Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist

Standard Duties and Responsibilities

1. To participate in development of and undertake all duties and functions pertinent to the Consultant's area of competence, as set out within the Clinical Directorate Service Plan and in line with policies as specified by the Employer.
2. To ensure that duties and functions are undertaken in a manner that minimises delays for patients and possible disruption of services.
3. To work within the framework of the hospital/agency's service plan and/or levels of service (volume, types etc.) as determined by the Employer. Service planning for individual clinical services will be progressed through the Clinical Directorate structure or other arrangements as apply.
4. To co-operate with the expeditious implementation of the Disciplinary Procedure (attached at Appendix II).
5. To formally review the execution of the Clinical Directorate Service Plan with the Clinical Director/Employer periodically. The Clinical Directorate Service Plan shall be reviewed periodically at the request of the Consultant or Clinical Director/Employer. The Consultant may initially seek internal review of the determinations of the Clinical Director regarding the Service Plan.
6. To participate in the development and operation of the Clinical Directorate structure and in such management or representative structures as are in place or being developed. The Consultant shall receive training and support to enable him/her to participate fully in such structures.
7. To provide, as appropriate, consultation in the Consultant's area of designated expertise in respect of patients of other Consultants at their request.
8. To ensure in consultation with the Clinical Director that appropriate medical cover is available at all times having due regard to the implementation of the European Working Time Directive as it relates to doctors in training.
9. To supervise and be responsible for diagnosis, treatment and care provided by non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) treating patients under the Consultant's care.
10. To participate as a right and obligation in selection processes for non-Consultant Hospital Doctors and other staff as appropriate. The Employer will provide training as required. The Employer shall ensure that a Consultant representative of the relevant specialty/sub-specialty is involved in the selection process.
11. To participate in clinical audit and proactive risk management and facilitate production of all data/information required for same in accordance with regulatory, statutory and corporate policies and procedures.
12. To participate in and facilitate production of all data/information required to validate delivery of duties and functions and inform planning and management of service delivery.
13. To carry out teaching as appropriate.

Clinical:

1. To practice as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Cork Mental Health Services under the Public Only Consultant Contract 2023.
2. To be responsible for the care and treatment of patients in his/her clinical charge and to ensure mechanisms for the co-ordination of the care with the multidisciplinary team and between the team and other health and social care agencies are established and maintained.
3. To ensure that the service will be community orientated, with treatment provided in the main range of community facilities available, and within the level of resources allocated. To provide a service with the multidisciplinary team for patients referred for specialist treatment encompassing comprehensive programmes of care to include where necessary family support and advice.
4. To lead and engage in the provision of a range of community based assessment and treatment programmes including, out-patients clinics, day hospital services, community services, residential centres, and any service deemed necessary in the future in line with evidenced based practice and National Clinical Programme for Dual Diagnosis.
5. To provide a diagnostic treatment or consultation service as may be appropriate for or in respect of patients for whom the HSE is obliged under any enactment to provide.
6. To develop and provide special clinics and associated services for identified patients.
7. To keep such records as may be required from time to time by the HSE.
8. To examine, assess, report and provide advice on every person referred to him/her.
9. To furnish on request to any registered Medical Practitioner authorized by the HSE or the Minister, the clinical details regarding any person who is or who has been under his/her care, on production of the written consent of the person or the written consent of the person's representative or next of kin.
10. To issue, or arrange for the issue of, to or in respect of any patient under his/her care in the hospital or referred to him/her at a clinic and without payment by or on behalf of the HSE, any certificate which might reasonably be required by such patient regard to the state of his/her health in connection with his/her normal employment, his/her entitlement to benefit under the scheme of social insurance or assistance.
11. To supervise and be responsible for the clinical work and record keeping of Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors and as appropriate other staff and to instruct them in the proper performance of their duties.
12. To ensure that adequate supplies of such drugs, medicines, medical and surgical appliances as he/she considers necessary, will be available in his/her department of the hospital and to report to the HSE, arrangements for the custody of dangerous drugs etc., which he/she considers to be unsatisfactory.
13. To be responsible, under the Executive Clinical Director/Clinical Director, for the general management and running of hospital and community based departments or of such other psychiatric services operated by the HSE as may be assigned to him/her and to attend and be responsible for the care and treatment of patients concerned in such assignment.
14. To take a special interest in and be responsible, under the person in charge, for the general organisation of such aspects of the Mental Health Services of the HSE as may be assigned to him/her.
15. To be responsible for the maintenance of appropriate liaison arrangements between his/her department in the hospital or community services and the patients normal medical attendant.
16. To participate in a system of professional practice review to support the maintenance of service quality and standards.
17. To actively participate in and promote continuing education and review activities consistent with the position, and maintain a programme of continuing professional development applicable to the responsibilities of the post.
18. To establish and develop multidisciplinary risk management/audit and review committees within the allocated area of responsibility and/or as requested by the management of the psychiatric services.

Organisational/Operational:

1. To work with the Executive Clinical Director/Clinical Director and Supporting structures, Head of Mental Health Services, Hospital Managers, Area Director of Nursing, Medical and Surgical Staff of the hospital/community services in all matters appertaining to their general efficiency.
2. To participate in structured arrangements for the determination of resource provision and utilisation, service planning and evaluation and performance review appropriate to Cork Mental Health Services.
3. To participate in the on-call rota as required. To deputise and supply cross-cover as appropriate for his/her colleagues in the event of service exigencies in agreement with the Executive Clinical Director/Clinical Director and management of the service.
4. To reside convenient to Cork Mental Health Services or at such place as may be approved by the Head of Mental Health Services, HSE South West.
5. To agree with his/her Executive Clinical Director/Clinical Director, the consultant colleagues to assume clinical responsibility for his/her patients during his/her absence and document same.
6. To undertake referral meetings, case reviews as required.
7. To write letters and communications to General Practitioners and other professionals as required.
8. To participate in various medical staff meetings within the HSE as necessary.
9. To provide lectures/training as appropriate and as required in the Hospital and Clinical Service areas for medical, nursing and other staff or students.
10. To perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances on consultation with senior and junior colleagues.
11. To assist in the development of best practice protocols in line with emerging research and best practice.
12. To participate in activities such as Clinical Practice; Risk Management; Health and Safety; Financial; Administration and HR.
13. To provide advice, support and consultancy in a variety of settings to minimise risk.
14. To participate in regular Audit and Quality Assurance programmes to improve and maintain the high standards of service.
15. To participate in clinical audit, clinical governance and strategic planning.
16. To contribute to or conduct research in clinical or service areas, in accordance with approved policies, pertinent to the service and their own relevant experience.
17. To comply with reporting requirements and system developments e.g. Mental Health Commission etc and to provide data/activity as required for performance monitoring processes in the HSE South West.
18. To ensure compliance with all HSE National and Local policies and procedures.
19. To notify the appropriate officer of any case of infectious or suspected infectious disease in his/her Department and to furnish such particulars as may be required in each case and to carry out the preventative measure that may be necessary.
20. The person appointed will hold office under the terms and conditions of the revised consultant's contract, which will determine that he/she will participate actively in the management of the unit, take cognisance of resource constraints and retain clinical autonomy while practicing.
21. To work with a multidisciplinary team providing assessment and therapeutic services and to have special administrative responsibility if required for the Service.
22. The person appointed will take an active role in the selection and recruitment of staff where required.
23. To be responsible for the maintenance of appropriate liaison arrangements between his/her unit and the patients normal medical attendants.
24. The person appointed to the office is a Designated Officer under the "Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998" and consistent with Children's First Guidelines 2011 to receive reports of child abuse.
25. To prepare clinical and court reports pursuant to Section 25 of the Mental Health Act 2001.
26. To ensure that current Health and Safety Legislation is complied with in consultation with the Executive Clinical Director/Clinical Director, Area Director of Nursing and other responsible persons.
27. To participate and ensure that junior medical staff participate in regular Health & Safety exercise e.g. Fire Drill.
28. To perform such other duties appropriate to his/her office as may be assigned to him/her by the Head of Mental Health Services, HSE South West or other designated officers.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.