Consultant Psychiatrist-South East Region

CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST-SOUTH EAST REGION

JOB SUMMARY

Post / Consultant Psychiatrist-Learning Disability
Base / Yew Trees Hospital
Contract / Part-Time ( 2.5 days )
Accountable professionally to / Group Medical Director
Accountable operationally to / Group Medical Director
Key working relationships and lines of responsibility / Service Manager
Regional Director of Operations
Medical Director
Director of Nursing and Governance

INTRODUCTION

Danshell cares and supports adults with learning disabilityin specialist hospitals and residential services. Our aim is to deliver effective and outcome based services within person centered, professional care environments. We support individuals with a learning disability, who are on the autistic spectrum or have mental or physical ill health.

This post provides psychiatric cover for independent hospitals which provide assessment and intervention for adults with learning disability, autism and behaviours which are perceived as challenging. In addition the post holder also covers care home service users who require Danshell MDT input.

2. COMPANY DETAILS

Launched in 2010 the Danshell Group has rapidly expanded with the acquisition of specialist hospitals and residential services creating a portfolio of over 20 services across England and Scotland.

Positioning ourselves as a contemporary provider of health and social care for adults with a learning disability, the group’s extended range of services incorporates a number of key specialisms delivered by dedicated, passionate and professional care teams. Every service within the Danshell Group works closely with families, referrers, statutory authorities, other stakeholders and service users to ensure transparency in everything that we do.

The Danshell Group consists of:

19 dedicated services across England and Scotland for service users aged 18 to 65 with learning disabilities
4 specialist services for adults with autism

Care and support that is inspired and delivered with passion is at the heart of what we do. Our approach to the provision of care aims to nurture, treat and empower individuals to enhance their lives within safe and supportive environments.

3. SERVICE DESCRIPTION

This post provides consultant psychiatric cover based at Yew Treesfor two days. This service is in Danshell's South East region.

Yew Trees in Kirby-Le-Soken, Essex is a 10 bedded independent hospital for women who have a learning disability and complex needs supported by learning disability nurses, offering care and support in a structured and therapeutic environment.Service users who come into the service are often detained under the Mental Health Act and may present with a wide range of complex psychiatric, emotional, social and behavioural disorders.

Assessment is completed on or before admission and this includes psychological, emotional, social, educational and cultural needs. An individualised care plan is created in partnership with the service user, the network of professionals involved in their care as well as family and carers. Care coordination is managed by a robust Care Programme Approach (CPA) process and multi-agency liaison. Each week care plans are reviewed in a clinical MDT meeting with the service user and the team supporting theirtreatment. The hospital can take rapid access and emergency referrals and all services have 24 hour medical cover via an on call rota.

The staff teams comprise of specialist consultant learning disability psychiatrist, clinical psychologist and a consultant nurse. There are also occupational therapists, activity coordinators anda speech and language therapist.

Service users are encouraged to identify and achieve their own goals and aspirations using person centred thinking and approaches. Individuals are encouraged to take part in activities using the activities programme. This aims to enable people to structure their time; build relationships and establish a balance between therapy, self-care, work opportunities and leisure as appropriate to their individual needs.

4. DIRECT CLINICAL DUTIES OF THE POST

The post holder will be responsible for the provision of psychiatric services to adults with learning disabilities, autism and associated complex needs.

Clinical work will mainly entail comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluations in collaboration with the rest of the multi-disciplinary team that include history taking, mental and physical evaluation, and biopsychosocial formulations. These assessments might take place either following initial referrals to the team or in the process of case review or care planning within the team.

Other duties include-

Diagnostic and treatment reviews and mental and physical treatment administration
Preparation of reports for and attendance at Mental Health Tribunal hearings as appropriate. A good knowledge of the Mental Health Act is required
Physical care in liaison with our attending General Practitioner
Review of patients in preparation for CPA reviews and chairing of CPA reviews
Contribution of medical opinion by participating in the regular and exceptional MDT meetings
Provision of advice and support on request to other members of the team in issues related to his/her competence and expertise
Good record keeping and communication of results of assessments to colleagues and writing appropriate reports
Keeping correspondence with colleagues such as the referrers and other agencies as required
Taking an active role in administration and management of the team’s clinical work in collaboration with/under the supervision of the service manager.

They will also undertake assessments of risk and make appropriate recommendations, working with the team and with the external healthcare system to manage risk to the service user and to others. They will undertake this work within the clinical governance framework that exists within Danshell.

The post-holder will act as Approved Clinician for the hospital, and be expected to have familiarity with the important relevant legislation affecting the care of mentally disordered adults. The cover of care home services is often shared with local community NHS services on a named service user basis.

There is a need for a flexible approach to the pattern of working which may change from time to time in line with demands from various areas of the service, developing pathways and service improvement initiatives.

5. LEADERSHIP DUTIES OF POST

The post holder is expected to take a leading role in the provision of the clinical services, and will be expected to take a medical leadership role in the development of the service at the hospital and care home services.

These duties include:

Provide clinical leadership to the multi-disciplinary team alongside the team manager
To work with colleagues to provide effective medical input for the shaping and developing of Learning Disability services within the region
Contribution to clinical governance and responsibility for setting and maintaining standards
Commitment to quality improvement

6. CONSULTANT LINE MANAGEMENT

The responsibility for medical staff within the company lies with the Group Medical Director (also Responsible Officer for Revalidation) providing professional leadership to the company’s doctors.

As well as individual supervision for each consultant the Medical Director chairs a quarterly Group Psychiatry Meeting, a forum where all of the company’s psychiatrists regularly attend.

7. CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING

All medical staff are expected to join a continuous professional development (CPD) peer group. Consultant psychiatrists should be either members or affiliates of the Royal College of Psychiatrists so that they are automatically enrolled on the college’s CPD programme.

Consultant psychiatrists will use the peer group to help them identify and review learning objectives linked to clinical, academic and professional practice in support of the their CPD.

The company will reviewreasonable requests for study leave which have been agreed by the consultant’s CPD peer group and line manager. Approval is given by the Group Medical Director and reasonable expenses are met once approved.

All staff are expected to be up to date with company requirements on statutory and mandatory training, which will vary from time to time, managers will ensure that all staff are aware each year of their responsibilities in this area. Much of the training can be done online, but otherwise staff are required to

attend appropriate in-house training. In the event that staff are not meeting company requirements in this area, this will be brought up by their manager in a review. Failure to undertake appropriate statutory and mandatory training is likely to lead to requests for external training funded by the company to be declined.

8. JOB PLANNING, APPRAISAL AND REVALIDATION

A formal job plan will be agreed between the appointee and the Medical Director. The job plan will be reviewed annually as part of ongoing supervision. The job plan is a prospective agreement that sets out the consultant’s duties, responsibilities and objectives for the coming twelve months. It will cover all aspects of a consultant’s professional practice including clinical work, teaching, research, continuing

professional development and managerial responsibilities. It will provide a clear schedule of commitments, both internal and external to the employing organisation. In addition it should include personal objectives, including details of their link to the wider service objectives, and details of the support required by the consultant to fulfil the job plan and the objectives.

In order to meet the requirements for Revalidation, the consultant will maintain an appraisal portfolio containing supporting information and multisource feedback on their practice. The date of annual appraisal will be determined by the Appraisal Lead in their meeting with a newly appointed consultant within two months of starting.

Appraisers are allocated by the Medical Director (who is the Responsible Officer for revalidation). The post holder will be expected to meet the GMC standards for revalidation in order for the Responsible Officer to make recommendations for Revalidation.

9. CLINCAL GOVERNACE, AUDIT AND RESEARCH

One of the company’s priorities is to provide high quality, evidence-based and safe services supported by effective integrated governance arrangements.

Doctors are expected to cooperate in this process, using the best available evidence and up to date guidelines in order to achieve best clinical practice and cost-effective care.

All consultants are required to participate in the agreed clinical governance agenda, which includes annual clinical audits. An established programme of continuous quality improvement including clinical audit exists within the company and the appointee will be expected to participate in this.

All staff should understand the role of the national agendas and systems for improving quality of care provision such as Valuing People, National Service Framework, Transforming Care, etc.

Research is encouraged within Danshell, all projects both internal and external collaborations are to be agreed by the company’s research lead and Group Clinical and Nursing Director.

10. EDUCATION AND TEACHING

All consultants are expected to contribute to teaching and training both within the unit and on a national basis. All training is coordinated via the national training and development department who will utilise

the consultant’s specific clinical skills as part of the national training programme. Consultants are encouraged to be active trainers in order to promote their own continuing professional development.

11. GENERAL PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF POST HOLDER

Maintain good clinical records using company’s paper and electronic recording systems
Undertake administrative duties associated with the care of patients
Record clinical activity accurately and comprehensively
Maintain a revalidation portfolio and participate in annual appraisal
Undertake a job plan review with the service manager annually

Maintain professional registration with the GMC and maintain Approved Clinician Status
Comply with companies agreed policies and procedures

12. EXTERNAL DUTIES, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Danshell actively supports the involvement of the consultant body in regional and national groups subject to discussion and approval with the Group Medical Director.

13. ON-CALL ARRANGEMENTS

The post holder will participate in the South East On Call rota. This is currently 1 in 3 but is under review subject to review at regular intervals.

14. COVER ARRANGEMENTS

Holiday and study leave cover is provided by prior arrangement with the other consultant psychiatrist from the South East Region. Leave arrangements are authorised by the Medical Director and cannot be confirmed till authorised.

15. CONSULTANT SUPPORT

The post-holder will have use of a desk within the hospital as well as appropriate IT support, including a PC, mobile telephone, dictation machine and high speed internet. The company will support “remote working” such as network access outside the company where appropriate and agreed by the line manager. Administrative support for consultants is provided by the administration team of Thors Park and the clinical team secretary.

16. OTHER DUTIES

From time to time it may be necessary for the post holder to carry out other such duties as may be assigned, with agreement, by the company. It is expected that the post holder will not unreasonably withhold agreement to any reasonable proposed changes that the company might make.

17. OUTLINE WORK PROGRAMME

The work programme will be agreed with line manager on commencement of post.Any changes to this weekly schedule will be undertaken in conjunction with the post holder as part of an annual job plan review conducted by the Medical Director.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Qualifications and Training / MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
MRCPsych OR MRCPsych equivalent
Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment
Completed accredited training in learning disability psychiatry
Registered as a Specialist in Psychiatry on GMC Specialist Register (or are eligible for such inclusion)
Approved clinician status
Approved under the section 12 (2) of the Mental Health Act or equivalent / Another post-graduate qualification (other than MRCPsych) in a field related to Learning Disability Psychiatry or Autism
Knowledge / Up to date knowledge in the field of learning disability psychiatry
Awareness of current issues in mental health service provision, policy and legislation
Knowledge of current issues in national strategic direction for learning disability services / Specialist interest in an area relevant to learning disability psychiatry
Specialist interest as demonstrated by publications or presentations to learned societies
Experience / Wide clinical experience of inpatient learning disability psychiatry
Experience of multidisciplinary team working
Able to meet duties under Mental Health and capacity legislation / Experience of multiagency work, especially with user, carer and voluntary organisations
Experience in Autism or Forensic services
Experience in Court Work in relation to the forensic aspects of learning disability
Experience in service management development
Skills / Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge
Ability to work constructively in multidisciplinary teams and multiagency systems
Excellent communication skills
Commitment to working with users, carers and voluntary organisations / Established record of clinical leadership
Established ability as clinical teacher
Established ability to research and/or audit.
Specific treatment modality skills.
Transport / Holds and will use valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative