Senior Clinical Lecturer in Psychosis Studies / Reader in Psychosis Studies

Job description

A vacancy has arisen for an academic consultant psychiatrist with expertise in psychotic disorders. The role involves delivering research and teaching within the Department of Psychosis Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences (IoPPN), King’s College London and clinical sessions as a consultant at the National Psychosis Unit (NPU ), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

We seek a successful candidate who is considerate, has strong interpersonal skills and who will champion an inclusive working environment. We particularly welcome applications from female and black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the university at this level. We understand that flexible working arrangements or career breaks may be necessary in certain circumstances and welcome the opportunity to discuss this possibility upon appointment and

throughout the role. The appointment will be made at Senior Clinical Lecturer or Reader level depending on experience and track-record that meets the King’s criteria.

RCPsych approval details: RLON NW-CO-STH-2023-01529 (Approved)

This post will be offered on a full-time, indefinite contract.

About the Faculty

www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/index.aspx   

About the Department of Psychosis Studies

www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/depts/ps/contact/index.aspx  

About King’s College Benefits

www.kcl.ac.uk/professional-services/hr

About King’s College Equality and Diversity

www.kcl.ac.uk/unions/unite/equality

South London & Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust

The South London & Maudsley (SLAM) NHS Foundation Trust provides comprehensive local mental health services to the London Boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth, Croydon and Lewisham (pop. 1.2 million). The Trust Board is chaired by Sir Norman Lamb and the Chief Executive is Dr David Bradley. The National Psychosis Unit is hosted by the Directorate of Psychological Medicine and Older Adults (PMOA) Shorayi Nyamupanda (Service Director), Paddy Quinn (Deputy Director), Farida Pirani (Deputy Head of Nursing). The Trust Medical Director is Dr Sarah Cornick.

Key responsibilities

Academic duties

• To provide leadership in Psychosis research, locally, nationally, and internationally.
• To develop high quality research projects in psychosis studies, including collaborating with other members of the Department to support and develop ideas.
• Obtain research grant funding to support research work in psychosis studies.
• Publish high quality peer-reviewed papers in this field.
• Undertake and direct the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students and supervise research projects and students.
• Participate in departmental activities as directed, including contributing to mentoring, and supervision of staff, administrative activities, departmental meetings and departmental development, the leadership of the department and other activities.

Clinical duties

• Provide advice and care in the management of people with Difficult to Treat Psychosis across the UK as part of an NHS tertiary service consisting of an 18-bedded inpatient unit on the Royal Bethlem Hospital site and an outpatients clinic in the Maudsley hospital.  The service takes referrals from secondary care psychiatry colleagues across the UK.
• Consultant responsibility/ RC responsibility for up to nine National Psychosis inpatients in Fitzmary 2 ward, and for National Psychosis Clinic patient assessments, and to attend the Maudsley NPU panel.
• Contribute to the medical leadership in the Psychosis CAG.
• Supervision or co-supervision of psychiatric trainees attached to these services.
• Contribute to clinical involvement and local management arrangements.
• Complete the administrative tasks necessary for the fulfilment of a Responsible Clinician role.
• Provide high quality, expert assessment, risk assessment and management of patients with complex treatment resistant psychosis.
• Provide medical leadership on the ward (Fitzmary 2, Bethlem Royal Hospital) ensuring safe and timely service provision for service users.
• To work with senior managers and nurses, as well as other staff, to ensure that a high quality safe clinical service is provided to all patients and to participate in and spearhead quality improvement activities.
• To work flexibly and creatively as part of a multidisciplinary team promoting informed risk taking and anti-discriminatory practice.
• To liaise with external funding bodies and placement providers concerning admissions and discharges, using the CPA framework where appropriate.
• To liaise with medical colleagues concerning physical health care where needed.
• To provide cover for other consultants when they are on leave.
• Contribute to business planning and service development.
• Ensure appropriate administration and documentation in relation to the duties of the post, including recording clinical activities in the Trust electronic patient record system (ePJS).
• To take part in audit and quality improvement. The Psychosis Clinical Academic Group encourages all staff to engage in the academic activities of the CAG and teaching or research can be agreed in the job plan, where it supports the overall aims of the CAG and the care of people with psychosis. Such activity is supported by the Audit Committee of the Trust and feeds back into wider clinical care.

Additional responsibilities

The duties above reflect the core activities of the role and as the College and the post-holder develop there will inevitably be changes in the emphasis of duties. It is expected that the post-holder recognises this and adopt a flexible approach to work and will be willing to participate in training.

Skills, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria - Senior Clinical Lecturer

1.       Registered as a Specialist in Psychiatry on GMC Specialist Register with a license to practice, or eligible for inclusion at this level 

2.       Research degree (PhD/ MD) or equivalent training and experience 

3.       Knowledge of evidence base and current research developments in schizophrenia and related disorders  

4.       Knowledge of clinical risk management 

5.       Skills in fostering an inclusive environment that values a diversity in perspectives and approaches.   

6.       Experience of delivering a high quality, evidence-based clinical service for psychotic disorders or other relevant clinical experience  

7.       Research experience in psychosis or related field as evidenced by publications in high quality journals, presentations at conferences, patents, obtaining research funding and other activities 

8.       Experience in delivering teaching or training in psychiatry 

9.       Excellent communication skills 

10.    Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work collaboratively and provide leadership of a team 

Desirable criteria – Senior Clinical Lecturer

1.       Section 12(2) Approval (UK applicants). Non-UK applicants can apply for this if successful 

2.       Excellence in mentoring and developing junior staff 

3.       Organisation of teaching or training courses 

4.       Ability to network across different teams and organisations 

Essential criteria – Clinical Reader

1.     Registered as a Specialist in Psychiatry on GMC Specialist Register with a license to practice, or eligible for inclusion at this leve   

2.       Research degree (PhD/ MD) or equivalent training and experience 

3.       MRCPsych, or completion of equivalent training in psychiatry 

4.       Thorough knowledge of evidence base and current research developments in schizophrenia and related disorders  

5.       Skills in fostering an inclusive environment that values a diversity in perspectives and approaches.  

6.       Experience of delivering a high quality, evidence-based clinical service for psychotic disorders or other relevant clinical experience  

7.       Research experience in psychosis or related field as evidenced by sustained publications in high quality journals, presentations at conferences, patents etc  

8.       Experience in delivering teaching or training in psychiatry 

9.       Evidence of national or international standing in the field and attracting significant independent research grant funding 

10.     Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work collaboratively and provide leadership across different teams and organisations 

11.     Ability to provide academic leadership, and skilled in motivating and developing research staff  

Desirable criteria - Clinical Reader

1.   Section 12(2) Approval (UK applicants). Non-UK applicants can apply for this if successful 

2.   Ability to think and plan strategically and network across organisations 

3.   Excellence in mentoring and developing junior staff 

4.   Organisation of teaching or training courses 

Further information

Please download the full JD for further information regarding the post responsibilities, job plan and other details. 

 This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance.