NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
Scott’s View, Scottish Borders
Job Description and particulars for the post:
Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability Psychiatry, NHS
Borders
Page 1
NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
Reference
Grade
Location
Hours / PA’s
Salary Scale
Please quote on all correspondence
MED633
Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability Psychiatry
Westgrove, Melrose
Full time - 10 PAs (job share and part time applications welcome)
Specialty Doctor scale, £37,176 - £69,325 per annum with scale placing as
appropriate to experience and qualifications.
Closing Date
Your
Application
Thank you for expressing an interest in the above post within NHS Borders.
Please find all the relevant information attached to begin the application
process.
Should you require further information regarding this post you can contact the
Medical Staffing team or make informal enquiries with the department using
the contact details below?
To ensure we can process your application as easily as possible please
complete all the information required within the Application Pack and return
with your full C.V.
Contact
Details
Application
Process
Telephone
Email
01896 826167
Medical.staffing@borders.scot.nhs.uk
To apply please submit a copy of your Curriculum Vitae along with the
completed Application Pack (below), together with a daytime telephone
number where you can be contacted, to Medical Staffing, Borders General
Hospital, Melrose TD6 9BS. Tel: 01896 826167. Fax: 01896 826159 or email to: medical.staffing@borders.scot.nhs.uk .
If emailing your CV please telephone 01896 826167 to confirm safe
receipt.
HU
UH
Application Pack
MED633
Page 2
NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
Visits and
Enquiries
Date post is
vacant
NHS Borders
Website
Informal visits can be arranged and informal enquiries regarding this post will
be welcomed by:Dr
Cliff Associate Medical Director 01896 827155 (secretary)
Sharp
Dr Mark Consultant Psychiatrist
01896 824582
Hughes
The post is vacant immediately and a start date will be agreed with the
successful candidate.
For further information regarding NHS Borders, please visit our website:www.nhsborders.org.uk
HU
The
Department
U
NHS Borders Mental Health Services continue to develop following the closure of
Dingleton Hospital in April 2001. Care is now provided in smaller, more homely units
and several wards have now been relocated to the BGH campus - wards for
Dementia Assessment and the Functionally-Ill elderly, with a Dementia Continuing
Care unit nearby. The Rehabilitation Unit in Galashiels opened in May 2001, and
plans are underway to refurbish the Galavale Ward into modern office and outpatient
facilities.
NHS Borders has invested in Mental Health to further develop its longstanding
community services. There are 10 Consultant led Community Mental Health teams,
led by 15 Consultant Psychiatrists:
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Mental Health for Older Adults (MHOAS) which covers the whole catchment area
and has responsibility for elderly people with dementia or functional illnesses.
East Community Mental Health Team (General Adult)
South Community Mental Health Team (General Adult)
West Community Mental Health Team (General Adult)
Community Rehabilitation Team
(Severe and Enduring MI)
Borders Addiction Services (BAS)
(Alcohol & Substance Misuse)
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Team
Liaison Psychiatry Service
(Psychiatry in the General
Hospital)
Borders Crisis Team (BCT)
(Emergency & Crisis
Intervention)
Learning Disability Service
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NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
The Borders In-Patient Services
The Mental Health Service has developed its service from the Therapeutic
Community principles introduced by Dr. Maxwell Jones to Dingleton Hospital,
continuing to value open communication, a flattened hierarchy and a high level of
participation in planning and service management. This has helped to maintain staff
morale and ensure a high quality service even in times of economic hardship. The
philosophy is essentially that people respond to their maximum potential when given
the maximum appropriate involvement and responsibility. In this way we have been
able not only to help patients more, but also provide a stimulating and attractive
environment for staff.
Medical staff contribute to the in-patient service through weekly assessment (ward
round) meetings. These draw together the assessment and care plan in
collaboration with patients and carers where appropriate. This meeting co-ordinates
discharge plans including patients who come under the Care Programme Approach.
Continuity of care is provided both by the care planning process and the fact that
community staff keep in direct contact with patients during their admission. This also
enables a detailed account of the person’s social context and supports to be
communicated to ward staff and ensure early and appropriate discharge plans.
Borders Community Mental Health Services
The Borders service places special emphasis upon its community psychiatric
service. Some aims of this are:
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To assess and treat people in the environment of their choice, usually at home.
To encourage referrals at an earlier stage, before a crisis arises
To attempt to resolve emotional crises and illnesses as far as possible in the
individuals own family setting.
To ensure continuation of appropriate support in the community so that
recurrence may be less likely.
To help the person alter their coping strategies, where necessary, to help
maximise social functioning.
To identify those for whom in-patient treatment is required.
Psychiatric services attempt to broaden Mental Health Education by increasing
liaison with others, whether within the Health Service, (such as General
Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Health Visitors and District Nurses), or in partner
agencies such as Social Work, with Support Workers and the Voluntary sector. To
this end we meet with many of these groups.
Community Teams may assess referrals in their own homes, in Primary care
facilities or Community team bases, with therapeutic work carried out on a multidisciplinary basis.
An important element of the multi-disciplinary approach is the mutual learning and
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NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
skill-sharing between medical and non-medical members of the team. Patients in
crisis, often together with their relatives are, where possible, seen by 2 members of
the Community Team. For first referrals one of these members is usually a
psychiatrist, undertake complex assessment, diagnosis and formulation of a
treatment plan. While the doctor may continue to be involved, appropriate patients
may have continuing treatment and support from non-medical members of the
Team.
POST INFORMATION
A As an integrated (health and social work) service, the Borders Learning Disability
The Post
Service (LDS) provides assessment, treatment and care management for adults (18
and over) with Learning Disability (also known as Intellectual Disability) who require
its specialist input. Referrals can be for a wide range of reasons, including
psychiatric assessment and management, challenging behaviour, psychological
assessment/ therapy, assessment of health needs (including functional assessment,
communication and swallowing assessment, physiotherapy assessment) and social
work assessment. Services are provided mostly in people’s own homes, or at a
community venue of their choice.
Reporting
Arrangements
Health and
Safety
It provides tertiary psychiatric care including assessment and management of acute
and chronic psychiatric disorder, challenging behaviour, co-morbid substance
misuse or eating disorders, autism assessment, dementia assessment and
treatment, capacity assessment, forensic psychiatry and court reports.
.
The service is part of the regional planning network for South East Scotland and
Tayside regions (SEAT), with Learning Disability services provided under the
auspices of a Managed Care Network (LD MCN), which includes Lothian, Fife, and
Forth Valley, as well as the Borders. The Borders LDS has operated as a fully
integrated (Health and Social Work) Borders-wide service for the last 8 years. The
Community Learning Disability Team is based at Westgrove House in Melrose, with
psychiatry, psychology, nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language
Therapy, Physiotherapy, Music Therapy and Social Work. The service also provides
day services across the borders and has links with Local Area Coordination and
independent advocacy. There are no specialist LD inpatient services within the
Scottish Borders; access to inpatient services is via: Huntlyburn, the local acute
psychiatric unit (if appropriate); LD MCN beds, if available; or to private hospitals if
no appropriate NHS bed can be accessed.
Managerially you will report to the Associate Medical Director, who will agree your
job plan on an annual basis.
The post will be under appropriate consultant
supervision from the Consultant Psychiatrist and if necessary a consultant will act
as your educational supervisor.
You are required to comply with NHS Borders Health and Safety Policies.
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NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
Staffing within
Unit
The multi-disciplinary team consists of:1.0 wte
0.8 wte
0.2 wte
0.7 wte
10.6 wte
1.3 wte
0.6 wte
0.6 wte
1.7 wte
1.0 wte
0.4 wte
13 wte
Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Mark Hughes
Associate Specialist, Dr Chammy Sirisena (currently on maternity leave)
Consultant in Forensic Psychiatry, Dr. Gordon Skilling
Core Psychiatry Trainee
Community LD Nurses
Psychologists (includes Consultant, trainee and assistant)
Music Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Speech and Language Therapist
Physiotherapist
Dietician
Social Workers
The Consultant staff establishment within the Mental Health and Learning
Disability Network is as follows:
Dr Cliff Sharp
Dr Amanda Cotton
Dr Basel Switzer
Dr Derek Dickson
Dr Ruth Solomon (p/t)
Dr Gill Yellowlees (this post)
Dr Anna Beaglehole
Dr Ingrid Swan (p/t)
Dr Sarah Glen (p/t)
Dr Theresa McArdle
Dr Joanna Smith
Dr Jason Luty
Associate Medical Director/Consultant
Psychiatrist - South Community Mental
Health Team
South Community Mental Health Team
East Community Mental Health Team
West Community Mental Health Team
Rehabilitation Team
Mental Health for Older Adults
Mental Health for Older Adults
Mental Health for Older Adults
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service
Liaison & Crisis Team Psychiatry
Borders Addictions Service
Other permanent medical staff supporting the Service:
Dr Flora Sinclair (p/t)
Dr Eimear O’Kane (p/t)
Dr Anne-Marie McGhee (p/t)
Dr Muriel Foreman (p/t)
Associate Specialist, Rehabilitation Team
Specialty Doctor, West Community Mental
Health Team
Associate Specialist, Child and Adolescent
Service
Associate Specialist, Child and Adolescent
Page 6
NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
Dr Lucy Calvert (p/t)
Dr Jenny Forbes (p/t)
Dr Rowena Murray-Park
Dr Karen Andrews (p/t)
Service
Specialty Doctor, Mental Health for Older
Adults
GP with Special Interest, Addictions Service
Specialty Doctor (inpatient unit)
Specialty Doctor, Rehabilitation Service
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Main Duties
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To provide psychiatric assessment and management to adults with Learning
Disabilities in the Scottish Borders .
To take clinical responsibility for an outpatient caseload of appropriate
patients.
To take clinical responsibility for admissions of adults with LD to the general
psychiatric unit.
To provide liaison consultation for adults with LD receiving treatment in other
areas of NHS Borders (e.g. admission to general hospitals).
To liaise with colleagues in primary care and secondary care to ensure
coordinated care, including timely correspondence with GPs.
To promote a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency approach and provide
consultancy support to Primary Care staff, CLDNs, social work and Day
Services.
To act as Approved Medical Practitioner within the remit of the Mental Health
and Incapacity Legislation (if section 22 approved).
To participate in audit, critical incident reviews and the clinical governance
infrastructure, educational meetings, appraisal, Continuing Professional
Development and Revalidation.
To provide psychiatric court reports as requested by the local legal
authorities.
To provide expert advice and forge working links with other stakeholder
agencies and groups, including out of area services for Borders clients and
primary care.
To provide supervision to the GP or Specialty Trainee within the team.
To participate in Revalidation, Continuing Professional Development and
annual Appraisal, including 360-degree appraisal.
WORK PROGRAMME AND OUTLINE JOB PLANS
As required under Section 3 of the Terms and Conditions of Service, the duties
and responsibilities are supported by a job plan and work programme. On taking
up post, the formal plan will be agreed by the Head of Service and the
successful applicant and subject to an annual cycle of review.
The job plan will include specific responsibilities as well as specialty sessions.
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NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
The content of the job plan will be dependent on the successful candidate’s
specialty training and interests and would also be modified for part-time or job
share postholders.
NHS Borders Board
NHS Borders has an entirely integrated structure for management of health services. Decisionmaking is firmly embedded within an integrated Clinical Executive, part of a natural evolution towards
more integrated care, which has seen health and social services within the Borders develop nationally
recognised joint initiatives. From January 2013, the SGHD announced a consultation for legislation on
integration of adult health and social care services, with a particular focus, via performance
management, on improving outcomes for older people.
The Clinical Executive (CE) is the body responsible for ensuring the overall management of services,
operational service planning and service redesign. The CE is chaired by the Chief Operating Officer
and includes the Medical Director, Director of Nursing, Clinical Chairs and General Managers from
each of the Clinical Boards across NHS Borders (including the Mental Health Clinical Board)
The Clinical Executive therefore has the authority to manage resources across the area and to design
care from a “whole system” perspective.
Clinical Governance is well established, forming part of the Risk Management of the whole
organisation. Clinical Governance is seen as a positive support to all clinicians with active
participation by all professions. There is a wide range of opportunities for the post-holder to be
involved in this area of work.
Educational Facilities
There is an excellent library within the Borders General Hospital grounds run by Napier University with
good Internet access. Post graduate and continuing medical education is actively encouraged and
supported.
The Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders covers a large and scenically beautiful area of the Southern Uplands of Scotland.
Predominately rural, it is historically a unique part of the country, the home of the Border Reivers,
where annually each town in the Borders maintains its links with the past during the season of
Common Ridings. Seven-a-side rugby originated in Melrose, and the Melrose event in particular
draws large crowds each year. The Borders has tremendous facilities for sport and leisure. Glentress
and Innerleithen mountain bike parks are world renowned for both cross country and down hill biking.
The beautiful Berwickshire coast provides options for sea kayaking, surfing, diving and sea fishing. In
addition there are facilities for fishing, golf, swimming, horse riding, cricket, football, hiking and many
other activities. The Borders has excellent cultural opportunities in terms of music and art societies,
drama, and small theatres in Melrose, Selkirk, Peebles and Hawickas well as amateur opera. There
are excellent restaurants, cinemas and shops. The Hospital also has corporate membership of an
excellent Fitness Centre in Galashiels. There is a purpose built nursery in the grounds of the hospital
for hospital employees’ children.
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NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
The Scottish Borders offers all the benefits of rural life with very easy access to major cities such as
Edinburgh (37 miles) Glasgow (75 miles) Newcastle (75 miles). Edinburgh is renowned for its cultural
activities in music, including opera and ballet, theatre, cinemas (including a film theatre) and visual
arts, and of course every year there is the world famous Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe
Festival. Glasgow also runs an annual festival in the early summer.
There are rail links to the rest of the country at Berwick Upon Tweed, and Carlisle and there is easy
access to Edinburgh Airport (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes) and Newcastle Airport (approximately
1 hour 30 minutes). The reopening of the Waverly line, Edinburgh Waverly Station – Tweedbank
Station terminus (1 mile from BGH) railway line is expected by the end of 2014.
House prices in the Borders Region are significantly less than in major cities and also less than many
other rural parts of the country, particularly in the south. There is assistance with temporary housing
costs and relocation allowances up to full inland revenue limits for the successful applicant.
Please see Websites:
Scottish Borders Tourist Board
Scottish Borders Information Melrose
Southern Reporter
NHS Borders
Borders Properties
- www.scot-borders.co.uk
www.bordernet.co.uk
- www.melrose.bordernet.co.uk
- www.borderstoday.co.uk
- www.nhsborders.org.uk
- www.bspc.co.uk
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NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
Qualifications
Essential Criteria
Primary Medical Degree – MBBS or
equivalent.
Desirable Criteria
MRCPsych
Full GMC registration
Training
and
Experience
Minimum of 4 years experience in
psychiatry, SHO Level (or equivalent).
Experience
psychiatry
in
Learning
Sufficient experience to exercise an
intermediate
level
of
clinical
responsibility.
Experience in Autism
Disability
Teaching experience e.g. junior doctors
/ other healthcare professionals.
Continuing medical education record.
Management
Skills
Research/
Publications
Good time management.
Ability to work in a team
Experience
of
preparation
presentation of audit.
Computer / IT literate
and
Appreciation of risk management
Enthusiasm to be involved in Audit
and Research & Development
Personal
Attributes
Motivation to learn and develop skills
and contribute to improvements in the
service.
Good communicator both verbally and
in writing.
Sound communication skills with
patients, relatives and colleagues.
Ability to work in a team with all
grades of staff and primary care
colleagues.
Complimentary
in
skills
and
temperament with rest of Service.
Other
Satisfy EU Immigration / Work Permit
Regulations.
Full driving licence
Ability to travel independently.
Satisfactory pre-employment health
screening including Hepatitis B
immune status.
Page 10
NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Main Conditions of Service

The Terms and Conditions of Service will be drawn from the “Terms and Conditions of
Service – Specialty Doctor (Scotland) (2008)”
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The appointment will be made by NHS Borders on the recommendation of an Advisory
Appointment Committee. Any person suitably qualified and experienced who is unable for
personal reasons to work full-time, will be eligible to be considered for the post on a part-time
basis.

You must be fully registered with the General Medical Council with a licence to practice.

To be eligible for a Specialty Doctor post you must demonstrate at least 4 years’ full-time
postgraduate training (or its equivalent gained on a part-time or flexible basis) at least 2 years
of which will be in a specialty training programme or as a Fixed Term Specialty Trainee in a
relevant specialty; or you must demonstrate equivalent experience and competencies.

The full-time salary, exclusive of any discretionary points or distinction award, will be on the
scale £37,176 - £69,325 per annum with scale placing as appropriate to experience and
qualifications.

Combined Annual leave / Public Holiday entitlement is 7 weeks per year until 2 years service
have been completed in the grade and 8 weeks thereafter for practitioners remaining in the
grade. Where the appointee in his/her immediately previous regular appointment attracted the
6 weeks annual leave per annum, this entitlement would remain.

The appointment will be superannuable if the person appointed chooses. He or she will be
subject to the regulations of the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme and the
remuneration will be subject to deduction of contributions accordingly, unless he or she opts
out of the Scheme.

The NHS Board is legally liable for the negligent acts or omissions of the employees in the
course of their NHS employment. Medical staff are however advised to ensure that they
have defence cover for activities not covered by the NHS indemnity.

All entrants to the Borders General Hospital must be certified medically fit and the
appointment is conditional on such certification. Arrangements for medical screening are the
responsibility of the Occupational Health Service. Candidates must show evidence of
immune status to HEPATITIS B, or agree to undergo the necessary procedures.
The
Occupational Health Service will check this.
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NHS Borders – Job Information Pack
POSITION: Locum Specialty Doctor – Learning Disability
Psychiatry

The normal notice period in the Terms and Conditions of Employment is 3 months notice from
either side to terminate the appointment.

Assistance with removal expenses / temporary accommodation etc. may be provided in
accordance with the Relocation Benefits Policy.

NHS Borders operates a No Smoking Policy. It is a condition of your employment that you
must not smoke whilst you are on duty. Failure to observe this rule could result in disciplinary
action. When selecting new staff, NHS Borders does not discriminate against applicants who
smoke but applicants who accept an offer of employment will, in doing so, agree to observe
the policy and the legal requirements on smoking in public places.

The Equal Opportunities Policy affirms that all employees should be offered equal
opportunities in employment, irrespective of their age, gender, marital status, race, religion,
creed, sexual orientation, colour or disability.
Page 12