Job summary
Durham & Tees Valley Mental Health Services for Older People (MHSOP) provides a comprehensive mental health service to older people living in the region and works in partnership with acute and community health services provided by 3 acute Trusts:
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust,
North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust),
and with six local authorities:
Durham County Council,
Darlington Borough Council,
Stockton Borough Council,
Hartlepool Borough Council,
Middlesbrough Council, and
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council .
The service serves an over-65 population of over 250,000. The service provides assessment and treatment of organic and functional mental illness for the population over 65 years old, although younger patients who are appropriate for the service are also accepted.
Durham & Tees Valley MHSOP is comprised of 9 community mental health teams, 3 inpatient wards for patients with functional illnesses and 3 inpatient wards for patients requiring organic assessment and treatment. The service also provides dedicated MHSOP Crisis, Intensive Community Liaison and Care Home Liaison teams; medical input for the latter is provided by the community consultants.
Main duties of the job
The Clinical PAs are 7.5 PA across the week, based at the Bishop Auckland & Dales community team for 3 PA and with the Derwentside and Chester-le-Street community team for 4.5 PA.
This post provides consultant leadership to the community teams, working closely with other consultant colleagues working in the Durham CMHTs, and the consultants and teams at our inpatient MHSOP services.
The post-holder will be responsible for the delivery of mental health services to the population of older people of approximately 64,000 shared amongst 3 consultants (including this post) providing a total of 3 WTE consultant input.
The post-holder is expected to prioritise Mental Health Act Assessments for their own patients during working hours, and be a qualified DOLS Mental Health Assessor for any patients on their personal caseload. Occasionally, there may be ad hoc Section 49 Mental Capacity Act reports to prepare, and these are offered evenly amongst the consultant body. Any such reports would be additional to the planned work of the post-holder, and attract an hourly fee for this work.
Therefore, it is necessary for the post-holder to have Approved Clinician, Section 12 and DOLS Mental Health Assessor Status, and support can be provided to attain the latter if the prospective applicant does not already hold this status.
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
15 July 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-MHSOP-211M
Job locations
Auckland Park Hospital
Westfield Road
Bishop Auckland
County Durham
DL14 6AE
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.
Please also note that this job advert will close once sufficient applications have been submitted.
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 postgraduate qualification or CESR (Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration) qualification
9. Additional clinical qualifications.
10. Endorsement in Liaison Psychiatry
Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential
11. Excellent knowledge in specialty
12. Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge
13. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
14. Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty
15. Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others
16. Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA
Desirable
17. Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service
Eligibility
Essential
18. Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
19. Eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Register in the Specialty or within 6 months of gaining CCT
20. Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
21. Approved under S12 OR able to achieve with 3 months of appointment
22. Included on the GMC Specialist Register.
Desirable
23. In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.