Job summary
Are you passionate about making a real impact on the lives of people with mental health needs?

As a Consultant Psychiatrist at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, you'll lead a collaborative team and provide high-quality care at Bluebell Ward, St Martins Hospital, Canterbury.

Successful applicants will ideally have MRCPsych or equivalent and be on, or within six months of inclusion on, the Specialist Register. You will be fully registered with the GMC, and have Approved Clinician status and S12 approval under the Mental Health Act (or achieve this within 3 months of appointment).

Main duties of the job

• To provide clinical leadership within the East Kent Acute Inpatient team.
• The provide medical input as required to patients under care of the Community Mental Health Team
• To be actively involved in strengthening relationships with external agencies including the local CCG.
• To take an active leadership role in screening of referrals as well as assessment of new referrals jointly with other team members.

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. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

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. And 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 doing well together.

Details
Date posted: 14 May 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 380-MED-26-018-PERM
Job locations: Bluebell Ward, St Martins Hospital, Littlebourne Road, Canterbury, CT1 1TD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For detailed information regarding the role, please refer to the attached job description and person specification.

Part time or job-share applications are welcome.

Our Benefits
Here are just some of our Benefits:

• Financial support for relocation of up to £8,000*
• Recruitment Bonus of up to £15,000*
• 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: kmmh.medical.staffing@nhs.net

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 completing CCT in 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

Transport
Essential

• Holds and will use valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative

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

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: Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
Address: Bluebell Ward, St Martins Hospital, Littlebourne Road, Canterbury, CT1 1TD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Dr Shantala Satisha, Interim Head of Psychiatry- Acute Directorate, shantala.satisha@nhs.net, 01322622222

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.