Job summary
- Main area
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Grade
- NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 267-MSCF7296823
- Employer
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- HMP Bullingdon
- Town
- Arncott
- Salary
- £105,504 - £139,882 Per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 07/07/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 14/07/2025
Employer heading
Acting Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
We are a responsive and innovative Foundation Trust that places our values of Caring, Safe and Excellent at the heart of everything we do. We take great pride in our staff and believe that investing in you is key to us achieving our vision of outstanding care delivered by outstanding people.
We work with a wide range of partner organisations to deliver care and support to people in their own homes and from a number of hospitals and community bases. We focus on delivering care as close to home as possible for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
We actively support anti-racism, equality, diversity, and inclusion so, if you’re excited about this job opportunity and you meet our Trust values, but feel unsure about applying, then please get in touch and we will be happy to have a conversation with you.
We are also committed to increasing diversity in the workforce, that is why we actively encourage applications from those groups of people who are currently under-represented, which include amongst others: people with disabilities; men from all socio-economic backgrounds; people from diverse ethnic backgrounds; and people from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Good luck and we hope to hear from you.
Job overview
HMP Bullingdon is seeking an experienced and dedicated Acting Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist to lead our Mental Health Team. This pivotal role offers an exceptional opportunity to provide clinical leadership and strategic oversight within a challenging and rewarding environment.
As the Acting Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality forensic psychiatric care to a diverse prison population, leading a multidisciplinary team, and contributing to the development and delivery of mental health services within the prison.
The post holder will join the Forensic Consultant on-call rota. The current frequency of on-calls is 1 in 13.5, category A, low frequency, banded at 3.0%. The on-call rota attracts an additional 0.25PA payment for work done out of hours, mainly seclusion reviews at weekends. The on-call rota is exclusively for Forensic Psychiatry and covers the Thames Valley region.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will play a pivotal role in the ongoing expansion and enhancement of mental health services at HMP Bullingdon. Working alongside another experienced consultant forensic psychiatrist, you will be an integral part of a well-established and multidisciplinary Mental Health Team dedicated to delivering exceptional care.
You will lead the care of prisoners receiving treatment and support from the integrated Mental Health Team (MHT), providing comprehensive psychiatric assessment and treatment both on the residential wings and within the healthcare unit. This will include initiating transfers to psychiatric hospitals when clinically necessary and managing the safe return of patients to the prison once hospital treatment is complete.
As most prisoners at HMP Bullingdon are from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, transfers will frequently be made to psychiatric units within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
In addition, you will liaise closely with general adult and community forensic mental health teams to ensure smooth, well-coordinated transitions between prison and community services, supporting continuity of care.
Cross-cover arrangements are in place with other Forensic Consultants based in prisons or across the wider Thames Valley region, fostering collaborative working and shared clinical responsibility in this dynamic environment.
Working for our organisation
The Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service (TVFMHS) provides treatment in a range of inpatient settings across the region (Oxford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes). The service also inputs into local prisons and provides services for the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway in the community.
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust holds a lead role across the whole South-Central Region, as part of the Thames Valley and Wessex Provider Collaborative.
The Bullingdon Mental Health Team is experienced and tight knit. This vacancy would suit a newly qualified Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist with an interest in prison psychiatry, a higher trainee within six months of their CCT date or a more experienced candidate. Free parking is available on site at both the Oxford Clinic and HMP Bullingdon, along with a staff restaurant. Annual leave starts at 30 days a year plus bank holidays.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Management
As part of the Forensic Service leadership, the post holder will work collaboratively with consultant colleagues to ensure the smooth and effective running of the service. This will involve active engagement with the management structures within both the Division and the wider Trust, fostering a supportive and well-coordinated clinical environment.
Supervision
For those interested and suitably approved, there is the exciting opportunity to supervise psychiatric trainees. The Thames Valley Higher Forensic Training Scheme offers six national training numbers, including a dual Forensic and CAMHS post. The current Forensic Training Programme Director, Dr. Hasanen Al Taiar, along with the Director of Medical Education, Dr. Alastair Reid, provide excellent leadership and support for trainee development within the scheme.
Education and Training
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is a proud teaching Trust with strong, close ties to Oxford University. The Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, based at the Warneford Hospital, is internationally renowned for its medical teaching and cutting-edge research. More information can be found on their [website](https://www.psych.ox.ac.uk/).
The post holder will be encouraged to actively engage in training programmes and teaching sessions. There are also opportunities to contribute to wider training events within the Division. Medical students frequently visit HMP Bullingdon, and the Consultant may play a vital role in educating and supporting multi-disciplinary staff development.
Continuing Professional Development, Mentorship, and Induction
Ongoing professional development is essential, and the Trust fully supports consultants in maintaining their Royal College CPD requirements, including access to study leave and funding for conferences. The post holder will participate in Trust consultant meetings, audits, and academic events, maintaining continuous professional growth through membership of a Personal Development Plan (PDP) group and annual appraisal.
New consultants benefit from a structured induction programme and are supported through mentorship, with suitable mentors nominated to guide and support them.
Forensic psychiatry consultants hold monthly peer supervision sessions on Wednesdays and quarterly reviews of PDPs—an excellent forum for professional support and collaboration, which the successful applicant will be invited to join.
Additionally, the Forensic Psychiatry Academic Programme runs on Wednesday afternoons during Oxford University term time, featuring visiting speakers and rich academic content. The post holder is expected to contribute actively here, as well as participate in the broad programme hosted by the Department of Psychiatry at the Warneford Hospital on Tuesday mornings.
Research and Audit
The post holder will contribute to service-related audit projects, working alongside the multidisciplinary team and Trust audit department to continually improve care quality.
The Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service (TVFMHS) is committed to expanding academic forensic mental health in partnership with Oxford University. This role offers exciting opportunities to collaborate on research projects with the forensic psychiatry department at the Warneford Hospital, under the leadership of Professor Seena Fazel.
Mental Health Act Assessments
The Consultant will be expected to obtain Section 12(2) approval under the Mental Health Act. The Trust provides full support for acquiring Section 12 approval and Approved Clinician status if required.
Job Planning
The post holder will engage in annual job planning with the Forensic Associate Medical Director, ensuring the role is tailored collaboratively to reflect clinical and professional interests. Any changes to the job plan will be negotiated bilaterally. Annual appraisal will be conducted as part of the Trust’s appraisal process, supporting readiness for revalidation.
The exact timetable will be agreed upon with the Clinical Lead, with an expected ratio of 7.5 sessions of direct clinical care to 2.5 sessions dedicated to Supporting Professional Activities (SPA) on a pro-rata basis. SPA time may include special interest clinical work, CPD, peer group activities, teaching, supervision, governance, audit, service development, management, business planning, research, and academic involvement.
Person specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
- Full medical degree and registration or eligibility for registration with the GMC.
- Eligible for Section 12 Approval.
- Ability to fulfil the role of an acting consultant forensic psychiatrist.
Desirable criteria
- Membership or Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, or equivalent qualification (in accordance with Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Guidelines).
- CCT in Forensic Psychiatry OR within six months of achieving CCT at the time of interview. AND / OR previous consultant experience.
- Section 12 (Mental Health Act 1983) Approval.
- Sub-speciality or other specialist clinical training relevant to post.
- Eligibility for inclusion on the Specialist Register of Forensic Psychiatry.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience in forensic psychiatry.
- Experience of working with patients with complex needs in secure settings.
- Ability to undertake full range of consultant responsibilities.
Desirable criteria
- Application of evidence-based practice and interest in clinical and policy developments for this care group.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Ability to work within a collaborative multidisciplinary framework, and to share leadership responsibilities with senior colleagues of other professions.
- Commitment to multi-agency partnership.
- Must have an interest in and commitment to forensic psychiatry.
Desirable criteria
- Relevant experience of administrative and management role of senior medical staff.
- Undergraduate and postgraduate medical teaching.
GMC Registration
Essential criteria
- Full GMC Registration.
- Meet specifications set out in the GMC Guidance: Duties of a Doctor.
Desirable criteria
- Specialist Register of forensic psychiatry.
Transport
Essential criteria
- Mobility to meet the needs of the post.
Desirable criteria
- Valid driving licence.
- Own vehicle.
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 Robert Cornish
- Job title
- Associate Medical Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07775 751590
- Additional information
Appropriately qualified applicants interested in this post are encouraged to contact: Dr Robert Cornish, Associate Medical Director / Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Oxford Clinic, Littlemore Mental Health Centre, Sandford Road, Littlemore, Oxford, OX4 4XN (01865 902610) [email protected].
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