Locum (Fixed Term) Specialty Doctor

Job overview

This post is ideal for candidates who are keen to gain high quality clinical and academic forensic experience as a springboard to a successful application for higher training in forensic psychiatry. Applications are invited for an enthusiastic candidate to work alongside a consultant forensic psychiatrist on Effra Ward, River House, Bethlem Royal Hospital to cover a period of maternity leave for one year. This is a 16 bedded male medium secure ward providing rehabilitation to patients who have progressed from acute wards and are working towards discharge or stepping down to lower levels of security.

Effra ward is just one of 6 secure wards at River House. Other wards include a female ward, a service for forensic patients with personality disorder, an intensive care ward for men, an acute male ward, and a second male rehabilitation ward. The forensic mental health service at SLaM also includes a male low secure unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital, a non-secure stepdown service at Lambeth Hospital, four community forensic mental health teams, criminal justice liaison teams and a personality disorder service at HMP Brixton. This post is full time, 9am – 5pm with no on call responsibilities. However, applicants interested in a part-time post are also welcomed. The successful candidate will work as a multidisciplinary team member in the assessment and management of patients on Effra ward.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will provide clinical input to Effra ward, a 16 bedded medium secure ward specialising in forensic rehabilitation and recovery. The ward caters for adult male patients who are sub-acute but not ready for pre-discharge wards.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post-holder will provide clinical input to Effra ward, a 16 bedded medium secure ward specialising in forensic rehabilitation and recovery. The ward caters for adult male patients who are sub-acute but not ready for pre-discharge wards.

The post-holder will be invited to attend a Friday morning forensic Clinical Academic morning at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology (IoPPN) and will have another SPA session to use of their choice. Research opportunities are available.

The post holder will have no outpatient or out of hours commitment. Working with the consultant, the post holder will have responsibility for the medical and psychiatric care of 16 patients on Effra ward.

The post holder will be involved as a multidisciplinary team member in the assessment and management of patients admitted to the ward. The post holder will also have specific responsibilities for undertaking clinical audit under the direction of the ward Consultant. This post would ideally suit someone wishing to further their clinical experience in forensic psychiatry and would act as a springboard to higher training.

The role of the post will include:

• Attendance and presentation of medical reports at CPA meetings

• Attendance at weekly ward rounds and HCR-20 risk formulation meetings.

• Preparation of reports and supported attendance at Managers hearings and Mental Health Review Tribunals

• Preparation of reports and applications to the Ministry of Justice for the purpose of requesting leave, requesting transfer and providing requested summaries of patient progress

• Attendance at weekly supervision with the Consultant Psychiatrist.

• Participation and contribution to service audit and evaluation. Engaging in research activities in keeping with the aims of the Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science Department of the IoPPN.

• Attendance at Reflective Group Practice once per fortnight.

• Regular (weekly) teaching of medical students

• Annual leave will be agreed with the Consultant Psychiatrist and communicated promptly to the multidisciplinary team leader and senior clinical nurse. The post-holder will negotiate cross-cover arrangements with the specialty doctor working in River House.