Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to appoint a fulltime Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist to join our team at Yeovil District Hospital (YDH).

Contract: Permanent
Hours: 10 PAs per week (7.5 DCC/2.5 SPA)
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00
On-call Requirement: None

Role Overview
The post holder will provide specialist psychiatric assessment, management, and advice for patients admitted to YDH who require mental health input during their inpatient stay. You will work closely with acute hospital colleagues, mental health teams, and wider multidisciplinary services to support high-quality, integrated care.

Cross-Site Working
Some cross cover with Musgrove Park Hospital may be required during periods of colleague leave.

What We're Looking For
A committed, collaborative consultant psychiatrist who values liaison work, enjoys multidisciplinary environments, and is motivated to contribute to high-quality patient care across Somerset.

Applicants who do not currently hold Consultant status may also be considered at Specialist grade, subject to meeting the relevant eligibility criteria and person specification requirements.

Main duties of the job

• Assessment and Management - Support existing liaison staff in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of adults presenting with mental health problems
• Medical Leadership - Provide senior medical expertise to YDH teams caring for patients with functional or organic mental health conditions. This includes supervising the clinical caseload of liaison team members and overseeing the work of any trainee doctors attached to the service.
• Clinical Decision Making - Work with the liaison team to determine the most appropriate interventions for referred patients. Responsibilities include facilitating safe and timely discharge planning and ensuring effective communication with Primary Care, Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), and Inpatient Services. The Consultant will provide clinical leadership, particularly for patients with complex needs or elevated risk.
• Responsible Clinician Duties - Act as the Responsible Clinician (RC) under the Mental Health Act for patients detained at YDH. During periods of annual or study leave for Musgrove Park Hospital (MPH) consultants, RC responsibility will transfer to this post.
• Liaison with Acute Hospital Teams - Develop and maintain effective working relationships with medical, surgical, nursing, and allied health professionals within the acute hospital. Provide advice on the application of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act where relevant.

Special Interests may be developed through discussion and agreement at job plan review meetings.

About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset?
Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away, and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Details
Date posted: 10 November 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: 184-OL-MED-FAM-5003
Job locations: Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4AT, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Working Relationships and Interface With Other Services
The postholder is expected to work closely with the inpatient teams, Home Treatment Team (HTT), and Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) to ensure smooth and safe transitions for patients admitted to, or discharged from, the acute hospital wards.

Inpatient Pathways - Adult inpatient wards are currently located on the Wellsprings site in Taunton, which includes a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Rowan Ward, and on the Summerlands Hospital site in Yeovil. These wards are supported by their own designated consultants and medical teams.

Specialist services - Specialist consultant led services for inpatient rehabilitation (Willow Ward) and low secure care (Ash Ward) are based at Broadway Park, Bridgwater. These services operate independently with their own responsible consultants.

Scope of Responsibility - This post does not include clinical responsibility for any of the above specialist inpatient teams or services. The Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist's role is focused on supporting patients within the acute hospital environment and ensuring effective coordination with community and inpatient mental health pathways.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Primary medical qualification: MB BS or equivalent recognised medical degree.
• Mental Health Act Approval: Current approval as an Approved Clinician and Section 12 approved doctor under the Mental Health Act.
• GMC Specialist Registration: Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register in Psychiatry, or eligibility for entry within six months of interview via Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR).
• Liaison Psychiatry Competencies: Evidence of the clinical competencies required to fulfil the role of a Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry.
• MRCPsych: Full Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
• Trainer Accreditation: Accreditation or eligibility for accreditation as a clinical or educational supervisor for junior doctors.
• Postgraduate Research: Completion of a postgraduate thesis or equivalent research contribution.
• Specialist Liaison Qualifications: Additional qualifications relevant to liaison psychiatry (e.g., Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (DGM), MRCP).
• Endorsement in Liaison Psychiatry: Royal College of Psychiatrists endorsement in Liaison Psychiatry.
• Dual accreditation: Dual CCT in Old Age Psychiatry and General Adult Psychiatry.

Desirable

• An appropriate higher degree or qualification: MD, PhD or equivalent

Experience
Essential

• Higher Specialty Training: Completion of at least three years of supervised higher training (ST4 to ST6 or equivalent) in an appropriate psychiatric specialty training programme.
• Consultant-Level Experience: Previous experience working at consultant level, including autonomous clinical decision making and leadership responsibilities.
• Frontline Liaison Experience: Experience delivering frontline psychiatric care in liaison psychiatry, crisis services, or primary care liaison settings.
• Eating disorder expertise: Experience in the assessment and management of patients with Eating Disorders, including risk assessment, medical psychiatric interface issues, and multidisciplinary care planning.

Additional Criteria
Essential
Please refer to the job description for full person specifications required to undertake this position

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.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4AT, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Hiring Manager, Michelle Butterworth, michelle.butterworth@somersetft.nhs.uk

Privacy notice
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice.