Psychiatry of Old Age Service

This currently consists of five WTE consultant posts and four staff grades supported by 3 - 4 junior doctors. The service is based on a sectorized model.  There are two Inpatient Units – one based in Willows Ward in Bluestone for the functionally mentally ill and the other in the Gillis unit, which is our Dementia Assessment and Treatment Unit.  There is currently an ongoing Dementia Review regionally and locally which will influence further service development. There are Memory Teams, Community Mental Health Teams and ward teams that work closely with the consultant body.  Of the five consultants, three work in the community and the other two posts cover all admissions to Willows Ward and the Gillis unit (one consultant in each ward).  There requires close working with the in-patient consultant, with information being communicated through attendance of community teams at the multi-disciplinary rounds, as well as directly with the consultants in each area.

DUTIES OF THE POST

In conjunction with consultant colleagues, the Head of Service, ward manger and Team Leader, the post holder will be responsible for the delivery and further development of the inpatient psychiatry of old age Unit. As such, the post holder will work closely with the community teams as well as the Inpatient Teams in Gillis.  This consultant post will provide medical leadership to the Psychiatry of old Age Inpatient unit.

The post holder will also be responsible for the delivery of a high quality, cost-effective service to his/her patients in line with the Trust’s key strategic objectives.  This will involve a close working relationship with Consultant colleagues, community staff and General Practitioners. The post holder will provide clinical leadership with a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment, within the Trust.  The post holder will work as a member of a team of highly motivated and dedicated psychiatrists and in co-operation with other consultant colleagues, provide advice on planning, monitoring, resource allocation and service delivery, to the Director, Divisional Medical Director and other senior managers within the Trust.

GENERAL DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

• Clinical and professional responsibility for patients Keep patients (and their carers if appropriate) informed about their condition. To involve patients (and their carers if appropriate) in decision making about their treatment. To maintain professional standards and obligations as set out by the General Medical Council and comply in particular with the GMC’s guidance on Good Medical Practice as amended or substituted from time to time. Carry out any work related to and reasonably incidental to the duties set out in your job plan or rota including keeping of records and the provision of reports, the proper delegation of tasks and maintaining skills and knowledge.

   

   

  KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS POST

   

   

   

  Professional Responsibilities

   

  The post holder will:

   

  • Develop a close working relationship with the general practitioners in the area. Work with the Psychiatry Old Age Consultants and the community multidisciplinary teams to manage the ongoing care of older patients with severe and enduring mental illness and dementia. Work closely with Home Treatment Crisis Response to ensure patients are cared for in the most suitable environment for their needs. Assess and treat patients as a member of the multidisciplinary team in keeping with the principles of ‘New Ways of Working’. Provide leadership to the medical team and multidisciplinary teams he/she works within
  • Be approved as a Part II Doctor by RQIA to perform duties pertaining to the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986
  • To conduct MCA and MHO assessments, attend complex case discussions and provide availability for urgent clinical matters.