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An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Consultant Psychiatrist to provide senior clinical leadership across Mental Health Liaison and Crisis Assessment services in Greater London.

These roles sit at the forefront of urgent and emergency mental health care, integrating:

• Emergency Department liaison
• Crisis assessment pathways
• ED diversion services

You will play a pivotal role in delivering rapid, high-quality psychiatric assessment and decision-making for adults presenting in acute mental health crisis.

Key Highlights

• Dual role across Liaison Psychiatry & Crisis Assessment Services
• Work within urgent care pathways and emergency settings
• Strong focus on clinical leadership and service development
• Collaborative multidisciplinary working across acute services
• Opportunity to shape and evolve modern crisis care models

Main Duties of the Job

Clinical Responsibilities

• Deliver senior psychiatric assessments for patients in crisis
• Provide rapid clinical decision-making in emergency settings
• Undertake:
  • Mental Health Act (MHA) assessments
  • Risk assessments and crisis planning
• Support ED diversion pathways to reduce unnecessary admissions
• Manage complex cases involving:
  • Severe and enduring mental illness
  • High-risk presentations

Liaison & Crisis Services

• Provide consultant input across:
  • Mental Health Liaison Service (acute hospital setting)
  • Crisis Assessment / "mental health A&E" services
• Work closely with:
  • Emergency Departments
  • Acute medical teams
  • Community and urgent care services
• Ensure seamless patient flow across urgent care pathways

Leadership & MDT Working

• Provide clinical and professional leadership within MDT
• Support integrated working across:
  • Liaison Psychiatry
  • Crisis Assessment Services
  • Wider urgent care pathways
• Lead on:
  • Complex case discussions
  • Service delivery improvements
  • Governance and quality initiatives

Teaching, Supervision & Development

• Supervise and support:
  • Junior doctors
  • Multidisciplinary staff
• Contribute to:
  • Teaching and training programmes
  • Clinical audits and quality improvement
• Participate in service development and pathway redesign

Person Specification

Requirements

Essential

• MBBS or equivalent qualification
• Full GMC registration with a licence to practise
• On (or within 6 months of entry to) the GMC Specialist Register
• MRCPsych or equivalent
• Section 12(2) approval & Approved Clinician status (or eligibility)
• Minimum 1 year NHS experience
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Mental Health Act (MHA)
  • Mental Capacity Act (MCA)
  • Safeguarding frameworks

Clinical Experience

Essential

• Expertise in:
  • Assessment of complex psychiatric presentations
  • Management of high-risk and crisis cases
• Experience in:
  • Acute psychiatry/liaison psychiatry
  • Multidisciplinary team working
  • Teaching and supervision

Desirable

• Experience in:
  • Service development
  • Policy and pathway design
  • Clinical governance and leadership
• Involvement in:
  • Research/audits
  • Organising teaching programmes

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent clinical judgement in high-pressure environments
• Strong leadership and decision-making ability
• Effective communicator across multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to manage uncertainty and clinical complexity
• Patient-centred, compassionate approach