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An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disability to join the specialist community team in Greater London. This is a full-time community post with responsibility for adults with intellectual disabilities. The successful candidate will work closely with a Core Trainee, Higher Specialist Trainee, and Consultant colleagues.

This post offers an attractive Golden Hello of up to £30,000 (taxable and non-pensionable), a relocation package of up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility), generous annual leave entitlement, study leave, NHS pension scheme, and a range of staff benefits including lease and purchase of cars. In addition, there is an opportunity to take up an extra 1PA as an educational post linked to academic partnership opportunities.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Work

• Provide a Consultant Psychiatric service for adults with Learning Disabilities living in the community.
• Support and develop ongoing psychiatric input to individuals with Learning Disabilities.
• Manage a clinical caseload including clinic-based assessments, community visits, and collaboration with local residential providers and day services.
• Act as a Responsible Clinician (RC) for patients admitted to acute inpatient mental health wards (up to 2 dedicated beds, with occasional flexibility up to 4).
• Attend and contribute to community team referrals, complex case reviews, clinical governance, and management meetings.
• Provide psychiatric expertise on diagnosis and treatment, including rapid response to pre-admission assessments and Mental Health Act (MHA) assessments when required.
• Lead collaboration with mainstream mental health services within the borough.
• Ensure effective transitions from CAMHS to adult services, supporting young people through continuity of care.
• Provide specialist referrals to tertiary and forensic services in line with local protocols.

Leadership and Service Development

• Provide clinical leadership, ensuring the service meets objectives for improving access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities.
• Contribute actively to Care Quality Management processes, audits, and service improvement projects.
• Play a key role in the development and redesign of services, responding to national and local priorities.

Education and Training

• Supervise junior medical staff, providing training, career guidance, and appraisals.
• Support postgraduate and undergraduate teaching within the service.
• Optional 1PA for educational supervision/academic involvement through partnerships with universities.

Governance and Professional Standards

• Participate in appraisal, revalidation, and annual job planning.
• Engage in clinical audit, risk management, and research activities in line with service objectives.
• Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and comply with GMC guidance.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential:

• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise.
• Included on the GMC Specialist Register, or within 3 months of achieving CCT at the time of interview.
• Approved under Section 12(2) MHA 1983, or eligible within 3 months.
• Approved Clinician status, or eligible within 3 months.

Desirable:

• MRCPsych or equivalent.
• Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register for Learning Disability.
• Management training/qualification.
• Recognised trainer status with the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
• Higher degree (MD, PhD, LLM).

Knowledge

Essential:

• Up-to-date knowledge of the management of adults with learning disabilities.
• Awareness of current policy, legislation, and issues in mental health service provision.

Desirable:

• Specialist interest evidenced by publications/presentations.
• Understanding of national strategies for Learning Disability services.

Experience

Essential:

• Proven experience in the clinical management of adults with learning disabilities.
• Evidence of multi-disciplinary team working and partnership with external agencies.
• Track record of teaching, training, and supervision.
• Evidence of clinical audit and service improvement work.

Desirable:

• Experience in medico-legal work.
• Experience in service development/management.
• Research experience in psychiatry.

Skills

Essential:

• High level of clinical expertise in psychiatry and learning disabilities.
• Effective leadership and ability to work collaboratively in MDTs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to partnership with patients, carers, and voluntary organisations.

Desirable:

• Skills in autism and epilepsy management.
• Clinical teaching and supervision expertise.
• IT literacy and use of clinical information systems.

Personal Attributes

Essential:

• Patient-centred values and commitment to disability inclusion.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and resilience in a changing service environment.
• High standards of professionalism and integrity.

Desirable:

• Ability to inspire and lead colleagues.
• Enthusiasm for working with adults with complex, chronic needs.

Apply now