Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry (MHCAS & MHEC)

This is a full time newly-developed and exciting substantive Consultant Psychiatrist opportunity to work in the Liaison Crisis Pathway in CNWL, for the Regional North West London Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS).

The post is based at St Charles Hospital Mental Health Centre in North Kensington, London, and is within the Jameson division in the Trust. The post-holder will also provide Consultant leadership to the Lighthouse Mental Health Emergency Centre at St Marys Hospital Campus in Paddington, London.

We offer a range of development opportunities for newly qualified and established consultants looking for new opportunities. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds and those within 6 months of CCT., The post holder will have consultant and RC responsibility for service users under the care of the team. Admin support is provided through a dedicated team administrator. Office space is provided at the St Charles hospital site. He/she will be accountable to the Westminster Clinical Director Dr Sujaa Arokiadass and will carry out the duties listed below.

The MHCAS is currently based at the St Charles hospital site in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. In the future it may be relocated to the Gordon Hospital in the London Borough of Westminster and there may be an expansion in bay or bed capacity as permitted by estates and as indicated by system patient needs. The MHCAS was implemented in November 2022 as a winter pressure initiative. It made significant positive impacts on system patient flow and patient experience widening the crisis alternatives service offer to patients including from diverse catchment areas. It has now received continued funding enabling substantive medical recruitment. There is a full-time substantive specialty doctor alongside the consultant in the team, The MHCAS is a 24/7, 365 days service situated at the St Charles' Hospital in London. It is staffed with clinical and non-clinical staff including a lead consultant, junior doctor, assessment nurses, access to psychology, therapy, the voluntary sector and integrated discharge team. There are 8 private cubicles and an open lounge area in the unit.

The aim of the MHCAS is to provide a therapeutic supplement and alternative to attending an emergency department (ED) for those experiencing a Mental Health crisis. The MHCAS offers a range of therapeutic interventions to provide people with mental health needs the opportunity to access a more prolonged and informed assessment of needs and/or risks. Itaims to:o Provide a positive patient experience in a supportive and welcoming environmento Deliver a high standard of clinical careo Provide a less restrictive option of care to meet patients' needso Reduce admission (mainly informal) and occupied bed dayso Reduce 0-7 days admissions.o Reduce demand in EDo Reduce breaches of ED wait times owing to delay in mental health assessments and bed availability.

A patient does not need to be a CNWL resident to receive care at MHCAS. They are accepted by MHCAS if they meet the referral criteria and would have otherwise presented at Chelsea and Westminster, St Marys, Northwick Park or Hillingdon Hospital Emergency Departments

£105,504 to £139,882 a year plus London weighting of £2162 per annum pro rata