Job Details
Wanting a change from the NHS but not wanting to travel too far afield. Come to Jersey in the Channel Islands!
We are working through a major redesign of services to try to provide the best mental health care a small island can offer. Come and be part of our success.
We offer a great work/life balance, beautiful beaches, a lower taxation rate and a warmer climate than mainland UK. Come and try it for yourself!
Jersey is a prosperous Island with our own health care system that is quite different from the NHS. In recent years we have invested significantly in mental health services.
We have a number of exciting job opportunities on offer, and are happy to discuss different combinations of the roles. We are especially interested in candidates who can expand our range of specialist expertise and are interested in shaping the future of mental health care on the Island. Even if your exact job is not below get in touch and have a discussion about possibilities as we have more expansion planned.
Main duties of the job
Jersey health and social care services are undergoing a major redesign with a move towards more community focussed, patient centred provision. We are also redeveloping our inpatient wards.
These posts are to replace the previous Consultant for Adult Inpatients in Orchard House, which is being divided into 2 posts also offering cover to the Home treatment team to help with continuity of care and inpatient bed management. It is anticipated that the Consultants will have their own patients by an alternate day on take system but will offer support and cross cover on days that the other Consultant is working with the home treatment team. There will also be continuity of care of the treating Consultant between the home treatment team and inpatient ward. The 2 Consultants will also arrange cross cover for leave.
About us
Jersey has its own health service that is separate from the NHS. The Islands integrated, taxation-funded health and care system is largely free at the point of delivery and is run by the Health and Community Services Department. Jersey has begun a comprehensive programme to transform health and social care, supported by significant investment in community and hospital services. Funding has been secured to build a new 300 bed General Hospital and a new mental health inpatient unit. All the components of a health and social care system are here to work with, in an environment where there is closer interaction with political processes than in the UK. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of developing a genuinely integrated care system.
Living in Jersey is also financially attractive. We have a flat rate of income tax which compares favourably to the U.K., and we offer a generous public sector pension scheme, which is not subject to U.K. lifetime or annual contribution restrictions. The Jersey Consultant Contract is similar to the U.K. but with a higher level of increments. Subject to satisfactory performance, incremental progression is automatic for between points 1 to 17 on the pay scale. Formal applications are required for points 18 to 20.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Inpatient service
Orchard House consists of 17 adult acute beds (including an extra-care area). It is for people aged between 18 and 65, who suffer from severe mental illness and require inpatient admission. Our aim is to help services users achieve their potential by promoting recovery and maintaining wellbeing. Our service users come from a variety of cultural backgrounds and often have challenging and complex needs.The inpatient team is a multidisciplinary team, which includes doctors ( 2 part time consultants (these posts), Staff grade/ Clinical Fellow and F2), a clinical psychologist, nurses, a social worker, occupational therapists, an art therapist, health care assistants and administrative staff. Independent Advocacy is provided by My Voice. The wards work closely with third sector charities such as MIND and Focus on Mental Illness.At times there will be patients aged under 18yr on the unit, as there is no CAMHS inpatient provision on island. If this happens the Responsible Officer will be the Consultant Child Psychiatrist and there will be special provisions in place to keep them safe and separated from the adult patients.Jersey has a small population, and we have a unique opportunity to do some things differently from UK models. We are currently beginning a trial project focussed on improving the physical healthcare of our inpatients using medical expertise.
Home Treatment Team
We also have an active Home Treatment Team who work as a step-up step-down service to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital and facilitate early discharge. They attend ward reviews, support patients on leave and help with discharge planning. They also gatekeep the inpatient beds.
The home treatment team consists of 2 part time Consultants (these posts), 0.5FTE Team manager, 2FTE Senior practitioners, 5.5FTE Nurse practitioners, 1 FTE Social worker, 3FTE Senior HCAs and 1FTE Occupational therapist. As the team now covers all adult ages there will be an arrangement with one of the Older Adult Consultants for support if needed. The non-medical team work 7 days a week 8am-8pm. Outside of these hours the patients have the Crisis and Assessment Team number for emergencies.
The crisis function has been taken out of the home treatment team since November 2022 with the introduction of the Crisis and Assessment Team, so it is difficult to provide data for the last 12 months that is accurate for the situation moving forwards.
The current caseload for the Home treatment team (end of January 2023) = 16 ( 65yr). It normally fluctuates between 10-20 patients.
Responsibilities and Expectations of the Post holders
The successful applicant will be expected to provide medical expertise in acute adult inpatient psychiatry. The key responsibilities and expectations are:
1. Medical Leadership in the adult inpatient unit and Home Treatment Team Responsibility for the investigation, diagnosis, and management of psychiatric disorders in an inpatient setting for patients aged 18-65yr.
2. Responsibility for the investigation, diagnosis, and management of psychiatric disorders in the home treatment team setting for patients aged 18+yr (with support from Older Adults colleague if required)
3. Fulfilling the role of Responsible Officer for detained patients on the inpatient unit and working closely with the Mental Health law Office to ensure timely delivery of tribunal reports and other documentation linked to Jersey Mental Health Law.
4. When the article 36 suite moves to Clinic Pinel (end 2023) there will be a role participating in MH Law assessments and job plans will be reviewed to accommodate changes.
5. Working collaboratively with service users, families, carers, and the voluntary sector.
6. Liaising with other medical specialties and primary care colleagues as required.
7. To record clinical activity accurately and contemporaneously on the electronic patient record system.
8. Participating in the in-house teaching programme.
9. Fulfilling the CPD requirements set by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and participating in a peer group.
10. Participating in the development and delivery of training programmes for a variety of disciplines aimed at improving the level of expertise and the standard of care for adults in inpatient mental health services within Health and Community Services.
11. Participating in the all-age 1:12 out of hours on-call rota for psychiatry.
12. Working with managers and professional colleagues to ensure the efficient running of the services and to share with consultant colleagues the medical contribution to the management of the service.
13. Complying with Health and Community Services agreed policies and procedures.
14. Working effectively with partner organisations who provide services to people with mental health problems and co-morbidity issues as appropriate.
15. Engagement in service development activities, audits, and monitoring.
The above is intended to indicate the primary range and type of duties required. It is noted however that the duties of the post may alter to reflect changing practices and demands within the service.
Start date: We would like the appointee to take up the post within 4 months of appointment but are open to discussion if this is difficult to achieve.
Person Specification
Skills / Personal qualities
Essential
16. Ability to take a leadership role in a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring high-quality care and staff morale
17. Ability to manage own time, workload and prioritise clinical work
18. Ability to appraise own performance
19. Excellent written and oral communication skills
Desirable
20. Evidence of specific achievements that demonstrate leadership skills
Experience
Essential
21. Experience of assessing and treating adult patients and older adults in different settings
22. Knowledge of UK hospital systems (or equivalent)
23. Experience working with patients under Mental Health Law
24. Knowledge and evidence of participation in CPD
25. A sound understanding of clinical governance
Desirable
26. Experience as an inpatient Consultant
27. On call experience covering adults and older people
Qualifications
Essential
28. Full GMC registration with license to practice
29. Recognised basic medical degree
30. Eligibility for inclusion on the Specialist Register or CCT in adult psychiatry (or within six months at time of interview) or equivalent
31. Eligibility for Section 12 approval
Desirable
32. MRCPsych or equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
33. Relevant higher degree, e.g. MD. PhD, MSc or other additional clinical qualifications
34. Section 12 approval
35. Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service
36. DOLS assessor or equivalent