Job summary

This is a new post created as a result of changes in how we deliver mental health services to older adults across Somerset, and following the retirement of a previous post holder.

We are looking to recruit at consultant level, but will also consider Specialist Grade or a Specialty Doctor, if you have substantial experience in community OPMH.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is a progressive Trust who in addition to being the first Trust integrated with Mental Health Social Services are also one of the first in the Country to integrate Community and Acute Hospital Services within one organization. The Trust was recently awarded 'Metal Health Trust of the Year' by the Health Services Journal.

Interviews will be held on 16th August 2022.

Main duties of the job  

This role is suitable for a new or already experienced consultant, or for a doctor with other significant experience in community OPMH. You will be part of the wider Taunton & West Somerset OPMH Mental Health Team but will primarily work with community patients within the town of Taunton.

The post is offered as a full time post and with an additional PA available to support special interest. However we are equally keen to offer flexible and family friendly working to those looking to work part time or with extended hours. There is no on call requirement although this is available separately if the doctor wishes to join this.

The Taunton & West Somerset CMHT covers a community population of approximately 37,000 older adults 65+ with approx. 18000 living within Taunton. The large population is supported by a large and well established multidisciplinary team and also by other County Wide teams such as MAS and IDSS. You will be part of the medical team with 1 other full time consultant and one part time consultant colleague. There is also a full time Advanced Clinical Nurse Practitioner from April 2022. You will work closely with the community mental health team and will also be part of the local locality memory assessment service.

About us  

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is the first NHS trust on the English mainland to provide community, mental health and acute hospital services. We work with health and social care partners in Somerset to ensure that we deliver outstanding services that meet the needs of our population.

Our trust was formed on 1 April 2020 when Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust merged.

Location

Taunton is a beautiful area of the South West, located between areas of outstanding natural beauty. Somerset offers you the opportunity to live near some of the UKs most desirable locations; from the beautiful local beaches; to the vibrant cosmopolitan centres of Bristol, Bath and Exeter within easy reach.

The County town of Taunton boasts a wide range of local amenities including; an extensive range of shopping, a wide range of local restaurants, sporting and recreational facilities, and excellent educational facilities. Taunton's nightlife offers a great atmosphere with cosy pubs and trendy bars.

Taunton provides access to the M5 motorway and a mainline intercity rail link with trains to London Paddington in less than 2 hours, and Bristol in 30 minutes.

Job responsibilities  

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is a progressive Trust who in addition to being the first Trust integrated with Mental Health Social Services are also one of the first in the Country to integrate Community and Acute Hospital Services within one organization. The Trust was recently awarded Metal Health Trust of the Year by the Health Services Journal.

The Community OPMH Service is divided into four CMHTs (Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Mendip, Taunton & West). There is also a Central County Wide Memory Assessment service (which undertakes much of the MAS work) and also a County Wide Intensive Dementia Support Service IDSS (which acts as a Crisis/Home Treatment Team for those with Dementia).

The Trust is seeking to appoint a Consultant Psychiatrist /Associate Specialist/Senior Doctor in Older Persons Mental Health to join the Community Mental Health Teams and support patients primarily in the Taunton Area but as part of the wider Taunton & West Somerset Team. The Team covers the Taunton & Wellington Area in addition to the rural Exmoor area to the Coastal town of Minehead.

The Clinical Role

This is a new post created as a result of changes in how we deliver mental health services to older adults across Somerset and following the retirement of the previous postholder.

The Taunton & West Somerset CMHT covers a community population of approximately 37,000 older adults 65+ with approx. 18000 living within Taunton. The large population is supported by a large and well established multidisciplinary team and also by other County Wide teams such as MAS and IDSS. The post holder will be part of the medical team with 1 other full time consultant ( Dr Upadhye) and one part time consultant colleague ( Dr Upton ). There is also a full time Advanced Clinical Nurse Practitioner from April 2022. The post holder will work closely with the community mental health team and will also be part of the local locality memory assessment service. The post holder will primarily be working with patients in the Taunton area.

There is an emphasis on members of the CMHT seeing the majority of initial assessments with a day time duty rota dealing with urgent referrals. This helps to minimise consultant emergency work and keeps their individual community caseload at a manageable size. The CMHT will seek advice from the post holder in order to guide management for the patient; this is achieved through formal team meetings, as well as ad hoc discussions with the team when required.

Staff from within the locality memory assessment service currently see all initial referrals; these may be discussed with the consultant and a decision is made as to who is best placed to see the patient for further assessment and treatment. We are encouraging colleagues in primary care to make memory assessments in less complex cases and the post holder will be expected to work with colleagues in primary care in order to advise and support these diagnoses.

There are approximately 1500 referrals each year across the CMHT and locality MAS Service. With the increase in primary care diagnosis of dementia the number of memory assessment service referrals is expected to reduce. The post holder will hold regular clinics, as well as undertaking domiciliary visits when required.

The community mental health teams are part of wider integrated teams. Each team is co located with staff from district nursing and the integrated rehabilitation team (community OT and Physiotherapists). These links are very helpful when managing a patient from a holistic view point. The links will also allow the post holder to work towards closer integration between physical and mental health care, as well as primary and secondary care. Being collocated with this team allows for a free flow of advice and ideas between the services.

The post holder will be based at Pyrland House in Taunton.

There is no inpatient responsibility associated with this post; however the post holder will be expected to discuss possible admissions and discharges to our older adults inpatient unit with the inpatient consultant or their deputy, to ensure safe transfer of care, into and out of the inpatient setting. The post holder may also by agreement offer mutual leave cover to the inpatient consultant.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will:

• Provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health needs of community patients in their community area;
• Work closely with the community teams to provide effective multidisciplinary collaborative care: this will include availability for consultation, regularly attending team meetings and providing case discussion and advice at the request of team members and / or team managers.
• Act as Responsible Clinician for community patients subject to a compulsory treatment order under the Mental Health Act; (CTOs)
• Undertake MHA assessments as the Trust Section 12 doctor for patients in their care (including those detained under S136);
• Provide Mental Capacity Act s49 reports for patients in their community area.
• Provide visible and clear clinical leadership to the mental health service both locally and across the Trust;
• Work collaboratively with inpatient staff to ensure smooth transition for patients admitted and discharged from the wards;
• Join a peer group for CPD purposes: this can a Trust group or other local peer group depending on the post holders preference;
• Identify areas for personal development, that will allow the post holder to improve the care they provide
• Maintain good standing for Continuing Professional Development (CPD); the Trust actively encourages continuing professional development and appropriate study leave and expenses will be supported by the Trust (up to 30 days study leave every three years);
• Undertake annual appraisal and job plan reviews;
• Develop the services around them, in collaboration with management and other team members to continue to improve patient care
• Participate in the local arrangements for peer supervision with consultant colleagues, including case based discussion;
• Provide mutual cross cover for planned leave with the other medical staff;
• Fulfil the duties agreed in the job plan;
• Comply with all Trust policies;
• Work within the financial and other constraints decided upon by the Trust.