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Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist - Chichester Centre (£45k RRP)

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

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Location
Salary
£109,725 - £145,478 per annum
Profession
Medical doctor
Grade
Consultant
Deadline
10 May 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
17 Apr 2026

Job overview

Are you an outstanding Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist looking for new challenges, career development and making a difference in mental health? This is an exciting time to join us to contribute to providing leadership to deliver high-quality, person-centred care to male patients on a low secure ward.

You will work alongside a collaborative multi-disciplinary team, offering expert assessment, diagnosis, and care for adults with complex psychiatric needs following a trauma informed care approach.

We are committed to delivering care with compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence, ensuring that our patients and service users are at the heart of everything we do. By working closely with our partners, we're creating a forward-thinking, inclusive organisation that champions staff development, well-being, and collaboration

This job attracts a Recruitment and Retention payment of £45,000 structured over a three-year period as follows:

  • £15,000 payable upon successful recruitment
  • £10,000 payable at 12 months’ service
  • £10,000 payable at 24 months’ service
  • £10,000 payable at 36 months’ service

The Recruitment and Retention payment is pro rata for part time employees. If you would like further information, or to know the full terms of the Recruitment and Retention Payment and/or the Relocation Allowance, then please do not hesitate to contact our Medical HR Team via [email protected]

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will provide clinical leadership for the new male low secure ward at the Chichester Centre. Consultant Psychiatrist would be part of FHS consultant group

This vacancy has arisen due to reconfiguration and relocation of the secure bed estate, and the Trust regards this as an opportune moment to develop the functioning of the team.

  • The inpatient clinical caseload is 12 male patients on low secure ward. All patients are detained under the Mental Health Act.
  • Clinical duties include delivering inpatient care to the patients and assessment of patients referred to the forensic service through a single point of access. Referrals are allocated at the weekly referrals meeting. On an average there is 1 referral per week.
  • Assessments are undertaken independently and with another member of staff from the team (nursing/psychologist), depending on the patient's mental health needs.

Chair weekly recovery reviews (ward rounds), CPA meetings and participate in risk clinics. Reviews of patients outside the MDT meetings

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post-holder will provide clinical leadership for the new male low secure ward at the Chichester Centre. Consultant Psychiatrist would be part of FHS consultant group

This vacancy has arisen due to reconfiguration and relocation of the secure bed estate, and the Trust regards this as an opportune moment to develop the functioning of the team.

This post is one example of the commitment of the Trust to develop better provision and capacity for Forensic Healthcare Services and the families and carers using the service in challenging times. This post adds to the medical establishment of the team providing a minimum of 10 whole time equivalent Consultant Psychiatrists for the Forensic Healthcare Services.

This post completes the medical establishment of low secure team providing a 0.8 whole time equivalent (WTE) Consultant Psychiatrist and adds to already recruited 0.2 WTE consultant on the ward. This post also adds to FHS 10.0WTE consultant psychiatrist and 1.0WTE Multiprofessional Responsible clinician (MPARC)

  • The inpatient clinical caseload is 12 male patients on low secure ward. All patients are detained under the Mental Health Act.
  • Clinical duties include delivering inpatient care to the patients and assessment of patients referred to the forensic service through a single point of access. Referrals are allocated at the weekly referrals meeting. On an average there is 1 referral per week.
  • Assessments are undertaken independently and with another member of staff from the team (nursing/psychologist), depending on the patient's mental health needs.

Chair weekly recovery reviews (ward rounds), CPA meetings and participate in risk clinics. Reviews of patients outside the MDT meetings

The post-holder will be expected to provide professional leadership including clinical supervision to the medical team and to provide clinical leadership to the wider MDT.

Attendance at local governance meetings will form an opportunity to contribute towards business planning for the locality and, as appropriate, contributing to the broader strategic and planning work of the Trust.

The postholder will be expected to lead on the improvement of the quality of care within the team and contribute to improving quality across the system.