Health and Community Services

Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist - all adult ages

This job is now closed

Job summary

Come and work in Jersey the sunniest place in the British Isles! Only fourteen miles from France, we are a popular holiday destination famous for our unique culture, beautiful beaches, good schools (public and private) and low crime rates.

We are all one organisation in Jersey so there are none of the inter-Trust complexities that liaison services face in the UK. We have an established liaison service that requires a new consultant with the energy and vision to take the service to the next level.The post has dedicated Consultant timefor service development so that the post holder can fully participate in the plans to provide a world-class liaison service to the newJersey General Hospital.In recent years we have invested significantly in mental health services. We are about to open a brand new inpatient unit and have developed comprehensive community services, including a 24 hour crisis and assessment team, a Home Treatment Team and a neurodiversity service.

We have a number of exciting job opportunities on offer, and are happy to discuss different combinations of the roles or flexible working. We are especially interested in candidates who can expand our range of specialist expertise and are interested in shaping the future of mental health care on the Island. Even if your exact job is not below get in touch and have a discussion about possibilities as we have more expansion planned.

Main duties of the job

We offer:

A generous relocation package.

A substantial pension scheme (not subject to UK tax penalties and available to those who have retired from the NHS Scheme).

A flat rate income tax of 20% with no capital gains or inheritance tax

A personal budget for CPD that significantly exceeds what would be on offer in the UK

Situated just 40 minutes flying time from London with excellent transport links to Europe the small beautiful Island of Jersey is the sunniest place in the UK, has great sandy beaches surrounded by soaring cliffs and offers a healthy work-life balance. There are excellent opportunities for a wide range of outdoor activities including sailing, diving, kayaking and paddle boarding. Jersey has the ideal lifestyle and work environment. I would encourage you to come and try it for yourself!

Full travelling expenses are paid from a UK port of entry, with a generous relocation package available, generous pension scheme (not subject to UK annual or lifetime limits) and the appointee may take advantage of Jersey taxation policies. The post attracts residential qualifications and Jersey has excellent affordable private education for children.

About us

Jersey has its own health service that is separate from the NHS. The Islands integrated, taxation-funded health and care system is largely free at the point of delivery and is run by the Health and Community Services Department. Jersey has begun a comprehensive programme to transform health and social care, supported by significant investment in community and hospital services. Funding has been secured to build a new 300 bed General Hospital and a new mental health inpatient unit. All the components of a health and social care system are here to work with, in an environment where there is closer interaction with political processes than in the UK. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of developing a genuinely integrated care system.

Living in Jersey is also financially attractive. We have a flat rate of income tax which compares favourably to the U.K., and we offer a generous public sector pension scheme, which is not subject to U.K. lifetime or annual contribution restrictions. The Jersey Consultant Contract is similar to the U.K. but with a higher level of increments. Subject to satisfactory performance, incremental progression is automatic for between points 1 to 17 on the pay scale. Formal applications are required for points 18 to 20.

Date posted

08 September 2023

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£102,090 to £152,196 a year Salary dependant on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

K0011-23-0199

Job locations

Jersey General Hospital

Gloucester Street

St Helier

Jersey C.I.

JE1 3QS

Job description

Job responsibilities

Jersey health and social care services are undergoing a major redesign with a move towards more community focussed, patient centred provision. We are also redesigning our offer to the General Hospital.

In the past Jersey has had a Liaison service provided by members of the CMHT and Consultants on a rolling rota and a separate older adults Liaison service. This has meant a lack of consistency of care for people in the General Hospital with mental health needs. There has also been a lack of teaching and liaison with General Hospital staff leading to some serious incidents. Although the original service did achieve PLAN accreditation and there were areas of good practice there is a lot of scope for improvement. This is a new post for a motivated Liaison Psychiatry Consultant to come in and help shape an excellent service for Jersey Hospital.

The Liaison service consists of a clinical nurse specialist and 3 nurse practitioners, and the service runs 8am-9pm 7 days a week. The nursing part of the service does not cover the Emergency Department, as all assessments are completed by the Crisis and Assessment Team, but the Consultant will be expected to contribute to medical cover to these assessments and support MH Law assessments in the Emergency Department in collaboration with the Crisis and Assessment Team medical staff. There is an article 36 suite being developed which will be ready in Autumn 2023 and this will take most MH Law assessments out of the Emergency Department.

The hospital has a role for a Clinical Health Psychologist who has supported the Liaison provision in the past, but the post is currently being advertised. There are good links with the Pain Clinic, Oncology and Neurology and in the recent past there was a psychological medicine outpatient clinic which the successful applicant can restart. Jersey has not been part of the National Dementia Audit so care for patients in hospital with dementia has not improved in the way it did in the UK. We are beginning the Dementia audit this year and Liaison Psychiatry will play a major role in helping the General Hospital to work towards great care for those with dementia on their wards. The General hospital are in the process of recruiting 2 consultants in Frailty who will also be vital in helping improve the care of older people in hospital.

As you can see the Liaison Service is in its infancy with great scope for improvement and support from the executive to see it grow and develop.

There is dedicated administrative support in line with RCPsych standards (0.5 wte medical secretary and team secretarial support). The Consultant will have a dedicated individual office at JGH. A mobile, PC and laptop are provided, and IT training and support are arranged on arrival with a 1:1 training session and ongoing support available as required.

Mental Health Law in Jersey is very similar to the law in England and Wales but full training will be given at the start of employment.

Responsibilities and Expectations of the Post holders

The successful applicant will be expected to provide medical expertise in the field of Liaison psychiatry and crisis care. The key responsibilities and expectations are:

Responsibility for the investigation, diagnosis, and management of psychiatric disorders in a general hospital setting for patients aged over 18yr

Providing clinical leadership, support, and advice to the Liaison team.

Supporting the general hospital ward staff to provide excellent care for the mental health needs of their patients through education, participating in policy writing for medications and care, participating in ward meetings, liaising 1:1 with staff, helping with ward initiatives to improve care and auditing outcomes of interventions in collaboration with the General Hospital.

To take an active role in the work to improve the care of people with dementia in the general hospital.

Providing Consultant cover for the Crisis and Assessment Team members assessing in the Emergency Department in collaboration with the other medical staff within the Crisis and Assessment Team.

Participating in Mental Health Law assessments in the Emergency Department

To grow links with General Hospital Outpatient departments to provide a Liaison Psychiatry OP clinic 1PA/ week.

To maintain close working relationships with other parts of the mental health care group.

Fulfilling the role of Responsible Officer for detained patients in the General Hospital, working closely with the Mental Health law Office to ensure timely delivery of tribunal reports and other documentation linked to Jersey Mental Health Law.

Working collaboratively with service users, families, carers, and the voluntary sector.

Liaising with primary care colleagues as required.

To record clinical activity accurately and contemporaneously on the electronic patient record system and send letters to GPs.

Participating in the in-house teaching programme.

Fulfilling the CPD requirements set by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and participating in a peer group

Participating in the development and delivery of training programmes for a variety of disciplines aimed at improving the level of expertise and the standard of care for adults with mental health needs within Health and Community Services.

Participating in the all-age 1:12 on-call rota for psychiatry and contribution to the day on call rota for MHLaw assessments.

Working with managers and professional colleagues to ensure the efficient running of the services and to share with consultant colleagues the medical contribution to the management of the service.

Complying with Health and Community Services agreed policies and procedures.

Working effectively with partner organisations who provide services to people with mental health problems and co-morbidity issues as appropriate.

Engagement in service development activities, audits and monitoring.

The above is intended to indicate the primary range and type of duties required. It is noted however that the duties of the post may alter to reflect changing practices and demands within the service.

Please see the attached job description for the full dimensions of the role.