Job summary
There is an exciting opportunity for a full-time new Consultant post to work 1.0 WTE across the Durham and Darlington Crisis Service. The area has a population of approximately 500,000. This is the only post of its kind within the trust in terms of being a crisis only post.
The Adult Crisis Service works on a 24/7 basis to undertake comprehensive triage assessment of individuals who are currently experiencing a mental health crisis, with the aim of preventing their admission to hospital. Where the individual is admitted to inpatient services, the crisis team works with them to support leave and recovery-based discharge and enable productive bed flow.
The crisis service is also responsible for providing intensive home treatment and facilitating S136 assessments outside of street triage working tly the service is operated via two sites, one at Lanchester Road Hospital and one at West Park Hospital. There is a SAS doctor appointed for each site. The expectation is that the consultant psychiatrist will supervise both sites and will closely work with SAS colleagues. There is a daily report out meeting where all patients are discussed.
There is a strong leadership team presence within the Crisis Service which includes a Crisis Service Manager (that covers both sites), a Team Manager (one for each site), 1.0WTE Consultant Psychologist, 1.0WTE Assistant Psychologist and 3.0WTE Advanced Practitioners.
Main duties of the job
Duties of the postholder:
Regular attendance at crisis team daily report out meetings.
Opportunity to be an active member of the senior leadership team
Participation in triage/assessment of patients referred to the crisis service with complex difficulties
Provision of medical reviews to patients receiving intensive home treatment. Reviews will also be provided by the SAS doctors and NMPs within the team.
Participation in formulation of patients presenting with complex difficulties including diagnostic uncertainty and high levels of risk.
Involvement in multi-agency meeting for patients who repeatedly access services or who present to a variety of agencies and services
- Provision of support and clinical supervision to the team where appropriate
- Provision of teaching and training to the team
- Liaison with GPs and interfacing agencies and services
- Participation alongside the leadership team in developing and evaluating the service
Mental Health Act work - Mental Health Act Assessments are in the first instance undertaken by the home team Consultant Psychiatrist (if already open to a Community team) or by the Consultant Psychiatrist on the day-time on-call rota (covered by the community consultants). The post holder will be expected to complete MHA assessments of patients currently working with the Crisis Team and those who are not open to secondary MH services.
About us
We are one of the largest specialist mental health and learning disabilities trusts in the country, with an annual income of £320m and a workforce of some 6,700 staff operating from around 100 sites in Durham, Teesside, North Yorkshire and York and Selby. We provide a range inpatient and community services to 2m people living in County Durham, the Tees Valley, Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale, Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire. We also provide additional specialist services to other parts of Northern England.
We deliver our services by working in partnership with eight local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, a wide range of voluntary organisations, as well as service users, their carers and the public.
Psychiatrists are essential contributors to our mental health teams. Service users expect and are justified to expect collaborative relationships with dedicated psychiatrists who work consistently as part of effective services. The Medical Directorate and Medical Development Team are striving to improve medical workforce recruitment and retention in a variety of ways and the cornerstone of these efforts is The TEWV Charter for the Medical Workforce. (Please see attached Supporting Document).
Details
Date posted
14 August 2025
Pay scheme
Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade
Consultant
Salary
£109,725 to £145,478 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number
C9346-AMH-319M
Job locations
Lanchester Road Hospital
Lanchester Road
Durham
Durham
DH1 5RD
West Park Hospital
Edward Pease Way
Darlington
County Durham
DL2 2TS
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description for further information on this post. Please note, the job description has not yet been approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Person Specification
Leadership
Essential
1. Reflects on own performance and behaviour, seeking and acting on feedback. Able to influence and persuade to improve services Able to take on leadership role in multidisciplinary team. Knowledge of structure and management of the NHS and the Trust. Shows commitment to quality through knowledge of quality improvement and lean thinking methodology OR able to achieve within one year of appointment Able to adapt to and lead service change.
Desirable
2. Able to take on a leadership role outside the multidisciplinary team. Understanding of NHS & wider health economy and its implications for the work of the Trust. Trained to standard equivalent to level 2 in TEWV Trust Quality improvement system
Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning
Essential
3. Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training Participated in continuous professional development Participated in research or service evaluation. Able to use and appraise clinical evidence. Has actively participated in clinical audit.
Desirable
4. Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation. Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications. Has led clinical audits leading to service change
Qualifications
Essential
5. MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
6. Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
Desirable
7. Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
8. MRCPsych or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
9. Approved Clinician Status and Section 12 Status OR be able to achieve within 3 months.
Clinical Knowledge & Skills
Essential
10. Excellent knowledge in specialty Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge Excellent oral and written communication skills in English Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA
Desirable
11. Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service
Experience
Essential
12. Describe your clinical experience relevant to this job role
Desirable
13. Any other experience that may be applicable