Closing date: 11 August 2026

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full time General Adult Consultant Psychiatrist to join our Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) and At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) Services across Dorset. As the Consultant Psychiatrist you will provide clinical expertise in assessment and management of a broad range of mental health conditions. In the EIP team, you'll be involved in new patient assessments, medical reviews, CPA reviews, mental health act assessments, mental health review tribunals and making decisions about discharging patients. This is often in the home setting. You will have excellent communication, organisational, and management skills. It is a Pan Dorset service, with a multidisciplinary model of team working. Referrals can arise from the community, CMHT, primary care and inpatient services. You'll be expected to manage the interface between general adult community teams and inpatient services, including around differing opinion and discharge of patient. You will liaise closely between EIP and ARMS service and primary care. The age range for EIP service is 14-65 and 14-35 for ARMS. The EIP team are based in the Hillcrest Unit in Bournemouth. The ARMS service is primarily a psychologically led service, with the Consultant Psychiatrist providing medical oversight to the team. Join our Medical Team :: Careers Dorset

Main duties of the job
We offer a generous relocation package of up to £10,000 if relocating to Dorset. In addition, we offer a commitment to flexible working, career development opportunities and our excellent NHS benefits. We would love to hear from you to discuss how together we might design this role around you and your specialist interests, please contact Simon Potterton; spotterton@nhs.net or 01202 584336. You'll be offered the opportunity to participate in the county-wide senior on-call rota, which attracts a 3% on call availability supplement plus 0.75 APA per week. The on-call frequency is approximately 1 in 21. The post also attracts 10 days per year of study leave and an annual study leave budget of up to £1000. You'll have access to dedicated time from the administrative team to facilitate the smooth running of outpatient clinics and timely written communication with clinicians, referrers and patients.

About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people. We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities. Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves. Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Date posted: 14 July 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 152-ME08.26
Job locations: Hillcrest Unit, 31 Slades Farm Road, Bournemouth, BH10 4EU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidates individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training
Essential

• General medical Qualification e.g. MBBS, or equivalent and hold a Licence to Practise.
• On Specialist Register in General Adult Psychiatry (open to Specialist Register on other Psychiatric specialities)
• Must be in possession or within 6 months of possession of a CCT in Psychiatry or on Specialist Register in Psychiatry.
• Section 12(2) approval and Responsible Clinician approval or ability to obtain approval before starting post.

Desirable

• MRCPsych or recognised equivalent, e.g., membership of a psychiatry college in another country.
• Further academic qualifications such as MRCGP, MRCP or research degree/diploma.
• Experience of medicine outside psychiatry e.g. general practice, medicine.

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Demonstrable experience in General Adult Psychiatry at senior /specialist registrar level.
• 3 years core training in psychiatry or equivalent.
• Experience of work in the NHS for at least two years.

Desirable

• More extensive experience e.g., in medicine, or General practice.
• Experience at Consultant Level.
• Experience in the treatment of patients with personality disorder.
• Management Experience
• Teaching experience
• Research Experience

Management Skills
Essential

• Understand the importance of working with managers in the interest of good patient care.
• Able to prioritise work as needed.
• Evidence of management/Leadership skills training
• To understand principles of multi-disciplinary team working.

Desirable

• Interest in undertaking management roles e.g., Lead clinician
• Previous management experience including that of other junior medical staff, approved Clinical Supervisor Educational Supervisor

Leadership Skills
Essential

• Understand principles of leadership and give examples of leadership in own practice.
• Able to provide clinical leadership to a multi-disciplinary team.
• To be able to prioritise work to meet competing clinical demands.

Clinical Governance
Essential

• To understand and actively support the principles of Clinical Governance including audit and outcome measures.
• To demonstrate a good understanding of continuing professional development needs and revalidation.

Self Awareness
Essential

• To have an understanding of own strengths and weaknesses and how these attributes affect professional functioning

Supervision of Junior medical Staff
Essential

• Knowledge of requirements for supervision and appraisal of junior medical staff.

Research and Audit
Essential

• Experience of carrying out an audit project
• Experience or involvement in a research project and publication
• Ability to supervisor junior medical staff and/or other staff from the MDT to undertake research projects

Desirable

• Published audit project.
• Ability to critically appraise published research.

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Hillcrest Unit, 31 Slades Farm Road, Bournemouth, BH10 4EU, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

For questions about the job, contact:
Medical Lead for Specialist Services
Cressida Manning
Cressida.manning@nhs.net
01202584329