Specialty Doctor - Old Age Community Mental Health Team
Oxford
Full Time
£63,696 - £102,689 per annum | pro rata
Expires: 14/06/2026
NHS Medical & Dental: Specialty Doctor
Fixed term: 12 months (from July 2026)
About the Role
Job overview
We are recruiting for a full-time Specialty Doctor in Old Age Psychiatry to join our Older Adult Community Service providing care to patients in Oxford City and Bicester on a 12-month fixed term contract.
You'll facilitate mental health recovery in the community for people over the age of 65 and those under the age of 65 with a diagnosis of dementia. In this role you'll provide specialist and holistic assessment, treatment and continuing care for older adults who suffer from a range of mental health problems including dementia.
Working collaboratively with the service users, their family, carers, and friends this role will be carried out in partnership with the community mental health team and other professionals involved in the care of the service user.
You'll work predominantly with the duty team carrying out urgent assessments independently or jointly with community psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, and psychologists. There will be occasions of joint work with Adult Social Care and the Primary Care Team. Opportunities will be provided for supervision and training in running memory clinics independently.
We are looking for doctors who have full GMC registration, eligibility for Section 12 approval, and at least four years’ full-time postgraduate training at least two of which are in a specialty training programme in a relevant specialty. If this sounds like you, we would be delighted to receive your application.
Main duties of the job
- Clinical Assessment and treatment of patients over 65 and those under 65 with dementia in the community
- Provide support to non-medical staff attached to the team and contribute to the multidisciplinary working of the service.
- Conduct memory clinics according to level of experience and supervision needs
- Work alongside the team manager and Consultant Psychiatrists in the team to ensure the effective functioning and development of the service
- Provide direct clinical care and ensure medical involvement in the care planning process
- Work collaboratively with other agencies. In particular, liaison with staff from other teams to manage smooth and timely transfer into and out of the team.
- Providing timely written correspondence to relevant professionals documenting assessments, on-going management, progress, and eventual discharge using Trust IT and clinical records system – training will be provided where needed. Completion of care planning documentation when necessary.
- Contribute to the collection of data as required by the Trust and other relevant agencies. This includes the timely recording of clinical activity data, and participation in clinical audit with appropriate administrative support.
- Participate in both a CPD peer group and a clinical supervision group with fellow specialty doctor
- Maintain their own programme of training and CPD accreditation with the support of their Lead consultant/Associate Medical Director/Clinical Director
Working for our organisation
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the “candidate guide to making an application” and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”
Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Older Adult service in Oxfordshire is divided into three localities (North, Central and South). The service is embedded within the Oxfordshire, Swindon, BaNES and Wiltshire Mental Health Directorate. The Central team provides mental health service to those over 65 living in Oxford and Bicester.
There is access to Older Adult inpatient beds at the Fulbrook Centre on the Churchill Hospital site.
The team works closely together with the Specialist Mental Health Social Work team within Oxfordshire County Council who take responsibility for the social care of patients in need for specialised social care input.
Person specification
Qualifications and Registration
Essential criteria
- Medical degree
- Fully registered with the General Medical Council
Desirable criteria
- A higher degree such as MD or PhD
- Attendance at MRCPsych course or equivalent Section 12 (2) approval: Mental Health Act, 1983
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- At least four years’ full-time Postgraduate training (or its equivalent gained on a part-time or flexible basis) at least two of which will be in a specialty training programme in a relevant specialty or as a fixed term specialty trainee in a relevant specialty or shall have equivalent experience and competencies.
- Held hospital appointments in psychiatry at residential doctor, core training, or equivalent
- Appreciation and understanding of ethnic minority issues and a commitment to developing culturally sensitive practices
- Understanding of social factors relevant to psychiatry
Desirable criteria
- Experience at senior training level or equivalent
Clinical Skills
Essential criteria
- Adequate clinical skills in old age psychiatry
- Expertise in risk assessment
- Ability to work in multi-disciplinary team and provide medical input to the team
Desirable criteria
- Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post
Teaching and Research
Essential criteria
- Good teaching and communication skills
- Experience of research work and/or ability to interpret research findings and apply them to clinical practice
Desirable criteria
- Teaching medical undergraduates
- Experience of teaching non-medical mental health professionals
- Experience of grant-funded project work
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals in relevant academic fields
- Audit or other quality improvement experience
Transport
Essential criteria
- UK driving licence or evidence of proposed alternative
- Car availability to conduct domiciliary visits
Documents to Download
Specialty Doctor JD OA City Team (PDF, 563.5KB)
Recruiter Contact Details
Name: Dr Adrian Alonso Sanchez
Title: Medical Lead Oxfordshire Older Adults
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01865 904 894