Job overview

This is a new 6 PA post created in response to clinical demand and service mobilisation. 

This post-holder will have his or her base at HMP Channings Wood and HMP Exeter for the allocated PAs, where the mental health service comprises full multidisciplinary teams, including mental health practitioners, Learning disability nurses, an ADHD nurse, Cognitive Change nurse, Speech and Language Therapist, and a psychology team, supported by administration and a service manager.

The post includes an interesting and varied range of clinical responsibilities for prisoners with a wide range of clinical conditions, including acute and chronic mental illness, personality disorder, brain injury, dementia and neurodiversity.

The post holder will be supported by the South West Prisons Consultant team and the Associate Clinical Director for South West Prisons, who will also act as Line Manager.

The post holder will be eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Register in Forensic Psychiatry or General Adult Psychiatry.

The primary duties of the post holder will include consultant leadership for the Mental Health In-reach Team at the prisons.

In terms of breakdown of the post:

2 PA’s will be at HMP Exeter

2 PA’s will be at HMP Channings Wood

The post holder will have 2 SPA allocated in their job plan for undertaking activities that support the professional role such as teaching, training, clinical management, clinical governance, service development and other relevant activities.

Main duties of the job

·     Provision of comprehensive psychiatric care through evaluation, diagnosis and use of appropriate treatment plans/strategies

·     To ensure treatment of patients in accordance with acceptable and established standards, protocols and guidelines (including NICE, Royal College of Psychiatrists and the General Medical Council

·     Ensuring the involvement of families and carers, wherever possible, with the patients’ consent in treatment planning and care.

·     Providing psychiatric leadership to the multi-disciplinary teams. This includes taking a lead in clinical governance in both teams and contributing to directorate wide issues especially those related to both teams.

·     To liaise with other agencies as may be appropriate, especially with regard to continuity of patient care

·     Availability to act as Section 12(2) approved doctor for the purpose of Mental Health Act Assessments if indicated.

·     Identifying and advocating for needed resources including staff as necessary

·     Taking part in administrative/management duties within the teams, directorate and the Trust as a whole

·     Participating in clinical governance, clinical audit, various medical advisory committees and other committees as may be necessary

Working for our organisation

At Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, we offer a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people living in South-East London and to people in prison across England. Our wide array of services includes community health care, such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies.

Oxleas is a great place to work. It has been recognised as one of the Top 10 Best Places to Work 2023 by the Sunday Times amongst very big employers. Our staff survey results show that we are in the Top 5 in England and the highest in London for staff experience amongst similar trusts.

“We are always delighted to welcome new colleagues to the Oxleas family. We care about making Oxleas a great place to work - it’s a big priority in our strategy. Come and join us - it’s a place where our values, teamwork, equity, and wellbeing matter and where you can really help to improve people’s lives.”

Ify Okocha

Chief Executive