Consultant Psychiatrist Southwark Team for Early Psychosis (STEP) South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
The closing date is 23 June 2026
The STEP team is a stand‑alone community service offering support and management of First Episode Psychosis (FEP) to 18‑65 year olds for up to 3 years following first episode. You will work as part of a comprehensive MDT including another consultant (0.4), an associate specialist (LTFT), ST (part time as split post with primary care mental health team), advance practitioner, mental health practitioners, psychologists, occupational therapists and admin support. STEP offers early treatment by means of a range of pharmacological, psychological and social interventions to adults who have made a transition to psychosis and are in the early stages of their illnesses. Care is provided according to PIG guidelines for FEP, using the model of care coordination to ensure that patients have access to the best treatment options available. Particular areas of focus are improving social and occupational outcomes in psychosis through vocational work, befriending, and support groups; and working with families to offer psychoeducation, carer support and family interventions.
About us South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM) provides a range of mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services for people living in four local Boroughs in South London, Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, and Croydon, as well as providing a range of national specialist services.
Main duties of the job The main duties of this post include providing psychiatry consultant leadership to the Southwark service for Treatment of Early Psychosis team (STEP). Please see job description for more details.
Job responsibilities
To provide enthusiastic, and flexible, joint clinical leadership and consultant input into the team, alongside the team leader and other consultant.
To take consultant responsibility for patients, acting as Approved Clinician and assessing or supervising assessment and management of patients and devising or helping to devise appropriate treatment plans and medication regimes, providing prompt medical response, and advising and working closely with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
To offer expert risk assessment and management skills in complex care of people with severe mental illness.
To ensure excellence in the delivery of evidence‑based treatments.
To act as a source of support, advice and information to current or prospective patients and their carers, referrers, team members and other professionals.
Provide reciprocal Approved Clinician cover including under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act for the leave, study leave and sickness of senior medical staff in Southwark during working hours.
To keep up‑to‑date with all developments in research and treatment around early intervention.
To develop strong working relationships with outside stakeholders, notably GPs, local authority social services, housing providers, and local voluntary organisations.
To undertake responsibilities as an approved clinician under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 as needed.
To work flexibly with other teams within SLaM and other mental trusts, and with the voluntary sector, to ensure good coordination of care.
Person Specification Qualifications and Training
Full registration with the General Medical Council with a licence to practice.
Included on the GMC Specialist Register or within 6 months of eligibility.
Approved Clinician status AND Approved under S12 of the UK Mental Health Act (1983), or able to achieve these within 3 months of appointment.
Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
Membership or Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.
Experience in other relevant specialties such as liaison psychiatry, home treatment or addictions.
Experience and clinical skills
Excellent knowledge of speciality.
Excellent clinical skills using bio‑psycho‑social perspective and wide medical knowledge.
Able to manage complexity and uncertainty.
Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contributions of others.
Excellent working knowledge and experience of the application of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
Appreciation and understanding of ethnic minority issues and a commitment to developing culturally sensitive practices.
Understanding of social factors relevant to psychiatry.
Experience of service development and introducing new services in mental health.
Wide range of specialist and sub‑specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
Personal skills
Ability to work in multidisciplinary team and provide leadership for the team.
Self‑motivating.
Confidence in therapeutic risk taking.
Willingness to innovate and problem‑solve service issues.
Organisational and management skills
Ability to manage complex workloads and support others to do that.
Commitment to working with service users on service development.
Commitment to Clinical Governance.
Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement.
Formal leadership and management training.
Experience of team /service leadership.
Research and Audit
Participation in Medical Audit and Quality Improvement initiatives.
Commitment to research informed care and service development.
Publications in peer‑reviewed journals in relevant academic fields.
Teaching and supervision
Experience of teaching at either undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Approval to supervise psychiatric trainees.
Other qualities
Commitment to developing user‑focused services.
Ability to get on with colleagues across disciplines and specialties.
Ability to appraise own performance.
Experience of active involvement in service user initiatives.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Part‑time
Reference number 334‑SOU‑8001968‑JA
#J-18808-Ljbffr