Job overview

Following a review of workload and processes across the inpatient pathway, additional posts have been created in the acute IP service in LYPFT, where each ward will be staffed by a fulltime Consultant Psychiatrist and an additional Approved Clinician. This can be either a Multi-Professional Approved Clinician (MPAC) eg a  Nurse Consultant, or by a less than full time Consultant Psychiatrist or by a Specialist Grade doctor. The successful applicants will provide additional medical and clinical leadership to the acute inpatient service across the Becklin and the Newsam Centres.

We are seeking a less than full time Specialist Grade Psychiatrist to work alongside a full time Consultant on the male ward at the 3 Becklin Centre. 

The bed base will be shared proportionately between the Consultant and the Specialist in order that the fulltime post holder does not hold responsibility for in excess of 16 beds at any one time (except for short periods when providing cover). Ward 5 (a female acute ward) already works within a similar model where there are two Approved Clinicians – a fulltime Consultant Psychiatrist and a MPAC Nurse Consultant and similarly ward 4 at the Newsam Centre has a fulltime and  less than fulltime Consultant working together.

Main duties of the job

Each acute ward accepts admissions from all over Leeds. It is likely that bed occupancy will be above 90% at all times and that the majority will be detained. Though co-morbid substance misuse is common in the inpatient group, as can be personality disorder, the primary reason for admission is relapse of psychotic illness or mood disorder. The Specialist Psychiatrist will be responsible for their bed base, providing clinical expertise into the assessment and management of this acutely unwell group. Each working day starts with the PIPA report out meeting at 9am. This is a rapid, structured, responsive and MDT review of all the patients to establish tasks for the day.

It is anticipated that one of the advantages of this model will be to not only reduce workload, but to share some of the risk and complexity by using each other’s expertise and opinion in the most complex scenarios.

An important clinical and financial priority of the acute inpatient service line is to minimise out of area admissions, and to ensure that the population of Leeds is able to access acute mental healthcare locally. Sound and timely clinical decision making within the MDT setting is expected of the Specialist Psychiatrist and effective liaison is an important part of the role.

Working for our organisation

The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.

There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.

We also have a bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank. 

Applicants should be aware that individuals requiring a visa to work in the UK, the Trust only provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles (this does not include Healthcare Support Workers). This is an essential requirement, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you do not meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.