Job responsibilities
In line with New Ways of Working, the post holder will provide a consultative, supervisory and supportive role to the multi-disciplinary team. The post holder will take an active part in the clinical work of the team; the majority of clinical work is clinic based, but service users may also be seen at home, as required.
Clinical work also includes report writing. The post holder will also be supported in developing a special interest in a clinical area, which meets the Trust objectives.
The post holder will have about 450 patients in their case load out of which 225 are CPA. There are 15 patients on CTO currently and 8 on section 41. There are no bail hostels, but catchment area has a number of nursing homes and rehab hostels. CPA patients are mostly seen by staff grade doctor but in some instances, consultant will be expected to carry out CPA reviews. There are approximately 5 new referrals through to recovery team in a month. There is at the most 1 new case and around 3-4 follow up patients in a clinic. MHA assessments form an important part of the clinical commitments and have to be done as an emergency. There is a Rota for that in the team which includes fellow Consultant, ST doctor and Specialty doctor. The post holder will have junior doctor support and will be expected to provide clinical supervision to any first or second on call doctors when they contact for any advice or support.
The service operates in the context of CPA Policies and Procedures and all other Policies of the Trust and Local Authorities.
The post holder will contribute to clinical and medical leadership within the Recovery Team taking a lead role in the development and provision of a safe, effective, evidenced-based, quality service. The post holder will liaise closely with General Practitioners (GPs) and with other services, teams and agencies within the Borough and within the Trust to support effective, collaborative, inter-agency working.
Administration time is allocated in the job plan.
Junior doctor resource is currently one ST trainee. The Post Holder will be supported to develop Educational and Clinical Supervisor Responsibilities for the junior trainee. There is also a hub manager -Barry McKeown
Participation in undergraduate and postgraduate clinical teaching.
Participation in the training of other disciplines.
Providing educational supervision of trainees and other disciplines.
taking part in continuing medical education within statutory limits.
Expected contribution to clinical governance and responsibility for setting and monitoring standards.
Participation in clinical audit and other local assurance processes.
Participation in service/team evaluation and the planning of future service developments.
Leads and manages a team in a way that supports the development of a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
Utilises a quality improvement approach to think systemically about complex problems, develop potential change ideas and test these in practice using a systematic QI methodology.
Empowers the team to resolve local issues on a daily basis using the tools and method of quality improvement without staff having to seek permission.
Promotes awareness and understanding of quality improvement.
To manage, appraise and give professional supervision to junior medical staff as agreed between consultant colleagues and the medical director and in accordance with the Trusts personnel policies and procedures. This may include assessing competences under the Modernising Medical Careers framework.
To ensure that junior medical staff working with the post holder operate within the parameters of the New Deal and are Working Time Directive compliant.
To undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients.
To record clinical activity accurately and comprehensively and submit this promptly to the Information Department.
To participate in service and business planning activity for the locality and, as appropriate, for the whole mental health service.
To participate in annual appraisal for consultants.
To attend and participate in the academic programme of the Trust, including lectures and seminars as part of the internal CPD programme.
To maintain professional registration with the General Medical Council, Mental Health Act Section 12(2) approval, and to abide by professional codes of conduct.
To participate annually in a job plan review with the clinical manager, which will include consultation with a relevant manager in order to ensure that the post is developed to take into account changes in service configuration and delivery associated with modernisation.
To work with local managers and professional colleagues in ensuring the efficient running of services and share with consultant colleagues in the medical contribution to management.
To comply with the Trusts agreed policies, procedures, standing orders and financial instructions, and to take an active role in the financial management of the service and support the medical director and other managers in preparing plans for services.
The Trust actively supports the involvement of the consultant body in regional and national groups subject to discussion and approval with the medical director and, as necessary, the chief executive officer.
From time to time it may be necessary for the post holder to carry out such other duties as may be assigned, with agreement, by the Trust. It is expected that the post holder will not unreasonably withhold agreement to any reasonable proposed changes that the Trust might make.
It is envisaged that the post holder will work 10 programmed activities over 5 days. Following appointment there will be a meeting at no later than three months with the clinical manager to review and revise the job plan and objectives of the post holder. The overall split of the programmed activities is 7.5 to be devoted to direct clinical care and 2.5 to supporting professional activities (as per the Royal College of Psychiatrists recommendation). The timetable is indicative only. A formal job plan will be agreed between the post holder and associate medical director or clinical manager three months after commencing the post and at least annually thereafter.
There is currently a 1:20 (minimum), non-resident, 3rd on call rota for Consultant Psychiatrists, with prospective cover (Category B 1%). On call runs over a 24 hour period, from 9:00am until 9:00am the following day, covering the Boroughs of Warrington and Wigan. There is separate Consultant on call Rota for the boroughs of Warrington and Wigan. The on call covers all disciplines except CAMHS, who have a separate, Trust-wide on call rota. During weekdays on call routine clinics will be cancelled as the post holder is expected to attend to any Sec136 assessments and urgent calls during the on call. There is an expectation to support the 2nd on call after hrs rarely with MHA assessments or clinical decisions if necessary. The on call Consultants would be expected to cover Knowsley, St Helens, Halton and Warrington as part of their on call rota.
2nd on call is currently provided by Higher Trainees/speciality doctors, who are on call from 5pm until 9am the following day.
1st on call is provided by Junior Trainees.
Effective local occupational health support (confidential, includes modalities of self-referral, promoted regularly at induction and when in post)
The post holder will have access to the Occupational Health (OH) Department, (full address, telephone and email). The OH team has access to a physiotherapist and psychologist, and the post holder may self refer or be referred through their manager. The post holder will have access to the 24-hour Health Assured service, which provides free counselling, including face-to-face, and well as legal and financial support, online CBT and wellbeing resources. Information about Occupational Health and Health Assured will be disseminated at the induction and regularly when in post to ensure the post holder has timely access to the details if help seeking is necessary.
Proactive local organisational systems to support doctors wellbeing following serious incidents including supporting the wellbeing of the post holder after serious incidents that involve patients in their care (e.g., homicide or suicide) is paramount, and a dedicated senior clinician will provide support and advice as needed after the incident. Details of the senior clinician able to offer this support will be provided via the Medical Directorate at the time of initial induction.
Timely job planning reviews when there are changes in regard to the pre-agreed workload
For example, if there are changes to the pre-agreed workload (e.g., unexpected cover of a different unit/service outside the casual cross-cover arrangement) a timely meeting with the line manager before cover starts will enable discussion of the feasibility of the change within the constraints of needing to manage a safe workload. Additional support will be sourced if required. A timely job plan adjustment will be arranged if a new working arrangement is to proceed.
Availability of local initiatives/resources that promote workforce wellbeing (example: selfcare, work-life balance, stress management, coaching/mentoring, peer group support, Balint groups for consultants/SAS)
e.g., The trust has several initiatives to support wellbeing that the post holder is encouraged to participate in. These currently include flexible working, flexible retirement, season ticket scheme, lease vehicle scheme, cycle scheme, retail and restaurant discounts, eye test scheme, free health checks, menopause support, gym discounts, wellbeing events, mindfulness courses, wellbeing walks and jogs, and parenting workshops. The post holder will form part of a consultant peer group who meet regularly.
