Date posted: 07 July 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Specialty Doctor
Salary: £63,696 to £102,689 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 9 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 354-AC-21306
Job locations: Forget Me Not Unit, Worthing, BN13 3EP, United Kingdom

Job summary
Speciality doctor cover for Forget Me Not Unit ( dementia inpatient unit). This is fixed term maternity leave cover.

Main duties of the job
The post-holder will provide high-quality psychiatric care as part of the Forget Me Not Unit, working closely with Dr Josef Mahdi (Consultant Psychiatrist), Dr Matthew Cook (Consultant Psychiatrist) and resident doctors, such as foundation and speciality doctors to support the clinical delivery of the service. This vacancy has arisen due to the existing post-holder entering maternity leave and the Trust sees this as a valuable opportunity for a speciality doctor to contribute meaningfully to the team's ongoing development.

About us
We provide NHS care and treatment to children, young people, adults and older people who have mental health problems, learning disabilities or neurodiversity needs.
We employ about 5,700 staff. Many of our services are provided in partnership with other organisations. We provide care in people's homes, in specialist clinics, hospitals and GP surgeries.
As well as being a provider of services across Sussex we also commission specialist beds. Working with NHS and independent sector healthcare organisations across the South-East we are the lead provider in three Provider Collaboratives. These cover adult eating disorders, secure care and children and young people inpatient services.

Job responsibilities

• Provide direct clinical input to the Forget Me Not Unit, including assessment, diagnosis, and management of service users with complex mental health needs.
• Contribute to the care of up to 20 beds, across Sage and Rosemary ward including participation in regular ward rounds, MDT meetings and risk assessments.
• Participate in the assessment of new admissions, and contribute to treatment and care planning, ensuring care is evidence-based and outcome-focused.
• Offer clinical input and advice to other team members, including resident doctors, allied health professionals, and nursing colleagues.
• Support the management of complex cases and ensure safe implementation of the Mental Health Act, where applicable.
• Work collaboratively with internal services and external agencies, including primary care, social care, education, and third-sector providers.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working, promoting integrated and patient-centred care.
• Undertake any other clinical duties appropriate to the role, including involvement in specialist assessments or services as required.

Person Specification
Qualifications/Eligibility
Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• 4 years at full-time postgraduate training or higher or equivalent experience with at least 2 years in a specialty training programme in a relevant specialty
• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time 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
• Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
• Approved under S12 OR able to achieve with 3 months of appointment

Transport
Essential

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

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & 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

Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning
Essential

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
• 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.
• Ability to work in a participatory way so that shared decision making and conversations around formulation/diagnosis and ongoing care are a collaborative endeavour with the people who access our service.

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 NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Forget Me Not Unit, Worthing, BN13 3EP, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/

Contact
For questions about the job, contact:
Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr Josef Mahdi
josef.mahdi1@nhs.net