Job summary
The Trust is seeking to recruit a fixed term locum consultant psychiatrist to work in Intellectual Disability, West Kent MHLD Team based at Britton House, Gillingham.
The MHLD service comprises two teams covering West and East Kent. The post holder will work within the West Kent MHLD Team. Within the teams each Consultant Psychiatrist is primarily focused on one smaller catchment area within it, in this case Medway. This catchment area includes the towns of Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham, Strood and Rainham.
The West Kent Team has psychiatrists, nurses, and psychologists as part of its tri-disciplinary team. The Mental Health of Learning Disability team works closely with the Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT) which is part of the Kent Community Health Foundation Trust (KCHFT) and which includes other professionals such occupational therapists and speech and language therapists.
MHLD Clinicians based at Britton House, Gillingham, are part of the West Kent MHLD Team and referrals hub. The Consultant for Medway will have approximately 50-60 patients in total under their Consultant responsibility. Some of these will be on the case list of the supporting doctor. There are approximately 2-3 new referrals from Medway per week on average. The Consultant will do 2-3 outpatient clinics weekly averaging about 12 patient contacts in total /weekly.
The operating hours are Monday - Friday 0900 - 1700.
The post-holder will carry no responsibility for inpatients.
Main duties of the job
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The Post holder will manage patients' care in the community and this will be in close liaison with other members of the MHLD team, colleagues from adult services, children and adolescents' teams, older persons services, other specialist mental health services and the community learning disability teams (CLDTS). Care will be delivered mainly through out-patient assessments and domiciliary visits.
o The post holder will be expected to liaise with other Consultant colleagues in MHLD regarding cover during periods of leave or absences. Access to mentoring will be arranged following successful interview.
o The postholder would be expected usually to attend the weekly West Kent Hub meeting at which new referrals and priority cases from across West Kent are discussed. The West Kent MHLD team receives approximately 10-11 referrals per week in total.
o The postholder will directly assess some new referrals agreed to be most appropriate for a psychiatrist for initial assessment and also provide psychiatric advice and consultation as necessary to other team members regarding cases they have assessed and reviewed.
o The postholder will contribute to the clinical leadership of the team.
o The postholder will be involved in inpatient admissions of community patients whenever necessary including the use of the Mental Health Act.
Details
- Date posted: 02 November 2026
- Closing date: 29 November 2026
- Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
- Band: Consultant
- Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: 380-MED-26-047-PERM
- Job locations: Britton House, High Street, Gillingham, ME7 1AL, United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
For detailed information regarding the role, please refer to the attached job description and person specification. The job description will provide you with the main duties and responsibilities of the role. The person specifications will detail the qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience required for the role.
Part time or job-share applications are welcome.
Our Benefits
Here are just some of our Benefits:
- A Recruitment Bonus of £15,000*
- Financial support for relocation of up to £8,000*
- Easy access to inhouse research team and academic opportunity through Kents own Medical school
- Generous annual leave and study leave entitlement and access to the fantastic NHS pension scheme
- Holiday of a Lifetime Scheme Bank your annual leave to save up for that all important extended break
- Flexible working - just ask and we will try to help
- Excellent Learning and Development opportunities - We offer doctors at all grades the chance to engage in leadership, educational, research, quality improvement development and seek growth opportunities tailored to their areas of interest
- Free access to an independent counselling service
- Blue Light Card - A discount service for the NHS, with thousands of amazing discounts
- Car lease scheme
- A variety of staff network forums which empower, support and encourage network members and allies, to reflect KMMH values and promote equality and diversity.
*If you would like further information, or to know the full terms of the Recruitment Bonus and/or Relocation Allowance, then please contact our Medical Staffing Team: [email protected]
Person Specification
Training, Qualifications and Registration
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
- Fully registered with the GMC with a Licence to Practise
- On the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months of anticipated award of CCT in CCT in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability, Forensic Psychiatry or General Adult Psychiatry
- Approved Clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
- Approved under S12 OR able to achieve with 3 months of appointment
Desirable
- Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management
- MRCPsych
- Additional clinical qualifications
- In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
Clinical Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- 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
- Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service
Clinical Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- 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
- Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service
Academic Skills and Lifelong Learning
Essential
- Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
- Ability to work in and lead team
- Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement
- Participated in continuous professional development
- Participated in research or service evaluation
- Able to use and appraise clinical evidence
- Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes
Desirable
- 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 or improved outcomes to patients
Transport
Essential
- Holds and will use valid UK driving license OR provides evidence of proposed alternative.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.
Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.
Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.
Employer details
- Employer name: Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
- Address: Britton House, High Street, Gillingham, ME7 1AL, United Kingdom
- Employer's website: https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk