Consultant Psychiatrist - UCARMHSS

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The service sits directly between student/primary care services and the specialist service delivery and will be working with students who present with moderate to severe mental health issues. It will support highly complex student presentations and ensure that one of the outcomes captured will be improved communication and pathways between higher education and the NHS such that we do not exclude high functioning individuals who traditionally are not seen as in need of conventional services. The service will take referrals direct from the University Student Services, and from CPFT services.

The service partnership will provide proactive support and interventions to students to enable them to fulfil their university ambitions and experience. Students with pre-existing mental health problems or those whose mental health problems emerge whilst at university will be supported to succeed and to manage their mental health challenges. The service partnership aims to provide trauma-informed care that is focused on the student within a strengths-based recovery program to support activities and clinical interventions to promote wellbeing, build social capital and develop psychological coping strategies.

This is a multi-disciplinary service. The post-holder will have a key role in supporting the development of the service, working closely with other team members, particularly the other consultant, the 8C consultant psychologist and management colleagues. As a new service, delivering a robust service evaluation will be an important aspect of development. The post holders will have opportunity to integrate a research component in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Psychiatry.  

Clinical: 
•    Along with clinical colleagues, to provide a service focussed on high-quality care – delivering timely assessment, diagnosis and treatment for students.  
•    To make accurate diagnostic formulations and record these in the notes. 
•    To deliver evidence-based treatments. 
•    To liaise with the universities’ Student Support Services and other referrers.  
•    To maintain accurate and up to date clinical records.  
•    To work closely with the other consultants to provide appropriate consultant cover for the service and for periods of annual/study/special leave.  
•    To contribute to the teaching, training and mentoring of any junior medical staff and, where appropriate, of other team members 
•    To support audit, research and service development. 
•    The post-holder will ensure that they are in good medical standing for CPD, that their practice is up-to-date and in line with the GMCs Good Medical Practice Guidelines and will be able to evidence this for the purposes of annual appraisal.   
 
Administration: 
•    Work with the clinical and management team to achieve the key performance indicators set for the service. 
•    Contribute to the collection and monitoring of clinical outcome data  
•    Participate in the administration of patient information systems and ensure that data are entered in accordance with CPFT policies and guidance. 
 
Management:
•    Work with clinical colleagues, the Service Manager and Directorate Leadership team to ensure that the service works in an efficient and cost-effective manner whilst delivering high quality, evidence-based care. 
•    Work in accordance with the team’s Service Operating Policy  
•    Work in accordance with CPFT policies and guidelines 
 
Teaching:
•     To contribute to under-graduate and post- graduate medical education and broader teaching/training initiatives where possible.   
 
Research:
• The post-holder is expected to support the broader CPFT research endeavour. Cambridge offers unrivalled opportunities for research and for collaboration with University Departments and MRC Units.  A wide range of research is currently conducted by the University Department of Psychiatry and by NHS staff. 
    
Clinical Governance: 
•    The post-holder will be aware of, and act within, locally and nationally agreed protocols and will be actively involved in clinical governance within the service. 
•    The post-holder will ensure any issues of concern are appropriately escalated and that any incidents are appropriately reported.    
 
Accountability:
• The post holder will be accountable to Clinical Director for Children’s, Young People’s and Families’ Services. Professional accountability is to the Trust Board through the Trust Medical Director.  
 
Job Planning & Appraisal: 
•    Job Plans are reviewed with the Clinical Director.  
•    Consultants are required to take part in the annual appraisal process under the supervision of the Medical Director. Consultants are also encouraged to arrange a suitable mentor.