Job summaryThis is an exciting opportunity for an old age consultant psychiatrist to become involved with the West Park inpatient team on Oak Ward.
This post is for a full-time consultant psychiatrist working into our inpatient service on Oak Ward (6 PAs), with a small amount of additional input into the collocated community mental health team for older people (1.5 PAs). Oak Ward is a 12 bedded mixed-sex ward for older people with functional mental health difficulties. The consultant will provide around 6 clinical PAs into this ward, working on the principle of 1PA for every 2 patients.
Main duties of the jobThe ward operates a report out every weekday morning, which is effectively a board round of all patients on the ward. The consultant psychiatrist is expected to attend this meeting wherever possible.
For the community component of the post, this is based at the Darlington team base at West Park and this is likely to include a combination of clinics at the team base, and home visits across the catchment area. The consultant psychiatrist will also assess and treat their patients in line with evidence based clinical practice and in keeping with the Trust clinical pathways (with specific reference to the Dementia and Behaviours that Challenge pathways).
The post-holder is expected to be the Responsible Clinician for any patients on the ward and will undertake any such duties that are specified by the Mental Health Act 1983 and in the accompanying Code of Practice and preparing for and attending Mental Health Tribunals.
The post-holder is expected to prioritise Mental Health Act Assessments for their own patients during working hours and be a qualified DOLS Mental Health Assessor for any patients on their personal caseload. Occasionally, there may be ad hoc Section 49 Mental Capacity Act reports to prepare, and these are offered evenly amongst the consultant body.
The Trust is eager to support the development of a special interest and this is negotiable either at the time of employment or at the Annual Job Plan Review meeting.
About usWe are one of the largest specialist mental health and learning disabilities trusts in the country, with an annual income of £320m and a workforce of some 6,700 staff operating from around 100 sites in Durham, Teesside, North Yorkshire and York and Selby. We provide a range inpatient and community services to 2m people living in County Durham, the Tees Valley, Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale, Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire. We also provide additional specialist services to other parts of Northern England.
We deliver our services by working in partnership with eight local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, a wide range of voluntary organisations, as well as service users, their carers and the public.
Psychiatrists are essential contributors to the majority of our mental health teams. Service users expect and are justified to expect collaborative relationships with dedicated psychiatrists who work consistently as part of effective services. The Medical Directorate and Medical Development Team are striving to improve medical workforce recruitment and retention in a variety of ways and the cornerstone of these efforts is The TEWV Charter for the Medical Workforce. (Please see attached Supporting Document).
The Trust welcomes conversations about flexible working practices.
DetailsDate posted: 16 September 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year
This post may be subject to a recruitment premia
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: C9346-MHSOP-228M
Job locations: West Park Hospital, Edward Pease Way, DARLINGTON, County Durham, DL2 2TS, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesPlease see the attached job description for further information on this post. Please note the job description is currently waiting approval from the Royal College.
Person SpecificationLeadershipEssential- Reflects on own performance and behaviour, seeking and acting on feedback. Able to influence and persuade to improve services Able to take on leadership role in multidisciplinary team. Knowledge of structure and management of the NHS and the Trust. Shows commitment to quality through knowledge of quality improvement and lean thinking methodology OR able to achieve within one year of appointment Able to adapt to and lead service change.
Desirable- Able to take on a leadership role outside the multidisciplinary team. Understanding of NHS & wider health economy and its implications for the work of the Trust. Trained to standard equivalent to level 2 in TEWV Trust Quality improvement system
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.
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
QualificationsEssential- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
- Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
- Eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Register in mental health services for older people or within 6 months of gaining CCT
- 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 or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
Clinical Knowledge & SkillsEssential- 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
ExperienceEssential- Describe your clinical experience relevant to this job role
Desirable- Any other experience that may be applicable
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).
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). 
