Consultant Psychiatrist - Intensive Outreach Pathway (Camden)

Job overview

This post is for 0.6 WTE Consultant Psychiatrist working in Intensive Outreach pathways within the Core Community Mental Health of the Southern Boroughs (Camden) of the trust as work progresses with the transformation of community mental health services in line with the NHS Long Term plan. The post is substantive, and these are new posts created from the new investment from the ICB to develop this pathway.

The Consultant Psychiatrist works closely with GPs, the MDT, and a number of intersecting systems, such as housing, social services and the Trust Intensive Teams.  The focus is on relationship-building, encouraging reflective practice and collaborative working.

Main duties of the job

General Expectations of a Consultant Psychiatrist employed with North London NHS Foundation Trust include:

• To work within the MDT promoting respect for all professional groups and focusing upon coherent and integrated teamwork.
• To be Section 12(2) approved and have approved clinician status and participate in the Trust-wide Section 12 daytime rota.
• To provide second opinions for consultant colleagues if requested.
• To keep up with administration and note-keeping on the electronic patient record system in a timely manner, including letters to GPs, Dialog+ and risk assessments.
• To assist with Serious Incident investigations and complaints if requested.
• To keep up to date with mandatory training.
• To attend and participate in Consultants' and Management meetings to keep informed of service issues and developments.
• Other management/clinical supporting activity (to be negotiated as required by the Trust.)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The specific clinical and managerial responsibilities of the post-holder will be as follows:

• To provide advice and support to local GPs, and other practice staff, regarding the assessment and management of the mental health difficulties of patients registered with their practices. This may be done through case discussions, joint consultations and bespoke training, as appropriate.
• To provide consultant input and clinical leadership to the local Intensive Outreach pathway within the Core Community Mental Health Teams.
• To assist with diagnosis, formulation, medication reviews, Dialog+ care planning, management plans, risk assessments, safety plans (Formerly crisis plans), and self-help plans as required for these patients referred to the team.
• As necessary to provide direct clinical assessments of patients and to provide follow-up as appropriate.
• To assist in the prioritization (“triage”) of new referrals to the service.
• To maintain effective communication with GPs, primary care staff, patients and their carers.
• To work flexibly within timetabled working hours, so that urgent clinical matters can be prioritized.
• To carry out Mental Health Act and domiciliary assessments as required.
• To play a key role in implementing improved linkage between primary and secondary care services.
• To liaise and work closely with local NHS Talking Therapies (Formerly IAPT services for anxiety and depression (also provided by NLFT) and other primary care providers in order to provide a joined up primary care mental health service.
• To liaise and work closely with local voluntary services as part of the new model of core community teams
• To provide clinical input, where necessary, to multi-disciplinary case conferencing around difficult patients being managed solely in primary care.
• To engage with local service user participation models.
• To participate in management activities and governance processes related to the Core Teams, including audits and quality improvement projects.
• To play an integral role in the performance of the team, the further development of the service, and the development of clinical pathways and priorities of the service line.