Job Advert
Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry & Eating Disorders
Salary Scale - £96,963 - £128,841 per annum (pro rata)
10 Programmed Activities (6 in Acute General Adult Inpatient ward and 2.5 in the eating disorders services with 1.5 SPA (following discussions with suitable candidate with opportunities for remote working)
NHS Forth Valley: Where exceptional Psychiatrists can flourish and really feel at home.
Forth Valley Psychiatric Services is an exceptional workplace with emerging evidence as one of the best mental health services in Scotland. We have a dynamic permanent consultant cohort unparalleled in Scotland focussed on delivering high quality services. To support this, the Consultants have Supporting Professional Activities (SPA) time in their job plans which are approached flexibly by the organisation to support continuous improvement in services through developing areas of special interest consistent with Consultants’ competencies and values. The inpatient service is one of the few accredited wards in Scotland recognised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists Quality Network for Working Age (QNWA) Standards as providing excellent care.
This post has become available due to internal reorganisation of the Consultant workforce. There may be the opportunity to apply for substantive permanent employment if a post becomes available.
The post will be based within the inpatient services at Forth Valley Royal Hospital (FVRH), Larbert; and the Eating Disorders Unit based at Livilands Resource Centre, Stirling.
Ward 2 is a 20 bedded Acute Inpatient Unit covering Forth Valley North Sector (Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council areas) and covering the ICMHS at Livilands, Stirling and the Clackmannanshire ICMHS base in Alloa. The post is supported by input from other colleagues to provide cross cover for leave and assistance in managing complex patients. The Inpatient Unit is purpose built and includes an IPCU, another General Adult and two Older Adult acute wards. The Acute Inpatient Services are located close to teams providing Perinatal and Hospital Addiction services alongside the Electroconvulsive Therapy service. Psychiatric liaison, acute (same day) assessment, and intensive home treatment services are provided by MHAATS (Mental Health Acute Assessment and Treatment Service) who also support early discharges from the ward and are co-located at FVRH. Working closely with these teams and liaising with colleagues in the wider mental health system is a core component to this post.
This post offers innovative and bespoke job role for candidates interested in combining sessions in General Adult Psychiatry with sessions in another speciality, such as eating disorders. We are keen to explore developing roles consistent with parity of esteem ethos of the Royal College of Psychiatrists to support our existing programme of joint working and improved interface in these areas. Once in post candidates are able to explore changes to their job plans annually to reflect specialist interests and to develop skills.
On call duties are non-resident and mainly consist of providing telephone advice and leadership to training grade medical staff. These duties are shared across the Consultant group on a 1 in 25 for an 8-session post, and 1 in 20 for a 10-session post.
We are passionate about attracting the brightest and best students and doctors in training into Psychiatry, developing them into consultants that will serve the needs of Scotland. Our local teaching and training programmes have been nationally recognised as a centre of excellence by trainees on Deanery reports. We are home to the Scottish Centre for Clinical Simulation and Human Factors, one of the most advanced training facilities of its kind, where medical staff can hone their skills using state of art mannequins. Through this centre we have developed the award winning PSYCHSIM programme. This trains our staff in managing emergency situations that arise on Psychiatry wards that the post holder can expand and develop. The post holder will also be working with Consultant Psychiatrists with a national profile in Medical Education and so would have immediate links to regional and national teaching opportunities.
Forth Valley offers an unrivalled quality of life. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty which includes Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Historic Stirling ‘the gateway to the Highlands’ has local state schools that consistently feature in the top 20 of national league tables. Scotland’s major cities, Glasgow & Edinburgh are within one hour’s travel. Substantial relocation packages are available.
We welcome applications from those wishing to work more or fewer than the sessions listed above. The size of our health board allows us to be flexible and responsive. We have been quick to adopt new ways of working during the coronavirus pandemic. There are opportunities for remote working or condensed hours to have an optimal work life balance. Applicants are encouraged to visit the department and meet key staff (this can be arranged in person or facilitated online).
Informal enquiries should be directed by telephone to or Dr Nabila Muzaffar, Associate Medical Director (Mental Health), Tel: 01324 566177 or Dr Prakash Shankar, Clinical Director (Acute and Speciality Services), Tel: 01324 566176 or Dr Edward Shaw, Clinical Director (GA MH Inpatient Services) Tel 01324 566177.
To apply for this post, please visit the job posting on the NHS Scotland Job Train website. Applicants should have full GMC registration and a licence to practise. Applicants will be in possession of the MRCPsych or equivalent. Applicants must possess or be within 6 months of their CCT and if applying under the portfolio pathway your name must be entered on the GMC Specialist Register at the time of application to be eligible to apply. Applicants are required to have evidence of recent continued academic and professional development. Excellent, communication, listening and organisational skills are essential.
Closing date: Thursday 1st August 2024
Interview date: TBC
Please quote reference number 190989 on all correspondence
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.