Specialty DoctorNHS

Job summary

This is an opportunity to work as a permanent, substantive SAS (Specialty Doctor) in psychiatry within the new Hammersmith & Fulham Assertive Outreach Team, part of West London NHS Trust community mental health services. The post supports the tri-borough mobilisation of the Assertive Outreach (AO) function mandated by NHS England, and the post holder will work specifically within the AO arm of the team. The post is available at 0.8-1.0 WTE (8-10 PAs). The final timetable, including the balance of Direct Clinical Care and Supporting Professional Activities, will be agreed with the successful candidate.

The post is suitable for a Specialty Doctor in the early stages of their SAS career, including doctors with approximately 0-4 years' SAS experience, who have the required postgraduate and psychiatric experience for appointment to the grade and wishes to develop specialist expertise in assertive outreach and complex psychosis. The role centres on assertive engagement and community/home-based delivery for a small caseload of patients with severe psychosis who have found it difficult to engage with mainstream services, alongside participation in MDT and referral meetings within a new, evolving multidisciplinary team model.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake psychiatric assessment and ongoing follow-up of adults with severe, complex psychosis referred to or managed by the Assertive Outreach Team's cohort, appropriate to grade and level of supervision.
• Hold a small, low-caseload of patients within the AO cohort, providing intensive, proactive and flexible clinical input including regular clinic and community-based review appointments, in line with the AO model's emphasis on frequent, assertive contact.
• Participate in urgent reviews, referral discussions, Assertive Outreach Team MDT meetings and other routine clinical/governance meetings relevant to the AO pathway.
• Undertake regular domiciliary and other community-based visits - including joint visits with care co-ordinators and outreach workers - as a core, routine part of assertive engagement with patients who have difficulty engaging with services, tailoring the frequency and intensity of contact to individual need.
• Prescribe and review psychotropic medication within competence, liaising closely with the team's consultant psychiatrist/Responsible Clinician, with senior medical staff always available for advice and discussion.
• Contribute to biopsychosocial formulation, risk assessment, relapse prevention and care/risk management planning for the AO cohort, and liaise closely with carers, primary care, CRS, MINT, EIP, inpatient and third-sector partners to support joined-up care across the pathway

Job description

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.