Job responsibilities
This job description is for a consultant neuropsychiatrist post in the Walton Centre NHS and at the Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network. This is a permanent 5 sessions weekly post based at the Walton Centre.
The Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network was set up in 2013 with the aims to streamline access to and provision of rehabilitation within the Merseyside and Cheshire areas. The pathway consists of a hub rehabilitation unit based at the Walton Centre and also spoke rehabilitation units at Broadgreen and St Helens Hospitals.
The Walton Centre provides neurological, neurosurgical and pain services throughout the Northwest of England and also North Wales. It is the only dedicated neuroscience trust in the UK. The hospital offers treatment to diverse neurological problems including epilepsy, movement disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, acquired brain injury and brain tumours. It also host The Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network(CMRN) which was set up in 2013 with the aims to streamline access to and provision of Neuro-rehabilitation within the Merseyside and Cheshire areas. The pathway consists of a Hub rehabilitation unit based at the Walton Centre and also Spoke rehabilitation units at Broadgreen and St Helens Hospitals.
Structure of Walton Centre Foundation Trust : Management Structure and Clinical Services
The Walton Centre (WCFT) is a specialist neurosciences NHS hospital providing a high quality, integrated, multidisciplinary neurosciences service to Merseyside, North Wales, the Isle of Man and parts of Lancashire and Cheshire, covering a population of 3.5 million.
The Neuropsychiatry service offers a wide range of specialist outpatient clinics including those for patients with Epilepsy, Movement disorders, Acquired Brain Injuries, Functional Neurological disorders (FND) and Joint Clinics in FND and Tourettes syndrome.
It provides MDT support for highly specialist teams involved in Deep Brain Stimulation, Epilepsy surgery, Movement disorders, Trauma & Rehabilitation, Pain management, Neurocognitive disorders and FND.
The Walton Centre currently has over 40 Consultant Neurologists (including Professors of Neurology), 6 consultants in neurorehabilitation, 20 Consultant Neurosurgeons, 5 Orthopaedic Spinal surgeons, 10 Consultant Neuroradiologists, 5 Consultant Neurophysiologists, 17 Neuro-Anesthetists and 6 Pain Medicine physicians, 2 Consultant Neuropathologists Consultant Neuropsychologists, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist and a range of Specialty Nurses and allied health workers.
From a management perspective, the Trust is divided into two main divisions- Neurology and Neurosurgery. Each division has its own divisional clinical director, clinical director and divisional director of operations. The medical director sits on the board of directors of the Trust. Neuropsychiatry sits within the Neurology clinical division.
The Walton Centre is well equipped and is fortunate in having all its wards, clinics theatres and investigative facilities in the one building. There is a full range of supporting therapy services, and the theatres suite consists of 7 theatres and there is access to dedicated critical care beds. The Centre has five wards, and a day ward. The Neuroradiology Department is well maintained with state of the art equipment. Ambulatory monitoring of the EEG and ECG, and EEG video-telemetry are available through the Neurophysiology Department, which also provides good EEG and EMG services. There is a well-developed multidisciplinary Pain Management Department. WCFT is with adjacent UHA the major trauma centre for Cheshire & Merseyside.
The outpatient department at WCFT is attractive, spacious and modern with excellent administrative, nursing and phlebotomy support.
Paediatric neurosurgery and neurology services are provided at the nearby Alder Hey Hospital.
The adjacent University hospital Aintree (UHA) has a fully developed stroke unit with junior staff and an active thrombolysis program. WCFT has now set up intra-arterial embolectomy capability within neurology and neuroradiology.
Current configuration of Neuropsychiatry service
At present, neuropsychiatry within the Walton Centre is provided by:
1.5 WTE consultants
1 band 8A Advanced Neuropsychiatry Nurse Practitioner and MHA lead for the trust
1 Band 7 Neuropsychiatry Specialist Nurse
3X band 6 MH nurse with varied clinical expertise
1 Neuropsychiatry and Mental Health Act administrator
- Job Title
Consultant Neuropsychiatrist.
- Type of Post
This is a Part-time post (5 PAs) post.
- Office base
The Walton Centre, Liverpool with additional input into spoke rehabilitation units at Seddon Unit in St Helens and also Ward 5 in Broadgreen Hospital. There will be additional liaison and work into the Rehabilitation Centre. The office base will be at the Walton Centre.
4. Terms and Conditions
National Terms and Conditions of Service for Doctors and Dentists in England and Wales.
The consultants line manager will be the Neurology Divisional Clinical Director, but he/she will be accountable to the Medical Director.
5. Salary Range
The consultant will be appointed on the Consultant Contract.
Job Plan
A job plan will be drawn up by mutual agreement between the consultant, the Divisional Clinical Director and the Medical Director [on behalf of the Chief Executive] within three months of commencement of the post. This will be based on 3.5 Direct Clinical Care and 1.5 Supporting Professional Activity Programmed Activities, but it is acknowledged that the job plan needs to be flexible and will reflect the needs of the services and the successful applicant.
6. On Call Responsibilities
Since the post will be funded by the Walton Centre and Rehabilitation Pathway- on call will not be a requirement of the post.
7. Job Review
There will be an annual job plan review by the Divisional Clinical Director in conjunction with the Divisional Director of Operations .
8. Principle Duties of the Post
Clinical
This post is being recruited to provide neuropsychiatric input into the Walton Centre and also the Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network.
The Walton Centre covers the areas of Northwest England, North Wales and the Isle of Man. Patients as far away as Northern Ireland and Cumbria are treated in the Hospital.
The post holder will be responsible for the provision of 2 weekly neuropsychiatry out-patient clinics in the Walton Centre. The referrals for the clinics are made by the in-house consultant staff. The Neuropsychiatry service is not commissioned to accept referrals from Primary Care. In addition, the post holder will provide neuropsychiatry liaison consultation to inpatients on the wards of the hospital as well as the rehabilitation units at St Helens and Broadgreen. Weekly MDT participation and clinical supervision of nurses will be required, Weekly teaching and case conferences takes place in the Walton Centre.
The Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network provides inpatient and out patient rehabilitation across the two counties for individuals affected by trauma. The rehabilitation is based at the Walton Centre and also 2 spoke hospitals in Seddon Unit, St Helens and also Ward 5, Broadgreen.
The post holder will be expected to provide supervision for the Band 7 Mental Health Liaison Nurse attached to the service.
The post holder would also be expected to become involved in the management of the Neuropsychiatry part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network and the Walton Centre.
The post holder will also offer teaching sessions to junior medical staff at the Walton Centre.
The WCFT and the University Department have also created a clinical research unit (CRU) where members of the centre can undertake various clinical trials. The unit has a manager and team of nurses/secretaries to help in the participation of high quality trials
Job planning will take place on an annual basis within the Walton Centre with the Divisional Clinical director and the Director of Operations for Neurology
The immediate line management for Walton Centre part of the job will be the divisional clinical director there. The line management for rehabilitation networks will be the lead for the network Dr. Ganesh Bavikatte.
The Consultant Neuropsychiatrist will be subject to annual appraisal conducted through WCFT and annual job plan review conducted by WCFT:
1. The appointee will be subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service relating to the Consultant Contract (2003).
2. The appointment is subject to satisfactory medical examination and an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau.
3. Any consultant who is unable for personal reasons to work full time is eligible to be considered for the post and if appointed will have a modified job content to be negotiated in consultation with consultant colleagues.
4. The consultant will be expected to reside within 30 minutes travelling time (or 10 miles) from their base unless specific prior approval is given by the Trust.
5. In accordance with Trust policies/procedures all consultants employed by the Trust are required to be appraised annually and have an annual job plan review.
6. The post holder will be required to undertake annual appraisal and job plan reviews on any Specialty Doctors for whom they are responsible.
7. The post holder will be expected to observe the Trusts agreed policies and procedures and follow the Standing Orders and Financial Instructions of the Trust.
8. All leave must be arranged by agreement with consultant colleagues for cross cover and with the Divisonal Clinical Director/ Medical Director.
