Job overview
Are you a Consultant Psychiatrist who is dedicated and passionate about improving mental health services? Are you looking for your next role as a dynamic clinical leader in Acute Inpatient Psychiatry?
We are looking for a Locum Consultant to join our team on Oakwood ward.
Oakwood ward is a 20 bed mixed sex unit based in the grounds of Southmead Hospital, Bristol, with a plan to move to a newly built acute ward at Callington Road Hospital in 2025.
Oakwood Ward is a dynamic acute unit that embraces the challenges of Acute Psychiatry. It is a psychologically informed environment working in a truly multi-disciplinary model. The team are motivated to work on ways to improve the quality of the service, developing and carrying out quality improvement projects; strive to offer the best possible care and enabling patients and carers to pursue recovery.
As the Consultant you will be leading on daily ward reviews, divided into workstreams / groups and providing visible and accessible support to the SAS doctor, junior doctor and nursing team. Realistically, this would mean 3-4 ward rounds per week.
This post is evolving new ways of working to include systems for consultant time to be focussed on those patients that need senior medical input so that decision-making, treatment and discharge planning, and liaison with the Intensive (Crisis) team happens promptly.
Main duties of the job
You will deliver direct interventions to inpatients including assessment, diagnoses and treatment of mental and physical health needs.
You will be responsible for the mental health care of all inpatients through daily ward reviews, attending the ward daily themselves Monday to Friday.
You will be responsible for supervising the medical team that provides medical care and act as RC for detained inpatients.
You will have a medical legal role for inpatients. This will include the preparation of MHA Tribunal and other reports and attending MHA Tribunals
You will collaboratively work with the Intensive teams to provide dedicated lead Consultant input to acute care service coordination by meeting the needs of the service user in inpatient services and enabling timely discharge with robust CPA planning and aftercare arrangements.
You will provide nominal senior medical cover to the S136 suite during the daytime.
You will support and participate in Clinical Governance and Audit and have opportunities to undertake medical audit and activities related to clinical governance issues, subject to job-planning and under supervision of the line manager.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the accompanying job description for full details on the roles and responsibilities of this post.
Applicant requirements
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.
Person specification
Teaching
Essential
- Commitment to and experience of undergraduate and postgraduate learning and teaching.
Desirable
- Experience as an Educational Supervisor for trainees
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
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
Management
Essential
- Evidence of management/leadership skills training.
Desirable
- Previous management experience including that of other junior medical staff
Eligibility
Essential
- Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment
Desirable
- CCT in General Adult Psychiatry
- 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
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.
Clinical Skills
Essential
- Ability to assess and treat psychiatric problems in Adults of working age and to deal with crisis situations.
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
Research and Audit
Essential
- Experience or involvement in a research project and publication.
- Experience of carrying out an audit project.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Locum Consultant Psychiatrist - Bristol Inpatients - Oakwood Ward with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust Partnership NHS Trust in Bath NHS House. It is listed as a Consultant Medical doctor Psychiatry role. The advertised salary is £113,565 - £150,569 per annum. The contract type is Fixed term: 12 months (Locum). The application deadline is 16 Sep 2026.
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