Visa and Relocation Information
This position offers a Certificate of Sponsorship for eligible international candidates looking to relocate to the United Kingdom. The Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust welcomes applications from qualified psychiatrists worldwide who are seeking professional opportunities in the UK’s healthcare system.
If you are a qualified psychiatrist considering relocating to the UK, this position offers an excellent opportunity to join a leading mental health trust while receiving sponsorship for your work permit. The trust is committed to building a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from qualified professionals globally.
International applicants should note that a Certificate of Sponsorship will be provided for successful candidates, but it is essential to verify your specific visa eligibility requirements with the employer during the application process.
About the Role
This is a full-time (1.0 WTE) Consultant Psychiatrist post providing clinical and medical leadership to the Community Mental Health Services for Older People’s team in Easington, County Durham. The post-holder will work as part of the community team, which is based in Seaham.
In 2024, the posts were reconfigured to reflect demographic changes within the catchment area and provide an equivalent level of psychiatrist staff input to teams across the locality. This is a replacement post following retirement of the previous postholder.
The post holder will provide consultant psychiatric input to a population of 20,647 people over 65 years in the Easington area, alongside a specialty doctor. This role is ideal for psychiatrists interested in working with older adults and contributing to community mental health services.
Key Responsibilities
The Clinical PAs are 7.5 PA across the week, based at the Seaham team base and this is likely to include a combination of clinics at the team base, and home visits across the catchment area. The post-holder will be responsible for the delivery of mental health services to the population of older people of approximately 20,000.
This post provides consultant leadership to the community teams, working closely with other consultant colleagues working in the Durham and Darlington CMHTs, and the consultants and teams at our inpatient MHSOP services. The post holder will provide clinical supervision to the teams specialty doctor.
The Consultant is an integral member of an enthusiastic and well-managed multi-disciplinary team. There will be a requirement to undertake some home visits, and it is expected that the post holder will carry a small personal caseload (historically, around 10 patients or fewer) with the team members being care coordinator for most patients.
Team and Service Information
The team provides mental health services to older people with mental health problems and frailty-related complexities. We also accept referrals for young onset dementia patients. Each team has administrative support and co-located social workers.
The teams use the Care Programme Approach (CPA) to ensure regular reviews and risk assessments are completed, with supervision in place in accordance with trust policy. This collaborative approach ensures comprehensive care for service users.
The weekly workload for the consultant will consist of around 1-2 new patient assessments with flexibility to respond to urgent referrals, face to face support to the team in scheduled meetings and ad-hoc, around 10-12 face to face reviews of community patients either at their home or in clinic with actual numbers dependant on the complexity of each review.
About the Employer
We are one of the largest specialist mental health and learning disabilities trusts in the country, with an annual income of £320m and a workforce of some 6,700 staff operating from around 100 sites in Durham, Teesside, North Yorkshire and York and Selby.
We provide a range of inpatient and community services to 2m people living in County Durham, the Tees Valley, Scarborough, Whitby, Ryedale, Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire. We also provide additional specialist services to other parts of Northern England.
We deliver our services by working in partnership with eight local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, a wide range of voluntary organisations, as well as service users, their carers and the public. This collaborative approach ensures comprehensive care across the region.
Professional Development and Support
Psychiatrists are essential contributors to our mental health teams. Service users expect and are justified to expect collaborative relationships with dedicated psychiatrists who work consistently as part of effective services.
The Medical Directorate and Medical Development Team are striving to improve medical workforce recruitment and retention in a variety of ways and the cornerstone of these efforts is The TEWV Charter for the Medical Workforce.
We are committed to supporting the professional development of our medical staff and providing opportunities for career advancement. The trust values the contribution of international professionals and provides comprehensive support for relocation and integration into the UK healthcare system.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
Applicants must have MB BS or equivalent medical qualification and be fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment. Essential qualifications include the ability to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training, participation in continuous professional development, and experience in research or service evaluation.
Applicants must be able to use and appraise clinical evidence and have actively participated in clinical audit. Leadership experience is essential, including the ability to reflect on own performance and behaviour, seeking and acting on feedback, and influencing and persuading to improve services.
Essential experience includes the ability to take on a leadership role in multidisciplinary teams, knowledge of the structure and management of the NHS and the Trust, and commitment to quality through knowledge of quality improvement and lean thinking methodology or the ability to achieve this within one year of appointment.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
Desirable qualifications include the ability to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post, reflection on the purpose of CPD undertaken, and experience in clinical research and/or service evaluation.
Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement such as awards, prizes, presentations and publications is desirable. Experience leading clinical audits that have led to service change is also considered advantageous.
Additional desirable qualifications include higher degrees in medical education, clinical research, or management, MRCPsych postgraduate qualification or CESR qualification, additional clinical qualifications, and endorsement in Liaison Psychiatry.
Working Environment and Benefits
The post includes scheduled sessions in the Easington CMHT; no other fixed commitments with any other teams or services are included. We would, however, be keen to hear from applicants with any special interests and these would be considered as part of the job planning process, by mutual agreement.
The trust offers a competitive salary ranging from £109,725 to £145,478 per year, which is in line with NHS consultant pay scales. This reflects the seniority and responsibilities of the role.
Flexible working arrangements are available, allowing for a healthy work-life balance. The trust is committed to supporting its staff and offers various benefits including pension schemes, healthcare support, and professional development opportunities.
Application Process and Requirements
To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website and submit your application before the closing date of 09 December 2025. The application should include your CV, a personal statement highlighting your suitability for the role, and any other requested documentation.
For questions about the job, contact Rosie Wheadon (Medical Recruitment Advisor) via email at rosie.wheadon@nhs.net. Please note that phone contact information is not provided, so email is the preferred method of communication.
International applicants should ensure they have all necessary documentation ready, including proof of qualifications, GMC registration (or eligibility for registration), and any other relevant professional certifications. The trust will provide assistance with the sponsorship process for successful candidates.
Visa and Relocation Support
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, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country 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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website. The trust will provide guidance and support throughout the registration and sponsorship process for successful international candidates.
Equal Opportunities and Diversity
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all staff feel valued and respected. Our policies and practices ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with dignity.
The trust recognises the value that international professionals bring to our organisation and is committed to supporting their integration into the workplace and the local community. We celebrate diversity and believe it enriches our services and the communities we serve.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website and search for reference number C9346-MHSOP-210M. Complete the application form and ensure you address all the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.
For international applicants, we recommend contacting the recruitment advisor early in the application process to discuss visa requirements and sponsorship eligibility. This will help ensure a smooth application process and address any specific concerns you may have.
Please ensure you include all relevant supporting documents with your application, including proof of qualifications, professional certifications, and evidence of continuous professional development. If you are selected for interview, you may be asked to provide original documents for verification.