Specialty Doctor Avocet Ward

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

The closing date is 12 May 2025

Job summary

  • This role will be supported by a £12,000 relocation allowance
  • 'Holiday of a lifetime scheme': Consultants and SAS doctors can bank/accrue annual leave over a period of up to 5 years, to facilitate an extended period of leave. The scheme enables the opportunity for planning a 'holiday of a lifetime' or extended paid break

We are inviting applications for the Specialty Doctor role which has become available in our Adult Inpatient Ward in Woodlands, Ipswich, Suffolk.

This is a 1.0 WTE Specialty Doctor post working on Avocet Ward, Woodlands, Ipswich, in the General Adult Pathway in East Suffolk Services.

Woodlands is a purpose-built psychiatric unit opened in July 2011 on the Ipswich General Hospital site, catering for the acutely unwell for whom community treatment is not currently appropriate.

Avocet Ward provides care for women over the age of 18 years old who are either in hospital informally or detained under the Mental Health Act. It is under the general adult pathway so patients may present with psychosis, mania, depression, personality disorder and various co-morbidities such as mild learning disability and autism.

The post is part of our East Suffolk Care group which has the best ratings in NSFT for Medical engagement and above average from National Standards. Our medical workforce is actively involved and leads on all service developments locally.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will undertake clinical management of patients seen within Avocet Ward, at the level as is appropriate for a Specialty Doctor. This would include diagnostic assessment where required, development of management plans and treatment regimes.

They will also provide medical expertise within the multidisciplinary team, including Junior Doctors, medical students, CPNs, Psychologists and Social Workers in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of referred patients; take part in team meetings, supervision, and the development of the team.

The post holder will provide support and advice to their non--medical colleagues working in the inpatient team (and outside of the unit), when appropriate.

The duties also include liaison with professional colleagues in primary care, secondary care and other psychiatric teams.

About us

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

We are also offering:

  • Up to £12k relocation expenses
  • Dedicated SPA time of up to 25% of working hours
  • £2000 annual paid study leave (on application and approval) in addition to CPD
  • NHS benefits package including contributory pension, redundancy. Including paid annual leave, sick leave and maternity leave.
  • Appraisals and revalidation completed by the Trust
  • Friendly Colleagues
  • Encouragement and support for areas of special interest
  • Subsidised gyms and free physio service
  • We have a strong education reputation and close ties with both The University of Cambridge and The University of East Anglia
  • Well established county wide teaching program
  • Access and encouragement to partake in research and a well-established research network within the Trust
  • Support for Quality Improvement, Audit and Service development
  • Forward thinking, clinically lead and innovative trust
  • Flexibility can be considered for a degree of remote working

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Specialty Doctor

Salary

£59,175 to £95,400 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

246-MESU7143472

Job locations

Avocet Ward, Woodlands Unit

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information please see attached full Job Description and Person Specification.

Dr Sohail Abrar - sohail.abrar@nsft.nhs.uk

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information please see attached full Job Description and Person Specification.

Dr Sohail Abrar - sohail.abrar@nsft.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Entry on the GMC Register

Desirable

  • MRCPsych
  • S12 Approval

Experience

Essential

  • 3 years as a doctor post registration
  • 2 years in Psychiatry at SHO/ST level or more senior
  • 6 months in relevant specialism

Attributes

Essential

  • Effective team working
  • Flexibility
  • Research
  • Driving Licence/Able to travel independently
  • Leadership qualities

Teaching

Essential

  • Teaching and Presentation Skills

Clinical Governance

Essential

  • A clear understanding of Clinical Governance
  • Demonstrate a commitment to open review of practice
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Entry on the GMC Register

Desirable

  • MRCPsych
  • S12 Approval

Experience

Essential

  • 3 years as a doctor post registration
  • 2 years in Psychiatry at SHO/ST level or more senior
  • 6 months in relevant specialism

Attributes

Essential

  • Effective team working
  • Flexibility
  • Research
  • Driving Licence/Able to travel independently
  • Leadership qualities

Teaching

Essential

  • Teaching and Presentation Skills

Clinical Governance

Essential

  • A clear understanding of Clinical Governance
  • Demonstrate a commitment to open review of practice

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

Avocet Ward, Woodlands Unit

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

Avocet Ward, Woodlands Unit

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Medical Director

Sohail Abrar

Sohail.abrar@nsft.nhs.uk

01473322251

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Specialty Doctor

Salary

£59,175 to £95,400 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

246-MESU7143472

Job locations

Avocet Ward, Woodlands Unit

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)