General Adult Inpatient Locum Consultant Psychiatrist

Overview

General Adult Inpatient Locum Consultant Psychiatrist at Tower Hamlets Centre for Mental Health (linked with Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Mental Health Team). This is a 10 PAs position with 12 Fixed Term Contract to cover paternity leave for one year. The post is within a well‑established acute psychiatric unit spread over two acute gender specific wards. The post primarily offers inpatient care for residents of the Isle of Dogs geographical area (in Tower Hamlets) or patients supported by the Isle of Dogs neighbourhood mental health team (IoD NMHT).

The appointed consultant would provide clinical leadership and assume the role of Responsible Clinician (RC) for patients, working with colleagues who hold similar roles for the Stepney and Wapping area (and NMHT) and the Tower Hamlets Early Intervention for Psychosis Services (THEIS). The wards have a capacity of 19 beds each:
Roman Ward (females) and Lea Ward (males).

The post aims to maintain strong links with the community team (IoD NMHT). The current 1.0 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) job plan is to be developed to meet service needs and is envisaged to include 7.5 PAs for direct clinical care (DCC) and 2.5 PAs for supporting programmed activities (SPA). The main duties include providing consultant input to the inpatient wards and Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, assessing and reviewing patients, devising management plans, and providing clinical leadership.

The post‑holder will provide consultant clinical leadership to the service and will assume consultant psychiatrist responsibility for patients aligned to their GP practice and looked after by the Neighbourhood Mental Health Service, including taking RC status for detained patients on leave and for patients subject to Community Treatment Orders. If appropriate, this may involve leading on compliance with the Mental Health Act and CQC requirements.

They will participate in the assessment of patients referred to the service and in drawing up care plans addressing psychiatric, physical and social needs. They will carry out detailed psychiatric assessments to enable accurate diagnoses and treatment plans (including pharmacological management of psychotropic medication) within a recovery‑focused approach. All work is undertaken in the context of the recovery approach; good communication with the patient’s care coordinator and GP is essential, and carers and other professionals participate in reviews when indicated.

• Provide consultant input to inpatient wards and the Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, including reviewing patients and devising management plans.
• Assume Responsible Clinician status for detained patients on leave and for patients subject to Community Treatment Orders; lead on compliance with the Mental Health Act and relevant regulatory requirements as appropriate.
• Deliver direct clinical care as part of the 1.0 WTE plan (7.5 PAs DCC) and participate in supporting programmed activities (2.5 PAs SPA).
• Contribute to the delivery of evidence‑based treatments, including pharmacological management of psychotropic medications.
• Engage with the recovery‑oriented model and maintain strong communication with care coordinators and GPs; participate in care plan reviews with carers and other professionals as indicated.
• Maintain links with community teams and multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure coordinated care for service users.

• Consultant level appointment in Psychiatry with eligibility for RC responsibilities.
• Experience with inpatient acute psychiatry and collaboration with community mental health teams.
• Ability to lead clinical teams, develop assessment and care planning, and manage complex cases including CTOs and MHA compliance.

• Flexible working options and a supportive organisation open to job share, part‑time, or other flexible patterns discussable.
• Relocation assistance up to £10,000 for removal and associated expenses (terms and conditions apply).
• Opportunities to contribute to service improvement and quality improvement initiatives within ELFT.

East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) provides a wide range of community health and mental health services in London and surrounding areas. The Trust is clinician‑led and emphasizes service user involvement; a service user will be on the assessment centre and interview panel when invited. ELFT values are:
We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive. The Trust is committed to diversity and equality, with networks and practices to support staff from varied backgrounds.