Job summary
- Main area
- Learning Disabilities
- Grade
- Consultant
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 10 sessions per week
- Job ref
- 152-ME14.25
- Employer
- Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Delphwood
- Town
- Poole
- Salary
- £109,725 - £145,478 p.a
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Consultant in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability
Consultant
Job overview
This is an excellent opportunity for a full time (10 PA) Learning Disability Psychiatrist working in the Poole CLDT within the wider Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole ‘BCP’ multidisciplinary team for adults with LD. It provides multidisciplinary community-based services to adult patients with Learning Disabilities / Intellectual Disabilities registered with general practitioners within this area. You will be one of 3 psychiatrists in the BCP CLDTs.
You will be taking over from the current post holder who is moving to a smaller patch due to reducing their hours.
You will provide a community psychiatry service for adult patients with Learning Disabilities in Poole. The total population of Poole is approx. 150,00 and the current psychiatry caseload is 65 adults, the current Poole CLDT caseload is 210.
You will not be responsible for management of epilepsy. In Dorset, epilepsy management is provided by the Neurology led Dorset Epilepsy Services from provided by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust for all patients, with and without LD.
Poole is the 2nd largest town in Dorset after neighbouring Bournemouth and is a desirable and well-connected location with direct trains to London, 10 miles from Bournemouth Airport and has a beautiful harbour on the same coastline as Dorset World Heritage Jurassic Coast.
Dorset HealthCare was last inspected by the CQC in 2019 and received and overall rating of Outstanding.
Main duties of the job
This is a post for a full time (10 PA) Learning Disability Psychiatrist working in the Poole CLDT within a wider Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) multidisciplinary team for adults with LD. It provides multidisciplinary community-based services to adult patients with Learning Disabilities / Intellectual Disabilities registered with general practitioners within this area. You will be one of 3 psychiatrists in the BCP CLDTs.
DHC also has a nurse-led Dorset-wide LD Intensive Support Team (IST) which supports the 9 Dorset CLDTs, and you will regularly attend their weekly online meetings.
Specialist epilepsy management for adults with LD is not part of the LD psychiatrist’s role in Dorset as this is provided by the consultant Neurology led Dorset Epilepsy Service, provided by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust ‘UHD’.
Working for our organisation
At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.
We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
Person specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
- General medical Qualification e.g. MBBS, or equivalent and hold a Licence to Practise.
- MRCPsych or recognised equivalent, e.g. membership of a psychiatry college in another country.
Desirable criteria
- Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
- Additional clinical qualification
Eligibility
Essential criteria
- Must be in possession or within 6 months of possession of a CCT in Psychiatry or on Specialist Register in Psychiatry.
- Section 12(2) approval and Approved Clinician approval or ability to obtain approval before starting post
- If no CCT in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability / not on Specialist Register in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability, then must demonstrate interest and ability to apply psychiatric practice to this patient group
Desirable criteria
- CCT in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability
- Experience of medicine outside psychiatry e.g. general practice, medicine.
Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Excellent knowledge in specialty
- Evidence of effective multidisciplinary team involvement.
- Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wider medical knowledge.
- Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA
- Make decisions based on evidence and experience including contribution of others.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Desirable criteria
- Teaching Experience
- Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within the NHS or comparable service.
Dorset HealthCare Values
Essential criteria
- Proactive, respectful, supportive, reliable and trustworthy, and positive
Management Skills
Essential criteria
- Understand the importance of working with managers in the interest of good patient care
- Able to manage priorities
- Evidence of management/Leadership skills training
Desirable criteria
- Previous management experience including that of other junior medical staff
Supervision of Junior medical Staff
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of requirements for supervision and appraisal of junior medical staff.
Desirable criteria
- Approved educational supervisor training
Self-Awareness
Essential criteria
- To have an understanding of own strengths and weaknesses and how these attributes affect professional functioning.
- To have an understanding of the stresses involved in being a consultant psychiatrist and how to manage these appropriately.
Clinical Governance
Essential criteria
- An understanding of the importance of Clinical Governance in the NHS organisations and importance in patient care.
- Awareness of current issues in mental health service provision, policy and legislation
Leadership Skills
Essential criteria
- Understand principles of leadership and give examples of leadership in own practice.
- Able to provide clinical leadership to a multi-disciplinary team.
Research and Audit
Essential criteria
- Experience of carrying out an audit project
- Experience or involvement in a research project and publication
- Ability to supervisor junior medical staff undertaking research projects
Desirable criteria
- Published audit project
- Ability to critically appraise published research
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Cressida Manning
- Job title
- Medical Lead for Specialist Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01202 584329
- Additional information
We would welcome the opportunity to meet with any interested candidates prior to the interviews or submission of an application. If you have any role specific questions please Cressida Manning Medical Lead for Specialist Services ([email protected]) or Gary Billen (Head of Learning Disability Services and Provider Collaborative Services) ([email protected]).
If you would like a pre application conversation with the Executive Medical Director, please contact Julie Street (Executive PA to the Medical Director) on 01202 277011 or via email to [email protected]
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