Job summary
Are you passionate about improving outcomes for women, babies and families during the perinatal period? Are you looking for a Consultant role that combines clinical excellence, leadership, teaching and service development within an award-winning specialist service?

We are seeking an enthusiastic Consultant Psychiatrist in Perinatal Mental Health to join our friendly, supportive and highly regarded Perinatal Mental Health Community Service (PMHCS) at Kent and Medway Mental Health Trust (KMMH).

This substantive 10 PA post is based within the West Kent Perinatal Team, with responsibility for women across West Kent and Ashford. You will join an experienced multidisciplinary team alongside an established Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist and work closely with specialist nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, nursery nurses, peer support workers, social workers and a specialist perinatal pharmacist.

The role offers a rewarding mix of direct clinical care, leadership and innovation. You will provide specialist assessment and treatment for women experiencing moderate to severe perinatal mental illness, offer expert advice on prescribing in pregnancy and breastfeeding, manage a compact caseload and contribute to the continued development of a Royal College of Psychiatrists Quality Network accredited service.

We offer flexible and hybrid working through community clinics, home visits and virtual appointments.

Main duties of the job

• Provide expert psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, risk assessment and treatment for women experiencing moderate to severe mental illness during pregnancy and up to two years postnatally.
• Deliver specialist advice on the safe and effective use of psychotropic medication during pre-conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding to patients, maternity services, primary care and mental health colleagues.
• Work as a senior clinical leader within the multidisciplinary team, providing consultation, guidance, supervision and support to medical and non-medical colleagues.
• Collaborate closely with maternity, obstetric, health visiting, primary care, social care and safeguarding services to ensure high-quality, integrated care for women, infants and families.
• Contribute to the strategic development, quality improvement, clinical governance, teaching and research activities of the Perinatal Mental Health Community Service and the wider Trust.
• Participate in the Consultant on-call rota (currently 1:30, non-resident), provide Responsible Clinician duties where required, and support the delivery of safe, responsive and recovery-focused mental health care across Kent and Medway.

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.

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 KMPT 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.
• 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

Transport
Essential

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

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 Poppy House, 20-22 Oakapple Lane, Maidstone, ME16 9NW, United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Head of Psychiatry
Dr Karan Singh
karan.singh1@nhs.net
01622723100

Details
Date posted 23 September 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-26-040
Job locations Poppy House, 20-22 Oakapple Lane, Maidstone, ME16 9NW, United Kingdom

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.
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).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).