Visa Information for International Applicants
We welcome applications from qualified medical professionals worldwide for this position. Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to offer a certificate of sponsorship to successful international candidates who require it to work in the UK.
As an international applicant, you will need to meet certain eligibility requirements for skilled worker visa sponsorship. These include possessing the necessary qualifications, registration with the General Medical Council (GMC), and meeting English language requirements.
Please note that even with a certificate of sponsorship, you will need to apply for and obtain the appropriate visa to work in the UK. We recommend verifying your eligibility with the UK Visas and Immigration website before applying.
Job Summary
We are seeking to recruit a full-time Consultant for the First Response Service across Mid Mersey. This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, proactive colleague to provide dynamic leadership to the service and the Trust as a whole.
This new post is based at Hollins Park Hospital in Warrington. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with our Operational Manager, Clinical Service Manager, and FRS Specialty doctor based in Clock View to provide leadership and clinical expertise to the First Response Service.
The First Response Service provides urgent assessment and treatment for individuals experiencing mental health crises. As a Consultant Psychiatrist, you will play a crucial role in ensuring we deliver excellent, responsive, and high-quality care to our service users.
Main Duties of the Job
The post holder will be responsible for the overall assessment and management of patients presented to FRS in Mid Mersey. This involves working closely with other members of the multidisciplinary team, including clinical service managers, advanced clinical practitioners, clinical leads, Operational Managers, dual diagnosis practitioners, mental health practitioners, assistant practitioners, assistant clinical psychologists, clinical psychologists, social workers, and support workers.
Specific responsibilities include conducting urgent reviews for patients, chairing management planning meetings involving families, community and social care services, and providing clinical/managerial supervision for the specialty doctor based in FRS in Clock View Hospital.
You will carry out comprehensive psychiatric assessments and provide treatment for patients referred to FRS in both outpatient and community settings. Additionally, you will support FRS staff to manage psychiatric emergencies, conduct patient reviews, and perform Mental Health Act assessments.
The post holder will also be expected to maintain effective communication with other services, including in-patient and community mental health teams, crisis services, and primary care. You will provide clinical/educational supervision to junior colleagues, attend daily safety huddles and multidisciplinary team meetings, and participate in the Consultant on-call rota.
About Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region. We are also commissioned to provide services that cover the North West, North Wales, and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health, as well as specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction, and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable, and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together.
We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce costs as we do so. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential: MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
Desirable: Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research, or management; MRCPsych; CCT or CESR in General Adult or Old Age Psychiatry; additional clinical qualifications.
Eligibility
Essential: Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment; included on the GMC Specialist Register or within six months; approved clinician status or able to achieve within 6 months of appointment; approved under S12 or able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.
Desirable: In good standing with GMC with respect to warnings and conditions on practice.
Transport
Essential: Holds and will use a valid UK driving licence or provides evidence of proposed alternative.
Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential: Excellent knowledge in specialty; excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge; excellent oral and written communication skills in English; able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty; makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others; able to meet duties under MHA and MCA.
Desirable: Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning
Essential: Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training; ability to work in and lead a team; demonstrate commitment to shared leadership and collaborative working to deliver improvement; participated in continuous professional development; participated in research or service evaluation; able to use and appraise clinical evidence; has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes.
Desirable: Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post; reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken; experienced in clinical research and/or service evaluation; evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement; has led clinical audits leading to service change or improved outcomes to patients.
Salary and Benefits
The salary for this position is £109,725 to £145,478 per annum, plus 10% R&R (non-contractual) and on-call supplement. This is a competitive package reflecting the seniority and responsibilities of the role.
In addition to the base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, which is one of the most generous in the UK. We also provide access to various staff discounts, wellbeing programmes, and professional development opportunities.
The Trust is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
Contract Details
This is a permanent, full-time position based at Hollins Park Hospital in Warrington. The post holder will be expected to participate in the Consultant on-call rota covering all specialties apart from CAMHS and Forensic services in the Warrington, Halton, St Helens & Knowsley areas.
We are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements where possible. The Trust has a number of medical management roles and encourages medical staff to participate in these. Support is provided within job plans to undertake these roles.
Location
Hollins Park Hospital is located at Hollins Lane, Winwick, Warrington, WA2 8WA. The hospital is easily accessible by road and public transport. The Trust operates across multiple sites in the North West, but this specific role is based primarily at Hollins Park Hospital.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website and search for reference number 350-MED6855225-B. You will need to create an account if you haven’t already done so and complete the online application form.
As part of your application, you will be asked to provide evidence of your qualifications, GMC registration, and any relevant experience. You may also be asked to provide information about your visa status if you are an international applicant.
For international applicants specifically, we recommend ensuring you have all necessary documentation ready before starting your application. This includes proof of English language proficiency if applicable, details of any previous UK work experience, and information about your current immigration status.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the role, the application process, or working in the UK as an international healthcare professional, please contact:
Dawn McLoughlin (Deputy Medical Workforce Manager)
Email: [email protected]
For general information about working in the NHS as an international healthcare professional, you may find the NHS Careers website helpful: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/overseas-health-professionals
Supporting Documents
The following supporting documents are available to download:
- Job Description.pdf (PDF, 632 KB)
- Risk Form.pdf (PDF, 144 KB)
We strongly recommend reading these documents carefully before submitting your application. They contain detailed information about the role, responsibilities, and person specification.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. 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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information, visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country where they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information, please see the NHS Careers website for overseas health professionals.
Privacy Notice
For information about how we process your personal data, please refer to Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust’s privacy notice: https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/about-us/privacy-notice/
Equal Opportunities
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of their background.
About Warrington
Warrington is a large town and borough in Cheshire, England. It has excellent transport links, with easy access to Manchester, Liverpool, and other major cities in the North West. The area offers a good quality of life with a range of housing options, schools, and leisure facilities.
Further Information
For more information about Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, please visit our website: https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/
You can also find information about our services, values, and staff benefits on our website. We encourage all applicants to familiarise themselves with our organisation before applying for this position.
