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 Friday, 09:00 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.

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.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

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

• Primary medical qualification MB BS or equivalent recognised medical degree.
• Mental Health Act Approval - Current approval as an Approved Clinician and Section 12approved 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.
• An appropriate higher degree or qualification - MD, PhD or equivalent

Experience

• Higher Specialty Training - Completion of at least three years of supervised higher training (ST4 ST6 or equivalent) in an appropriate psychiatric specialty training programme.
• Consultant-Level Experience - Previous experience working at consultant level, including autonomous clinical decisionmaking 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

• 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.