Job summary
- Main area
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Grade
- NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 10 sessions per week
- Job ref
- 455-NLFT-0035
- Employer
- North London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Islington Better Lives Drug and Alcohol Service
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £105,504 - £139,882 Plus £2,162 of London Zone Weighting per year
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 02/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Consultant Psychiatrist - General Adult (Addiction Psychiatry)
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
C&I has worked closely with current service users and Trust staff to create a set of shared values that make sure people who use the Trust’s services get the best possible chance of a rapid recovery. These values are embedded in the campaign: Changing Lives – will help drive up the standards of care across the Trust. For people who use the C&I‘s services, these values meant that they can be assured that through their journey to recovery they will be guaranteed:
• To receive a warm welcome through their journey to recovery
• That their dignity will always be respected
• That their care will be founded on compassion and kindness
• To receive a positive approach to care as they journey towards recovery
• High Quality Care from a highly trained team of professionals
• That each individual will be part of the wider team in the journey to recovery –
i.e. ‘no decision about you, without you’.
C&I staff are required to reflect these values throughout their service at the Trust both:
• for people who use the services of the Trust, AND
• within their immediate teams and across the wider business of C&I.
As an applicant for this role, you are urged to demonstrate within your supporting statement a combination of evidence that reflects your competence to meet the job specification and provide examples of how C&I values are an integral part of the way you have and will continue to deliver service.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join an enthusiastic and dynamic team in Islington.
This post is for 1.0 WTE Consultant Psychiatrist working within the Islington Better Lives Drug and Alcohol Service and has arisen from current postholders reducing their sessions and additional investment in the service from OHID.
The post is available from 1st October 2025 and is being offered as a substantive post pending approval by The Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The post-holder will be part of the multidisciplinary team which includes both statutory and voluntary sector roles and provides holistic care to patients. The service is primarily community based and is delivered from 3 community sites. The post holder will work across these sites with 1.3 other substantive Consultant Psychiatrists, locally employed GPs, core trainee and specialty doctor.
National terms and conditions apply to this post. Inner London Weighting applies.
Main duties of the job
This is a full time Substantive position for 10 Programmed Activities: 7.5 Direct Clinical Care and 2.5 Supporting Professional Activities.
The medical team is currently led by two part time Consultant Psychiatrists, who both cover the borough across all three sites. There is a part time GP with a special interest in substance misuse based at SSR one day a week. There is a core psychiatry trainee based predominately at SSR across the week with some offsite training commitments. There is another core trainee based at GIR who does a split post with the Islington Psychotherapy service and other off site training commitments.
The post holder will work with the medical team to ensure rapid access to treatment and can expect to offer 2-3 assessments/follow ups per clinic depending on demand. There is plenty of opportunity for service development in this dynamic, innovative service.
The primary record-keeping system for the service is RiO, general electronic patient record system of the Trust. Read only access to EMIS is available to senior clinicians to aid communication and integration with other primary care services.
The post-holder will be provided with appropriate technology (laptop, mobile) in order to facilitate agile working across multiple sites. The team has office space at the Margarete Centre with dedicated admin support.
Further details can be found in the Job Description.
Working for our organisation
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.
Our Five-Year Strategy:
We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.
We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The specific clinical and managerial responsibilities of the post-holder will be as follows:
• Assist with diagnosis, medication reviews, management plans, risk assessments, crisis plans and self-help plans for patients within Better Lives
• Provide clinical assessments of patients as necessary.
• Provide follow up as necessary for clients within the team
• Support MDT in their diagnosis, management and treatment of patients through case discussions, joint consultations supervision and bespoke training.
• Provide Consultant input and clinical leadership to Better Lives
• To provide advice and support to Islington GPs, and other practice staff, regarding the assessment and management of the mental health difficulties of patients registered with their practice. This may be done through case discussions, joint consultations and bespoke training as appropriate.
• As necessary to provide direct clinical assessments of patients and to provide follow up as appropriate.
• To maintain effective communication with colleagues, patients and their carers.
• To work flexibly within timetabled working hours, so that urgent clinical matters can be prioritised.
• To carry out Mental Health Act and domiciliary assessments as required.
• To liaise and work closely with local mental halth services (also provided by NLFT) and other primary care providers in order to provide a joined up offer to service users
• To liaise and work closely with local voluntary and non-statutory services
• To engage with local service user participation models.
• To participate in management activities and governance processes related to both teams including audits and quality improvement projects.
• To play an integral role in the performance of the team, the further development of the service, and the development of clinical pathways and priorities of the service line.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Registration
Essential criteria
- Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and a license to practice. Must be on the specialist register or within 6 months of gaining a Certificate of Completion of Training
- Section 12(2) and Approved Clinician status (or eligibility) - qualifies to act as a Responsible Clinician
- Registered with Royal College of Psychiatrists CPD programme and in good standing
- Shared Services training up to date to be an approved trainer/clinical supervisor
Desirable criteria
- Membership of Royal College of Psychiatrists or equivalent higher qualification in psychiatry
- Other relevant post-graduate qualification (incl. those gained outside UK
- Trained as an Educational Supervisor for doctors in training
- Training as a Consultant mentor
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Knowledge and observance of the requirements and duties of a doctor laid down by the GMC in Good Medical Practice.
- Clinical knowledge of the full range mental disorders.
- Experience in the assessment of complex clinical cases involving severe and enduring mental illness and significant risk histories and the ability to assertively engage and manage such cases.
- Expertise in a comprehensive range of evidence based treatment and case management options including pharmacotherapy.
- Knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and safeguarding practices
- Experience in work place based assessments of doctors in training
- Knowledge of clinical commissioning and external organisations that interface with an NHS Trust.
- Experience in organising and chairing meetings.
- Good understanding of Trust governance structures, especially clinical governance
- An understanding of the role of research within the wider service
- Willingness to participate in research as appropriate and within the context of the duties of the post
Desirable criteria
- Experience in teaching small and large groups
- Experience in developing policies and protocols.
- Experience of service development.
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to be flexible and adaptable to change.
- Ability to effectively communicate ideas and influence others.
- Good knowledge of and ability to use both spoken and written English
- Ability to organise workload and manage time and delegate responsibility where appropriate
- Ability to practise as an independent Consultant Psychiatrist.
- Thoroughness and attention to detail in clinical matters
- Sensitivity to needs of all patients and carers.
- Sensitivity and awareness in clients and staff from different cultures, ethnicities, gender and sexual orientations.
- Teaching and supervision skills for undergraduate medical students, doctors in training and multi-professional staff
- Ability to work in a team environment and to develop effective working relationships on an individual and multidisciplinary basis with all levels of staff.
- Ability to take on the role and responsibilities of the clinical lead
- Experience in undertaking clinical audit, investigating serious incidents and handling complaints
- Enthusiasm for pathology and willingness to share knowledge and experience
Desirable criteria
- A special interest or willingness to develop one in an area which helps to meet the needs of the Trust
- Experience in successfully delivering research projects
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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 Chandni Pujara
- Job title
- Associate Clinical Director, Islington Division
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02087024051
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