The closing date is 19 July 2026Job summaryWe are seeking a Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry.
Swift ward is the current Adult Acute Inpatient unit of 18 beds with mixed gender admissions. It has 2 corridors with ensuite facilities to support gender separation.
HPFT is opening a new Adult Acute Assessment and Treatment ward -Dove ward which will be a newly established 16 bedded female only adult inpatient ward withcomprehensive multi-disciplinary team, which will be operational from February 2026.
With this move Swift ward will become a 18 bedded adult Acute Assessment & Treatment ward with 18 beds predominantly admitting male patients.
The post holder will be one of 5 WTE Consultant Psychiatrists providing medical leadership to the two Assessment & Treatment Unit (AATU) on Dove Ward and Swift ward at Kingfisher Court.
The Acute Assessment Unit provides a robust multidisciplinary assessment of all new acute adult admissions to HPFT (excluding those subject to Section 3 MHA) within 24 hours of admission, seven days of the week.
The aim is to offer least restrictive and safe care to patients who can be supported safely in the Community within 7 days; however, patients can undergo an intensive period of assessment and/or treatment for up to 28 days in AATU.
The patients who are deemed to need longer admission would be transferred to a treatment ward within first 10 days of admission to AATU, for a longer period of treatment when indicated.
Main duties of the job- To provide clinical leadership to Acute Assessment & Treatment Unit - Swift ward
- To chair daily handover meeting to ensure and support robust clinical oversight of MDT input and timely decision making
- To conduct ward reviews for all new admissions and review patients leading to assessment, formulation, diagnosis and treatment of acute mental illness. To ensure treatment and care planning are adhered according to clinical pathways and NICE recommended treatment
- To ensure adherence to principals of Purposeful Inpatient Admission where effective and timely assessments, reviews and treatment is ensured by medical team as well as wider MDT to maintain speedy recovery and facilitate early discharge to community
- Ensure oversight of restrictive practice with aim to reduce restrictive practice and observations with regular MDT reviews supported by consultant
- Support 72-hour meetings for all admissions where purpose of admission is clarified, PDD is agreed and discussed with patient and family, barriers to discharge and relevant actions identified, documented and allocated to responsible staff in timely manner in order to support driving up quality and safety of care and efficiency, and reduce LoS.
About usIn 12 years, the Trust has been successful in acquiring the tender for the provision of specialist Learning disability services in Norfolk, North Essex and Buckinghamshire.
The Trust covers a mix of rural and urban areas, including the City of St Albans, the large towns of Watford, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, and the smaller towns of Hemel Hempstead, Radlett, Berkhamsted, Harpenden, Hertford, Ware, Bishops Stortford, Hitchin and Letchworth.
Hertfordshire Social Services have divided the county into four areas. The county has three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). West Hertfordshire is served by Herts Valleys CCG and Dacorum and East and North Hertfordshire is served by East and North Herts CCG.
Putting the people who need our care, support, and treatment at the heart of everything we do - always.
Consistently achieving the outcomes that matter to the individuals who use our services, and their families and carers, by working in partnership with them and others who support them.
Providing the very best experience of joined-up care in line with what service users and carers have told us makes 'Great Care'
DetailsDate posted: 16 June 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 367-HPFT-MEDICAL-543
Job locations: Swift Ward, Kingfisher Court, Radlett, WD7 9FB, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities- Ensure engagement of patient, families and carers in ward reviews, care planning, risk assessments and risk management planning as much as possible
- Ensure robust discharge planning process is maintained to ensure safe discharge back to community/Crisis teams and identify and confirm 48 hour follow up plans
- Ensure relapse prevention plan is discussed, documented and communicated to all parties involved including patient, families and carers
- Ensure medical team keep up to date clinical documentation on EPR including oversight of timely discharge notification and discharge summaries according to the policy guidelines.
- Ensure all legal and performance KPIs are met and timely documented
- Ensure working in collaboration with Team leader, Clinical Nurse specialist and Matron and consultant colleagues to ensure safety, quality and performance of the ward is maintained.
- To attend weekly leadership meetings
- To attend monthly team governance meetings
- To attend other relevant divisional meetings as and when necessary
- To support Patient Flow Management team one day a week which includes oversight of new requests for admission, attending daily bed demand capacity meetings and providing clinical oversight to one of the private block providers (weekly one hour meeting)
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
- MRCPsych OR MRCPsych equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Desirable- Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
- Relevant higher degree, e.g. MD, PhD, MSc or other additional clinical qualifications.
EligibilityEssential- Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
- CCT in General Adult Psychiatry; OR Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register in General Adult psychiatry; OR within six months of achieving CCT/CESR at the time of interview.
- Section 12/Approved clinician approval
Desirable- In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.
Clinical Skills, Knowledge & ExperienceEssential- Experience of the full range of clinical responsibilities expected of a consultant in general adult psychiatry including working in acute adult inpatient wards.
- Experience of close collaborative working with social care and other agencies.
- Experience of working with service users who have complex needs within general adult psychiatry.
- Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty.
- Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others.
Desirable- Excellent degree of medical knowledge in relation to working age adults.
- Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
Academic Skills Lifelong LearningEssential- Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training.
- Participated in continuous professional development.
- Participated in research or service evaluation.
- Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
- Has actively participated in clinical audit.
- Ability/means to get to and from work in a timely manner
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.
- Experience of organising and overseeing psychotherapy training program for psychiatry trainees.
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Swift Ward, Kingfisher Court, Radlett, WD7 9FB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/
Contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Interim Clinical Director, Dr Rodica Enache, rodica.enache@nhs.net
