About this role
Job summary
Locum Consultant Psychiatrist in Forensic Psychiatry
This 6 PA Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist post is based within the East London Forensic Service. The successful candidate will work in the specialist female medium-secure service at the John Howard Centre.
The successful candidate will look after approximately 6-7 female patients on Bow Ward. Another consultant, Dr Ratnam, has a similar caseload on the ward.
They will also conduct assessments of women referred for admission to either medium or low-secure care, and maintain liaison regarding the very small number of women in high-security.
The post is available from 17 August 2026 for 6 months.
Main duties of the job
The Trust is seeking a Locum Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist to work in the women's secure service at the John Howard Centre. The role is based on Bow Ward.
Female Services
The successful candidate will, together with an existing part-time consultant, provide clinical leadership to a multidisciplinary team on Bow Ward, which is a 12 bedded medium-secure ward. The ward provides care to a complex population including women with acute mental health needs, significant comorbidity (sometimes including those with a primary personality disorder) and those who are in a more rehabilitation phase of their treatment pathway.
The other consultant psychiatrist (Dr Ratnam) works part-time; the successful applicant will provide cross-cover on Thursdays and Fridays for patients usually under Dr Ratnam's clinical care.
The role also involves seeing referrals for admission to female secure services (both Bow Ward and for gatekeeping purposes for women from the catchment area). The referrals will be shared with other medical colleagues. The Women's Service as a whole receives typically fewer than five referrals a month.
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see JD (Job Description) and PS (Personal Specification) for full details of role requirements.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
MB BS or equivalent medical qualification. MRCPsych or equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Desirable
Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management. 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 three months of this Approved clinician status Approved under S12 MHA
Desirable
In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
Transport Essential
Ability to travel within East London and between clinical sites
Clinical Skills, Knowledge and Experience Essential
Knowledge and understanding of forensic psychiatry 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 and Lifelong Learning Essential
Interest in and experience of Quality Improvement Work Participated in continuous professional development Able to use and appraise clinical evidence. Has actively participated in clinical audit.
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: awards, prizes, presentations and publications. Has led clinical audits leading to service change.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and 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 (Opens in a new tab).
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name East London NHS Foundation Trust
Address Bow Ward
John Howard Centre
London
E9 5TD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)