Consultant Psychiatrists - Adult Mental Health InpatientsClosing date: 24 July 2026
Job summaryWe are looking to recruit 2 full-time consultants to work on Elm Ward and Maple Ward - the two acute admission wards in West Park Hospital, Darlington.
Elm Ward is a female acute ward and Maple Ward is a male acute. There are 4 beds commissioned by the Ministry of Defence across the two wards.
Elm Ward is a 20 bedded inpatient ward. The inpatient unit comprises beds for both assessment and treatment. The Consultant for this post will be expected to work closely with another Consultant Psychiatrist (1.0 WTE). Maple Ward is also a 20 bedded inpatient unit located on the same site and is also covered by two Consultant Psychiatrists.
It is expected that the post holders will provide clinical input to approximately 10 to 12 patients on both Elm and Maple wards, depending on acuity. All the inpatient units in Adult Mental Health are working on the concept of Purposeful In-Patient Admissions model (and the Productive Ward).
Main duties of the jobThe principal duty of Consultants is to support the Inpatient Team. There are four Consultant Psychiatrists - 4 WTE identified to support the two acute wards at West Park Hospital, in addition to a Consultant Nurse. The post holders will be expected to work closely with other colleagues in Adult Mental Health to offer a flexible service which recognises the potential for recovery within all service users.
The postholders will provide leadership to the multi-disciplinary team alongside the team manager. They will contribution to service development.
They will contribution to clinical governance and have responsibility for setting and maintaining standards and have a commitment to quality improvement.
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 are a multi-award winning trust and are included within the Health Service Journals Best 100 Places to Work. The trust take a positive and proactive approach to support staff in their personal development and has embedded the Talent Management approach within the Trust.
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. Our medical staffing shortage puts strain on services and puts strain on workforce wellbeing and costs extend beyond the financial. 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 - see attached Supporting Document.
The Trust welcomes a conversation about flexible working.
DetailsDate posted: 24 May 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: C9346-AMH-325M7
Job locations: West Park Hospital, Edward Pease Way, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 2TS, United Kingdom
Person SpecificationClinical 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
Academic Skills and 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.
LeadershipEssential- 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
QualificationsEssential- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
Desirable- Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
- Experience
- MRCPsych
EligibilityEssential- Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
- Eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Register 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- In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
- Included on the GMC Specialist Register.
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).
