SPECIALTY DOCTOR JOB DESCRIPTION Title of Post: Specialty Doctor - Psychiatry of Old Age Period of Employment: Permanent Reports to: Clinical Director Psychiatry of Old Age via Supervising Consultant (Dr C Barton) Responsible to: Associate Medical Director via Clinical Director POA JOB SUMMARY This is a full-time Specialty Doctor post (1.0 wte) in Psychiatry of Old Age. The post provides input into Inpatient (Functional) and Community Psychiatry of Old Age. HOSPITAL PROFILE Belfast HSCT Following the Review of Public Administration in April 2007 6 legacy Trusts within the Greater Belfast area merged to form the Belfast HSC Trust. Adult 18-65 years Mental Health Services and Older Peoples Services (Psychiatry of Old Age and Geriatric Medicine) are provided within the Social and Primary Care Directorate. Psychiatry of Old Age Services Belfast HSCT has a population of approximately 55,000 individuals over the age of 65 years. The POA services take all new referrals of people 65 and over and re- referrals of people with illness arising before 65 and who are now 65+ but whom General Psychiatrists have discharged for more than one year. Patients becoming 65 when under the care of General Psychiatrists remain with that service unless they develop needs that, with agreement, would be better met in the POA service. People under 65 who develop dementia are taken on if it is felt the POA service can best meet their needs. The POA service in the Belfast Trust is delivered in a partially functionalised model. There is a single dementia inpatient assessment and treatment unit for Belfast on the Knockbracken Healthcare Park site with equity of access to all Belfast patients and a single responsible consultant. Functional inpatients looked
after by Psychiatry of Old Age have moved to a single inpatient site at the Mater Hospital. Community services are delivered by Consultants on a sectorised basis across Belfast, with plans in place for a POA single point of access to assist in the management of resource and demand. There is a Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry of Old Age (Locum currently in post) responsible for the development and delivery of Liaison Psychiatry Services to the Belfast Trust, having input into the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast City Hospital, Mater Hospital and Musgrave Park sites. Primary Mental Health Care Services Specialist Psychotherapy and Psychology Services are provided within the PMHCS domain of the directorate, namely the Regional Eating Disorders Service, Regional Psychosexual Service, Psychology Service, Trauma Service, Self Harm Team and emergent Personality Disorder Service. Addictions services are provided through consultant psychiatrist led services namely a Community Addictions Team, Drug Outreach Team, Substitute Prescribing Team and Day treatment services. Daily Unscheduled Care Services. Acute Mental Health Services Acute Services encompass the Home Treatment Team, Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit Avoca (PICU) and the 3 inpatient units currently providing approximately 100 beds (including provision for additional CAMHS patients and Older People) on the Mater, Windsor and Knockbracken Sites. The business case for a single unit at the Belfast City Hospital site has been agreed and the cohorting of Older People on the Mater site is a necessary step towards achieving the transition to a single inpatient unit. Recovery Mental Health Services Recovery Services provide for those who are deemed as requiring at least a year of generic mental health services and encompass MDT community team provision, residential and day treatment and care services. Community Services are GP aligned into Loughside and Riverside Teams. Recovery services include a number of Regional services namely, Brain Injury, Forensic including the Medium Secure Unit and Services for the Deaf. An Early Intervention Service for people aged 15-25 is being developed as is an Autistic Spectrum Disorder Service and a dedicated service for people with a dual diagnosis of Severe and Enduring Mental Illness and Addiction.
Professional Management Medical management is through the Clinical Director Psychiatry of Old Age (Dr English) to the Associate Medical Director for Social and Primary Care (Dr O Kane) to the Medical Director, (Dr Tony Stevens). Organisational Management is through the Acting Co-Director for Older People s Services (Marie Heaney) and Director of Adult Social and Primary Care( Ms Catherine McNichol). DETAILS AND BACKGROUND TO THE POST This post supports the Psychiatry of Old Age (POA) Functional Inpatient Service and the Community Service (predominately to North and West Belfast). The post holder will provide a non-consultant grade permanent medical staff input to the POA patients in the functional inpatient at the Mater Hospital. The post holder will work in a multi professional team to ensure safe and effective treatment for patients and to work to ensure timely and appropriate discharge from hospital. Additionally the post holder will deliver community POA sessions clinics and home visits for patients with both dementia and functional mental illness. PRINCIPLE DUTIES 1 Clinical commitments 1.1 The working week will comprise 10 sessions, each of 4 hours duration. Any changes to the working arrangements will be by means of discussion and agreement (which should not unreasonably be withheld) with the post-holder. 1.2 One session will be devoted to audit, education, research and continuing professional development. 1.3 One session will be allocated to patient related administration. 1.4 There is no out of hours on-call commitment. 1.5 The appointee will be liable to deputise as far as is practicable for absent colleagues the same or other grades not lower than the associate specialist grade. 1.6 The appointee will carry out POA inpatient work under the supervision of the POA inpatient consultant (Dr C Barton)
1.7 The appointee will carry out POA Community work and will receive clinical supervision as appropriate from a Community POA Consultant. 1.8 Doctors will be expected to be flexible and to cooperate with reasonable requests to cover for their colleagues absence where they are safe and competent and where it is practicable to do so. Where doctors undertake duties in accordance with this paragraph and such duties take place outside of their contracted hours they will receive an equivalent off duty period or remuneration. Where this adversely impacts on the Job Plan and/or opportunities for individual doctors a temporary Job Plan will be agreed for the period of cover. Where covering is not practicable, the employing organisation (and not the doctor) shall be responsible for the engagement of a locum tenens, but the doctors shall have the responsibility of bringing the need to the employer s notice. 2 Continuing Professional Development 2.1 The post holder is entitled to 30 days study leave in any 3 years, including pay and expenses to meet C.P.D. 2.2 Internet access is available 2.3 Attendance at local service educational meetings. 3 Teaching 3.1 The post holder will have a role in the teaching and supervision of junior medical staff and medical students. Any changes to the working arrangements will be by means of discussion and agreement (which should not unreasonably be withheld) with the post-holder. Indicative Job plan DAY TIME WORK ACTIVITY LOCATION HOURS DCC SPA Total Prem Mon Inpatient 1 Community 1 Tues Admin 1 Inpatient 1
Wed Inpatient 1 Community 1 Thurs Community 1 Community 1 Fri SPA (CPD/Audit/Revalidation) 1 Inpatient 1 Sat Sun TOTAL HOURS 36 4 AVERAGE HOURS CONDITIONS OF SERVICE The post is subject to the National Terms and Conditions of Service for Specialty Doctor. These may be inspected on request in the Human Resources Department. Accountability Managerially accountable to the Director of Adult Social and Primary Care and to the Medical Director. Accountable with colleagues in other disciplines as appropriate to ensure that the specifications of quality and quantity in contracts are achieved within available resources. Remuneration As per the current salary scale under National Terms and Conditions of Service for Hospital staff as updated via DHSSPS circular on rates of pay and all salary uplifts thereafter.
Customary Holidays The Trust recognises 10 public holidays 2 statutory holidays or days in lieu thereof each year. The two statutory holidays may, by local agreement, be converted to a period of annual leave. Leave Arrangements Annual leave 5 weeks until 2 years service have been completed in the grade thereafter 6 weeks per annum. All leave (annual, study and professional) is subject to the needs of the Trust and must be approved in advance by the appropriate Clinical Director. General Medical Council Registration The appointee will be required to maintain registration with the General Medical Council with licence to practice. Medical Fitness The appointment is subject to the completion of a satisfactory examination. Pension There is an Occupational Pension Scheme in operation. This appointment is superannuation and, unless you opt out of the scheme, superannuation contributions will be deducted from your pay. Medical Defence Employees are normally covered by the HPSS and Community Health Service Indemnity against claims for medical negligence. However, certain circumstances may not be covered by the Indemnity, especially where a separate fee is received. The Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety (DHSS&PS) therefore advises that membership of a medical defence organisation is maintained. Nationality If successful there will be a requirement to produce documentary evidence of a legal entitlement to live and work in the United Kingdom. This documentation can be a P45, payslip, P60, National Insurance card, a birth certificate confirming birth in the UK or Republic of Ireland or a passport confirming EEA nationality or which shows otherwise an entitlement to live and work in the UK. Failure to produce this evidence will result in a nonappointment.
Ionising Radiation Regulations The Ionising Radiation Regulations of 1986 require that any person clinically or physically directing a procedure which involves exposure to radiation should have appropriate training. This can be provided locally as appropriate. Equality Employees of the Trust are required to comply with the Trust s Equality Scheme. A full copy of this scheme is available in the Personnel Directorate. Health and Safety/Clinical Governance Employees of the Trust have a legal duty: To take reasonable care of their own health & safety and that of others who may be affected by what they do or do not do. To co-operate with the Trust on Health & Safety matters. To use correctly work items provided by the Trust in accordance with training and instructions, including personal protective equipment. Not to interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety, or welfare. Appointees must make themselves aware of Health & Safety and Clinical Governance Policies affecting the work place and conform with procedures regarding reporting on incidents/accidents, safe systems of work, use of equipment, protective clothing, no smoking rules, etc. Quality Patient satisfaction must be at the forefront of the concern of each member of staff. Every patient is to be treated as an individual and provided with high quality service in terms of courtesy, kindness, interest and efficiency. General Responsibilities Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and: at all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner. demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them. comply with the Trust s No Smoking Policy.
carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations. adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment. ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision. comply with the HPSS code of conduct. This job description is subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the Specialty Doctor works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time by the Director. Records Management The postholder is responsible to the Director for all records held, created or used as part of their business including corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Information Regulations 2004 and the Data Protection Act 1998. June 2007. This job description is subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the Medical Director works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time by the Service Group Director.
PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS Full GMC registration MRCPsych or equivalent TRAINING AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE At least 3 years post registration experience to include 2 years experience in Psychiatry with a minimum of 6 months in Psychiatry of Old Age PERSONAL SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES Good written and oral communication skills. Good personal and interpersonal skills. Good organisational skills. Commitment to lifelong learning TEACHING Ability to teach medical and non-medical staff. Evidence of teaching experience RESEARCH Understanding of research methodology Ability and commitment to practice of evidence based medicine MANAGEMENT Experience of multidisciplinary working Good communication skills OTHER Full EU driving licence and access to own transport Telephone access Evidence of productive working patterns in the community and complex care settings..