

We are committed to diversity and equality of employment including the employment of current and former service users.

If you are successful, you agree to Occupational Health accessing your health records from your current or previous employer to check the status of your inoculations and screening tests. Appointments are subject to full three year satisfactory references therefore please ensure you include correct contact details for your nominated referees including email addresses.

Any general recruitment queries, please contact our recruitment team on 01208 834644

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.