Job summary
The Trust is seeking a full-time consultant psychiatrist in medical psychotherapy/general adult psychiatry to join the specialist personality disorders services based at Spring House.
This new post has been created to support the planned expansion to the PD Case Management Team to cover the geographical areas of Warrington + Halton in the recently expended Trust.
It is envisaged that the post-holder will join the current 1.8 consultant psychiatrists and work across all 3 services based at Spring House.
The service prides itself in creating a "community" for service users attending Spring Hose, through both the stabilisation and therapy stages of their recovery. The team is welcoming, has good supportive structures in place and currently has a well-motivated team with good staffing levels and high levels of retention.
The team is also working innovatively in response to challenges and developments. The service has been recognised locally and nationally as an area of excellent practice (recently making the final of 5 national awards including being the runner up twice in the Health Service Journal Awards 2019 and 2021.).
Main duties of the job
Supporting the intensive community PD Case Management Team that offers 100 weeks of intensive care co-ordination to those patients with the most complex presentations, to divert patients from Out of Area Placements and local inpatient wards.
The new Consultant Medical Psychotherapist/Psychiatrist will act as the Responsible Clinician (RC) for the service users attending the service bringing together the psychological and medical care within a single service.
Working into PD Therapeutic Day Service and PD Crisis Service that provide social therapy and crisis support across the week and into evening. Working into the psychotherapy service offering assessments, on-going therapy and supervision/training to trainees from different disciplines.
The aim has been to develop an integrated range of services, delivered from the same building, which service users will be able to form an "attachment" to as an alternative to hospital admission. The overarching philosophy of the service will be to help service users become more responsible for their own actions, promote personal independence and support therapeutic risk taking.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The recruitment of an additional Consultant Medical Psychotherapist/General Adult Psychiatrist will support the expansion of the PD Case Management Team to cover the Warrington and Halton areas of the Trusts geographical footprint, following merger with the neighbouring Trust.
It is in visage that the post-holder will work across all the different services described below and help with the establishment and development of the new PD Case Management service into Warrington and Halton, with the support of the Clinical Lead. This will involve establishing new links with the other inpatient and community services in this area.
Duties within the Psychotherapy Service:
Expert knowledge in psychological formulation and assessment, and the delivery of specialist psychological interventions.
Screen referrals.
Psychotherapy assessment and formulation.
Psychotherapy interventions, with specialist knowledge/skills in at least two modalities of therapy, including a specialist knowledge of PD interventions (e.g. MBT, DBT, SCM, TC, CAT, Psychodynamic Therapy). Personal case load of 4-6 cases.
Provision of Psychotherapy Training to medical trainees (e.g. Balint Groups + supervision groups) and those from other disciplines (e.g. supervision).
Historically, the Trust has had a Psychotherapy Service, delivering a range of both conventional psychotherapies (CBT, CAT, Family Therapy, Psychodynamic Individual and Group Therapy) and specialist interventions for PD (MBT, DBT, Day Therapeutic Community, CFT). There are 7 whole time equivalent psychotherapist working in the psychotherapy service at the moment, including the overall Service Manager. Additionally, there is a CT medical trainee in a shared post with the Homeless Outreach Team and two ST trainees undertaking dual training in General Adult and Psychotherapy over 5 years. The Psychotherapy Service is only open to referrals from within the Trust and operates a quota system of 25 referrals a month, mostly from CMHTs, to ensure that there is a match between referral rate and the services clinical capacity. Primary Care patients are seen in the local IAPT and Step Forward services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The recruitment of an additional Consultant Medical Psychotherapist/General Adult Psychiatrist will support the expansion of the PD Case Management Team to cover the Warrington and Halton areas of the Trusts geographical footprint, following merger with the neighbouring Trust.
It is in visage that the post-holder will work across all the different services described below and help with the establishment and development of the new PD Case Management service into Warrington and Halton, with the support of the Clinical Lead. This will involve establishing new links with the other inpatient and community services in this area.
Duties within the Psychotherapy Service:
Expert knowledge in psychological formulation and assessment, and the delivery of specialist psychological interventions.
Screen referrals.
Psychotherapy assessment and formulation.
Psychotherapy interventions, with specialist knowledge/skills in at least two modalities of therapy, including a specialist knowledge of PD interventions (e.g. MBT, DBT, SCM, TC, CAT, Psychodynamic Therapy). Personal case load of 4-6 cases.
Provision of Psychotherapy Training to medical trainees (e.g. Balint Groups + supervision groups) and those from other disciplines (e.g. supervision).
Historically, the Trust has had a Psychotherapy Service, delivering a range of both conventional psychotherapies (CBT, CAT, Family Therapy, Psychodynamic Individual and Group Therapy) and specialist interventions for PD (MBT, DBT, Day Therapeutic Community, CFT). There are 7 whole time equivalent psychotherapist working in the psychotherapy service at the moment, including the overall Service Manager. Additionally, there is a CT medical trainee in a shared post with the Homeless Outreach Team and two ST trainees undertaking dual training in General Adult and Psychotherapy over 5 years. The Psychotherapy Service is only open to referrals from within the Trust and operates a quota system of 25 referrals a month, mostly from CMHTs, to ensure that there is a match between referral rate and the services clinical capacity. Primary Care patients are seen in the local IAPT and Step Forward services.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
Desirable
- MRCPsych
- Higher educational or research-based qualification.
- To have a recognised psychotherapy qualification i.e. Post Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and additional training in specialist PD Interventions (e.g. MBT, DBT, SCM, CAT)
- UKCP or BACP accredited (or equivalent)
Eligibility
Essential
- Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment
- 3-5 years higher professional training in general adult psychiatry and/or psychotherapy
- Registered as a Specialist in Medical Psychotherapy and/or General Adult Psychiatry on GMC Specialist Register or eligible for inclusion within 6 months
- Section 12(2) Approval / Approved Clinician Status or demonstrated ability to gain approval
Desirable
- Registered as a Specialist in both Psychiatry and Medical Psychotherapy (Dual Training) on GMC Specialist Register or eligible for inclusion within 6 months
- Management training or qualifications
Transport
Essential
- Holds and will use valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative
Clinical Skills,Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Up to date knowledge in the fields of general psychiatry, psychotherapy and personality disorder
- Awareness of current issues in mental health service provision, policy and legislation
- Wide clinical experience in both general psychiatry and psychotherapy with exposure to specialities in training
- Experience of working with PD
- Experience of multi-disciplinary team working
- High level of clinical skill in both psychiatry and psychotherapy (assessment, formulation and intervention)
- Skills in forming a therapeutic relationship with PD service users and experience of repairing ruptures to the alliance
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
- Ability to work constructively in and to lead a multidisciplinary team
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable
- Specialist interest in an area relevant to the team, e.g. specialist therapy, PD, Psycho-pharmacology
- High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychotherapies.
- Training in clinical supervision
- Experience of multi agency work especially with user, carer and voluntary organisations
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
- Experience of working in inner city, with diverse communities
- Record of clinical leadership
- Established record as clinical teacher
- Ability to network into different teams and organisations
Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning
Essential
- Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
- Ability to work and lead team
- Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement
- Participated in Continuous professional development
- Participated in research or service evaluation
- Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programs
Desirable
- Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post
- Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken
- Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation
- Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes
- Has led clinical audits leading to service change or improved outcomes to patients
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
Desirable
- MRCPsych
- Higher educational or research-based qualification.
- To have a recognised psychotherapy qualification i.e. Post Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and additional training in specialist PD Interventions (e.g. MBT, DBT, SCM, CAT)
- UKCP or BACP accredited (or equivalent)
Eligibility
Essential
- Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment
- 3-5 years higher professional training in general adult psychiatry and/or psychotherapy
- Registered as a Specialist in Medical Psychotherapy and/or General Adult Psychiatry on GMC Specialist Register or eligible for inclusion within 6 months
- Section 12(2) Approval / Approved Clinician Status or demonstrated ability to gain approval
Desirable
- Registered as a Specialist in both Psychiatry and Medical Psychotherapy (Dual Training) on GMC Specialist Register or eligible for inclusion within 6 months
- Management training or qualifications
Transport
Essential
- Holds and will use valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative
Clinical Skills,Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Up to date knowledge in the fields of general psychiatry, psychotherapy and personality disorder
- Awareness of current issues in mental health service provision, policy and legislation
- Wide clinical experience in both general psychiatry and psychotherapy with exposure to specialities in training
- Experience of working with PD
- Experience of multi-disciplinary team working
- High level of clinical skill in both psychiatry and psychotherapy (assessment, formulation and intervention)
- Skills in forming a therapeutic relationship with PD service users and experience of repairing ruptures to the alliance
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
- Ability to work constructively in and to lead a multidisciplinary team
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable
- Specialist interest in an area relevant to the team, e.g. specialist therapy, PD, Psycho-pharmacology
- High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychotherapies.
- Training in clinical supervision
- Experience of multi agency work especially with user, carer and voluntary organisations
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
- Experience of working in inner city, with diverse communities
- Record of clinical leadership
- Established record as clinical teacher
- Ability to network into different teams and organisations
Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning
Essential
- Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
- Ability to work and lead team
- Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement
- Participated in Continuous professional development
- Participated in research or service evaluation
- Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programs
Desirable
- Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post
- Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken
- Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation
- Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes
- Has led clinical audits leading to service change or improved outcomes to patients
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.
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
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).
