NHS Logo

Specialty Doctor in Place of Safety

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Medical Protection Advertisement

Location
Salary
£61,542 - £99,216 per annum
Profession
Medical doctor
Grade
Senior
Deadline
16 Dec 2025
Contract Type
Fixed term: 6 months (Extendable)
Posted Date
02 Dec 2025

Job overview

This post is in our Acute Inpatient Care Pathway, looking after working age adults. This post is for the Centralised Place of Safety (CPOS), located at the Maudsley Hospital. This purpose built unit is designed to admit patients admitted on either section 136 or section 135 and the post holder will work within an established MDT to assess and manage the acute physical and mental health needs of these patients. This service was the first 24/7 staffed Place of Safety to implement London's section 136 pathway and Health Based Place of Safety specification has received positive feedback from users of mental health crisis services.

Information about the service can be found at: https://www.healthylondon.org/pilot-shows-health-based-place-safety-improves-care-lifts-pressure-aes/

The unit is staffed with a full nursing team, unit manager and Consultant Psychiatrist. The post provides an excellent opportunity to gain experience of innovative multiagency working and new services. There are also opportunities to contribute to clinical governance in the unit, and formal and informal teaching and development of the team.

For more information and to discuss the post please contact Dr Vivienne Curtis (Consultant Psychiatrist, CPOS) [email protected].

Main duties of the job

1. To provide medical input to unit. During working hours the specialty doctor has responsibility for initial clinical assessment and decision making in relation to section 136 and 135 assessments.

2. This will include assessment and examination and where necessary appropriate investigations for all clients. Patients suffering from significant medical illness are transferred to an acute Hospital, often King's College Hospital, also at Denmark Hill.

3. The doctor would assess under the Mental Health Act for admission either alone or as part of a full Mental Health Act assessment.

4. The doctor is responsible for record keeping including documentation of assessment and communication/ liaison with other agencies including primary care.

5. The doctor will support the wider staff team at the CPOS. There will be opportunities to contribute to clinical governance, and formal and informal teaching.

6. The doctor would be expected to be available to work 10 clinical sessions on the unit. The doctor will be able to take regular time for professional development as agreed with the team Consultant Psychiatrist.

7. There will be job planning review within 3 months of appointment involving the team Consultant Psychiatrist and the team leader of the unit.

8. The doctor would receive clinical supervision from the CPOS Consultant Psychiatrist each week.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job responsibilities

1. To provide medical input to unit. During working hours the specialty doctor has responsibility for initial clinical assessment and decision making in relation to section 136 and 135 assessments.

2. This will include assessment and examination and where necessary appropriate investigations for all clients. Patients suffering from significant medical illness are transferred to an acute Hospital, often Kings College Hospital, also at Denmark Hill.

3. The doctor would assess under the Mental Health Act for admission either alone or as part of a full Mental Health Act assessment.

4. The doctor is responsible for record keeping including documentation of assessment and communication/ liaison with other agencies including primary care.

5. The doctor will support the wider staff team at the CPOS. There will be opportunities to contribute to clinical governance, and formal and informal teaching.

6. The doctor would be expected to be available to work 10 clinical sessions on the unit. The doctor will be able to take regular time for professional development as agreed with the team Consultant Psychiatrist.

7. There will be job planning review within 3 months of appointment involving the team Consultant Psychiatrist and the team leader of the unit.

8. The doctor would receive clinical supervision from the CPOS Consultant Psychiatrist each week.

Specialty Doctor in Place of Safety at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust | Job Clerk