Old Age Psychiatry Advanced Training Posts

Last updated July 2021

 

 NO

SPECIALITY

TRUST / AREA

TRAINER

1

Old Age – Community & Inpatient (organic)

AWP - Bath

Dr Roz Ward
Rosalind.ward@nhs.net

2

Old Age – Community & Inpatient (organic)

AWP - Bath

Dr Alister Gomes-Pinto
Alister.gomespinto@nhs.net

3

Old Age – Inpatients

AWP - Bristol

Drs Jonathan Hewitt/Geoff van der Linden
Jonathan.hewitt@nhs.net Geoffrey.vanderlinden@nhs.net

4

Liaison Psychiatry
(Endorsement)

AWP - Bristol

Dr Anish Patel
anishpatel@nhs.net

5

Old Age –Community/Memory

AWP - North Somerset

Dr Niall Moore
niallmoore@nhs.net

6

Old Age – Community/Memory

AWP – North Somerset

Dr Alison Lerant
Alison.lerant@nhs.net

7

Old Age - Community

AWP - South Gloucestershire

Dr Sarah Price
Sarah.price12@nhs.net  

8

Old Age - Inpatient

AWP - Swindon

Dr Sabari Muthukrishnan
s.muthukrishnan1@nhs.net

9

Old Age - Community

GHC – Forest of Dean

Dr Martin Ansell
martin.ansell@ghc.nhs.uk

10

Old Age  - community

GHC - Gloucester

Dr Nick Ardagh-Walter TBC – not live yet

11

Old Age - Community

GHC - Stroud

Dr Joe Stratford
Joe.Stratford@ghc.nhs.uk

12

Old Age – Community

GHC - Cheltenham

Dr Tarun Kuruvilla
tarun.kuruvilla@ghc.nhs.uk

13

Old Age – Inpatient

GHC - Cheltenham

Dr Katie Kelly
katie.kelly@ghc.nhs.uk

14

Old Age - Community

GHC – Cheltenham, North Cots & Forest of Dean

Dr Nik Bhandari
nik.bhandari@ghc.nhs.uk

15

Old Age – Community

SomFT – Mendip and Soth Somerset

Dr Antony Christopher
Antony.Christopher@SomersetFT.nhs.uk

16

Old Age – Inpatient

SomFT - Taunton

Dr Stephen de Souza
Stephen.DeSouza@SomersetFT.nhs.uk

17

Old Age – IDSS - Community

SomFT – Yeovil & Taunton

Dr Rajewari Makena
Rajeswari.Makena@SomersetFT.nhs.uk

18

Old Age - Community

SomFT – Sedgemoor

Dr Tiff Earle
Tiff.earle@SomersetFT.nhs.uk

19

Old Age - Community

SomFT – Bridgwater/ Sedgemoor

Dr Victor Aziz
Victor.Aziz@somersetFT.nhs.uk

20

OA liaison

SomFT – Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton

Dr Ben Wood
Benjamin.wood@somersetft.nhs.uk

21

Old age - community

Devon Partnership – Dementia Wellbeing Service, Bristol

Dr James Main
James.main2@nhs.net

22

Old Age Liaison

AWP, Bristol Royal Infirmary

Dr Seona Duroux
seona.duroux@nhs.net

 

Detailed Descriptions

1 Old Age Psychiatry –Community and Inpatients (Organic)
Trainer: Dr Roz Ward – Bath & Midsomer Norton

This is a community post in Old Age Psychiatry, offering organic inpatient and community experience in the Bath locality. The Advanced Trainee will be a member of the integrated multidisciplinary Complex Intervention and Treatment Team covering the North East Somerset half of the locality and will be encouraged to work closely with the team. The North East Somerset CITT is based at The Hollies, Midsomer Norton, a modern building on the High Street, whilst the organic inpatient unit is based at St Martin’s Hospital in Bath. At present, older adults with functional illness who require an inpatient admission are cared for in other areas of the Trust, but plans are in progress for a dedicated inpatient facility to be completed in 2018. The team serves a population of approximately 19,000 older adults (65 and over), and the training consultant serves 15 GP practices.

All work will be supervised by Dr Ward. There is an hour-long, weekly supervision session with Dr Ward. The post offers a broad range of experience in the assessment and management of organic and functional mental disorder in older adults. The trainee will have a dedicated desk, phone and computer facilities based at the Hollies. Easily accessed hot-desking facilities are available at Bath NHS House and in the Doctor’s Office at Hillview Lodge on the Royal United Hospital site. Secretarial support for all work performed by the trainee, including on call work, is provided by Dr Ward’s medical secretary, based at The Hollies.

In-patient facilities for patients with organic illness are provided at St Martin’s Hospital, and the consultants do regular ward rounds which provide an excellent teaching opportunity. At present, older adults with functional illness who require an inpatient admission are cared for in other areas of the Trust, but plans are in progress for a dedicated inpatient facility to be completed in 2018.
Clinical Special Interest opportunities within the trust locality are many and varied and would include: Older Adult Hospital Liaison in a well-resourced older adult liaison service in the Royal United Hospital, Bath; psychotherapy experience; neuropsychology expertise development; Intensive Support. Opportunities locally out with the Trust would include: Memory Service experience with the Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE); Attendance at the RUH Geriatric teaching programme; Geriatric Medicine; Parkinson’s disease clinic; Neuroradiology experience, Specialist Drug and Alcohol experience, to name but a few. There is also plenty of scope for management experience, participation in research and quality improvement and for teaching at all levels. There is an active academic programme.

Research Interest: Dementia Diagnosis and Research; BPSD; Medical Education

2 Old Age Psychiatry –Community and Inpatients (Organic)
Trainer: Dr Alister Gomes-Pinto, Bath

Welcome to the world famous heritage city of Bath! You will be working directly with myself, Dr Alister Gomes-Pinto and I will be your Educational and Clinical supervisor . Outpatient clinics are based at Bath NHS House on the Royal United Hospital site. You will carry out assessments of newly referred patients with supervision from the consultants in the clinic setting and the community; this can be extended to inpatient, and also the liaison setting at the RUH. This will include communicating and liaising with GPs, care coordinators, and with other members of the multidisciplinary Complex Intervention and treatment team (CITT), including the Therapies team. There are opportunities to attend various meetings in a variety of settings (Best Interest, Professionals, family etc).

You will attend CITT team and business meetings. In the outpatient clinic, you will be expected to follow up a cohort of patients, providing assessment and treatment (including liaising with family and carers) under supervision. This post will involve working and communicating closely with the community team to ensure a comprehensive care planning process. If there are older adult inpatients on Sycamore ward, the trainee will be expected to complete a thorough history and examination, and will be responsible for regularly updating the patient’s treatment plan during their stay. There are also opportunities to engage in hospital liaison work on Cedar Ward/RUH. I am the Responsible Clinician for Cedar Ward (dementia ward at Hillview Lodge, also on site at the RUH). There will be opportunities to participate in Mental Health Act procedures eg Mental Health Act Assessments, Manager’s Hearings and Tribunals.

You will have the option of completing a year doing both functional/organic, community/inpatient work; or if preferred, splitting these into six month community/inpatient placements. I have successfully hosted registrars in both the community setting and in the inpatient setting. Most have gone on to consultant posts in their chosen field, with some continuing in their training. Special interest sessions could include working alongside the Primary Care Liaison Service; within internal medicine at the RUH; Crisis work; the RICE memory clinic (all on site); or neuropsychiatry at the Rosa Burden centre in Bristol as examples.

Supervision: Weekly individual educational, clinical and personal supervision with myself, including specific supervision of on call work. Separate clinical supervision for Liaison work will be done by Dr Jelley, and cross cover from Dr Ward in Dr Pinto’s absence. There is a weekly meeting with supervision for liaison assessments. Trainees may be invited to attend the Balint Group where one is available locally, and will have access to psychotherapy supervision including CBT and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

On Call 1:15. This will be non-resident. The on call usually incorporates SHO supervision for Sycamore Ward, Hillview Lodge (general adult inpatient unit with some functional elderly beds); and Cedar Ward at Hillview Lodge (dementia inpatient unit). The registrar will be on call with a consultant out of hours, and regularly with a SHO who will be first on call on the junior psychiatric rota (as registrars are supernumerary this will occur when they are allocated posts typically within BANES).

Admin and logistical support: the post holder will have access to facilities in the doctors’ office at NHS House where there is a dedicated (protected) desk with lockable drawer, upgraded computer and phone, and there will be administrative support for all aspects of the trainee’s post (a dedicated and friendly band 3 clinical services administrator).

A mobile work phone will be provided as well as a laptop for flexible and home access when on call. Kitchen and parking facilities are also available. The RUH canteen, library, general hospital and education centre are all less than a 10 minute walk away. Other psychiatric teams (Recovery, Early Intervention, Crisis, AMHPs, AOWA Inpatient, PCLS, Care Home Liaison, Hospital Liaison) including HR are all based out of NHS House or on site.

NHS House has recently been revamped to accommodate the Trust headquarters. Hot-desking facilities are also available at NHS House (the new Trust conference rooms) or at Hillview Lodge. All facilities are now able to support virtual working.

Audit/ Quality improvement: The trainee will be expected to be involved in Quality improvement programmes and will receive support to complete a quality improvement project during the post.

Research: There are opportunities for research training and support on site. The Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE clinic) are always keen for trainees to become involved in ongoing projects and have participated in the SpRRIC (SpR Research Involvement Course) formerly hosted by Dr Ben Wood.

Teaching: There will be opportunities to develop teaching skills and to deliver teaching both formal and informal in a range of settings including teaching medical students and Foundation doctors. The Bath academic programme includes a case conference and a seminar/speaker – previously held at the Postgraduate Medical Centre in Bath, currently being delivered virtually due to coronavirus. Previous guests have included Dr Tade Thompson, British psychiatrist and author of the novel Rosewater (winner of the Arthur C. Clarke award in 2019, the UK’s most prestigious award for science fiction). There is also a monthly journal club programme and an excellent library at the Education Centre; I am a library member having accessed various journals and articles online there.

On Call 1:15
If you have any questions about the post please email me at Alister.gomespinto@nhs.net. I really look forward to working with you!

3 Old Age Psychiatry – Inpatients. Aspen Ward, Callington Road Hospital, Bristol.
Trainers: Dr Jonathan Hewitt and Dr Geoff van der Linden

Drs Jonathan Hewitt and Geoff van der Linden will be paired as a job share to be the consultants of Aspen Ward, working half the week each.

The trainee will be a supernumerary member of the inpatient Mental Health Team based at Callington Road Hospital, Bristol. The inpatient ward for older adults is Aspen, based within the Coppice unit. Aspen is a 24 bedded unit for functionally mentally ill people.

The available opportunities include the assessment and treatment of psychiatric and medical conditions which frequently coexist in this patient population. In addition, the trainee can chair MDT meetings, ward rounds and Best Interests meetings. He/she will be encouraged to fulfil whatever duties are likely to be of educational value to him/her.

The trainee will also have the opportunity to gain other experiences if required, including older adult liaison to the District General Hospitals, community work within one of the four community teams admitting to these wards, memory clinics and the teaching of both medical and non-medical staff.

A particular feature of this post is the supervisor’s lead role in ECT services at Callington Road Hospital (the Linden unit). This unit treats around 70 patients a year from the western half of the Trust. Hence there are opportunities to conduct the yearly audit of services and to be involved in the Royal College’s ECTAS inspections. There exist local special interest attachments in liaison old age psychiatry at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, neuropsychiatry and close links with local Medicine for the Elderly physicians. In addition the Trust is developing opportunities for senior trainees to participate in Management projects.

There are ample opportunities to develop teaching skills – training medical students (attached to the consultant), the local Core Psychiatry Training course, and carers support groups. In addition the ward has a two foundation year junior doctors and a core psychiatry trainee attached to it, and there will be the opportunity to participate in WPBA for the junior trainees.

On-Call: 1:15 (Senior Bristol super rota)

Research Interest: ECT

4 Liaison Psychiatry (Mixed Old Age and General Adult - Endorsement post) Southmead Hospital.
Trainer: Dr Anish Patel

This post is based at Southmead Hospital within the NBT Mental Health Liaison Team. The post enables you to gain experience in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry across the age range from 16+ in a large modern state of the art teaching hospital and receive their RCPsych endorsement in Liaison Psychiatry.

Depending on the trainees CCT and specific educational requirements the post can be weighted towards OA or GA psychiatry providing the general competencies in attaining the endorsement are met as set out in the RCPsych Liaison Psychiatry curriculum. If you are considering this post (OA and dual trainees), please contact the TPD for Old Age psychiatry Dr Tiff Earle in advance so that your application can be considered with that of the GA trainees.

Clinical work typically falls into three categories: Emergency Zone, In-patient and Outpatient. Non-clinical areas of development that will run in parallel include medical education, quality & service improvement and management.

The work can be busy, but varied and exposes you to a comprehensive range of psychiatric presentations which will enhance and develop your skills in managing complex multiple pathologies relating to body, mind and brain, and encouraging an integrated approach to illness and disease.

Old Age Liaison Psychiatry: The trainee will gain particular experience in assessment informing diagnosis, treatment and management of existing or suspected new mental / neuropsychiatric disorder in older people admitted to the acute hospital (primarily dementia, delirium, depression and anxiety). You will gain advanced experience in the management of depression in the setting of a physical illness, of behavioral disturbance secondary to dementia in an acute setting and in prescribing safely and recognizing common drug interactions. Additional experience will be gained in the specialist opinion for complex capacity decision for patients with mental disorder, care planning that limits the risk of deprivation of liberty, and risk assessment and management within the hospital.

General Adult Liaison Psychiatry: You will be able to experience the full range of psychiatric presentations in a general hospital across psychotic, affective and cognitive domains, as well as medically unexplained symptoms and addictive disorders.

Specific Liaison Psychiatry experience can also be obtained working with the regional services based in NBT including: Major Trauma, Renal, Plastic Surgery & Burns. There are strong links with the Neuropsychiatry AND Care of the Elderly services on site that link in with the Liaison Psychiatry services with opportunities to undertake out-patient clinics and specific Neuro-Liaison special interest.

Education is a key part of the role and effectiveness of a Mental Health Liaison service and you will have opportunities to develop skills and experience in the delivery or development of bespoke educational training to general hospital staff across a variety of medical specialties. There is plenty of scope for service development and joint QI ventures with fellow Care of the Elderly medical colleagues. Attendance with senior liaison clinicians to the Mental Health Operational group and STP level meetings will also assist developing higher management/leadership skills.

On Call : 1:15 (Senior Bristol Super Rota)

Research Interest: Mental Capacity Act, Medical Ethics and Law. Member of the Bristol Clinical Ethics Advisory Group. Links with BRACE and NBT Cognitive disorders service.

5 Old Age Psychiatry –community, memory and potential for inpatient North Somerset.
Trainer: Dr Niall Moore

This is a job you’ll enjoy and be changed by. Expertise and enthusiasm combined with a refreshing open-minded approach to knowledge and complementary approaches to medicine in an integrated and happy team will challenge and broaden your horizons. Don’t miss out! Come and discuss and meet the team before you decide.

This is one of two Community Old Age Psychiatry posts attached to the North Somerset Complex Intervention and Treatment Team (CITT) providing services to the older adult population of North Somerset. The community base is at Windmill House Clevedon and the trainee’s office base will be here. There is the opportunity to work across both community and inpatient areas, as well as within a dedicated memory service with the timetable tailored to the needs of the individual trainee. It is a well-knit and happy team with expertise across a wide spectrum. Higher trainees are encouraged to develop their full potential and be stretched in directions of their choosing.

Dr Moore provides medical input to the CITT, providing assessment and interventions to older people in the community with a full range of mental disorders, both functional and organic. He also provides specialist diagnostic input to the Memory service and has outpatient clinics with a particular focus on patients with complex Parkinson’s disorders. The CITT is integrated with social services and includes AMHPs as well as a range of other professional including psychologists specializing in Family Therapy and Neuropsychiatric assessments. There is the opportunity to follow patients admitted to the inpatient facility if desired, with clinical supervision offered by Dr Moore. Dr Moore has extensive experience in management, physical medicine and psychiatry and is an enthusiastic teacher and mentor. He has extensive experience in the application of the MHA and in providing MCA reports. There is a newly established and highly successful Dementia Enhanced Support Team and Care Home Liaison Team which aims to avoid admission to hospital for people with challenging behaviour through timely interventions in situ. This is nurse practitioner led with medical input and is being adopted across a wider area because of its effective impact. The post holder would have opportunities to be involved in further development and audit of this.

The post covers a mixed urban and rural population defined by GP sector. There is the opportunity to provide supervision to junior doctors attached to the service. The memory service provides an exciting opportunity to be involved in assessment of people with a wide variety of memory problems at any age.
There is also the opportunity to link in with the Primary Care Liaison Service, to which Dr Moore provides monthly supervisory input to the primary nurse assessor involved in older people’s assessments. The work includes experience undertaking domiciliary visits, and supporting local nursing and residential homes. Trainees are encouraged to attend management meetings of senior medical staff and attend local and Trust Old Age consultant meetings which are held on a regular basis.

There are opportunities to become involved in clinical research based at Windmill House.

On call: 1:15 (senior Bristol super rota

6 Old Age Psychiatry – Community, memory and potential for inpatient North Somerset.
Trainer: Dr Alison Lerant

This is one of two Community Old Age Psychiatry posts attached to the North Somerset Complex Intervention and Treatment Team (CITT) providing services to the older adult population of North Somerset. The community base is at Windmill House Clevedon and the trainee’s office base will be here. There is the opportunity to work across both community and inpatient areas, as well as within a dedicated memory service with the timetable tailored to the needs of the individual trainee. It is a well-knit and happy team with expertise across a wide spectrum. Higher trainees are encouraged to develop their full potential and be stretched in directions of their choosing.

Dr Lerant provides medical input to the CITT, providing assessment and interventions to older people in the community with a full range of mental disorders, both functional and organic. She also provides specialist diagnostic input to the Memory service and has outpatient clinics in primary care settings, with a particular focus on patients with complex Parkinson’s disorders. The CITT is integrated with social services and includes AMHPs as well as a range of other professional including psychologists specializing in Family Therapy and Neuropsychiatric assessments. There is the opportunity to follow patients admitted to the inpatient facility if desired, with clinical supervision offered by Dr Lerant.

Dr Lerant used to be a GP in North Somerset and has extensive experience in management, physical medicine and psychiatry and is an enthusiastic teacher and mentor. There is a newly established and highly successful Dementia Enhanced Support Team which aims to avoid admission to hospital for people with challenging behaviour through timely interventions in situ. This is nurse practitioner led with medical input and is being adopted across a wider area because of its effective impact. The post holder would have opportunities to be involved in further development and audit of this.

The post covers a mixed urban and rural population defined by GP sector. There is the opportunity to provide supervision to junior doctors attached to the service. The memory service provides an exciting opportunity to be involved in assessment of people with a wide variety of memory problems at any age.

There is also the opportunity to link in with the Primary Care Liaison Service, the recently established Enablement and Care Home Liaison teams and the Dementia enhanced Specialist Team. The work includes experience undertaking domiciliary visits, and supporting local nursing and residential homes.

Trainees are encouraged to attend management meetings of senior medical staff and attend local and Trust Old Age consultant meetings which are held on a regular basis.

There are opportunities to become involved in clinical research based at Windmill House.

On call: 1:15 (senior Bristol super rota)

7 Old Age Psychiatry – community. South Gloucestershire
Trainer: Dr Sarah Price

This post is based at Kingswood Civic Centre, providing Older Adult services in functional illness and dementia. The post holder will play an integral part in the community team working alongside other doctors, community psychiatric nurses, OTs physiotherapists and psychologists. The medical staff consists of 2 part time consultants, 2 full time and one part time SAS doctors and this training post. The post holder will attend weekly team meetings and will assess and treat patients in their own homes in the community both independently with supervision and alongside other members of the team.

There will be plenty of opportunity to have experience in other areas of the Later Life services, attending ward rounds, memory clinics and accompanying the liaison team and the residential liaison team on assessments. The trainee may wish to take a medical lead role within one of these services during their placement under supervision of the Educational Supervisor. As Dr Price works part time, clinical work is focused towards the end of the week in order to provide sufficient coincidental supervision opportunities, with special interest sessions timetabled to coincide with Dr Price’s non-working days.

Full admin support will be provided for this post and all out of hours work. The trainee will have dedicated office and desk space with a computer and phone. A mobile phone is also available. There are opportunities for research, teaching medical students, junior doctors, educational meetings, involvement in carers groups, an in-house CPD group and a weekly academic programme and the timetable is flexible and negotiable.

On-Call: 1:15 (Bristol and South Glos Super rota)

8 Old Age Psychiatry – Inpatients (Swindon)
Trainer: Dr Sabari Muthukrishnan

Inpatient advanced training in functional and dementia assessment wards in Victoria Centre, Swindon. Functional ward – Hodson has 12 beds and it is mixed gender ward. Dementia ward- Liddington has 10 beds and is also a mixed gender ward.

Opportunities: Chairing care programme approach, professional, multidisciplinary, multiagency, interdisciplinary, & Best Interests meetings. Involvement in Mental Health Review Tribunals & Managers Hearings. Managing a case load in both functional and dementia assessment wards and taking a lead in the multidisciplinary ward rounds.

Research: Sub Investigator or Principal Investigator in Kingshill Research Centre under the supervision of the Consultant who is the PI for three to six dementia studies. Kingshill Research Centre is situated within the Victoria Centre. The Consultant has published his Chief Investigator research project in Cardiff in International Journals and can help the trainee in research writing up. Trainees have published whilst working with the Consultant and this will be an added advantage in this post.

Old Age Forensic Experience: The Consultant has bespoke experience in old age forensic psychiatry and provides expert opinion for medico legal cases in Crown Courts and Parole Boards. The trainee will have an opportunity to observe and develop an interest in this niche area of expertise. The Consultant has a PG certificate in Medical Law and Ethics from De Montfort University and Bond Solon Expert Witness certificate.

Leadership: The Consultant has been a Clinical Director in Cardiff for 2.5 years and can guide the advanced trainee in acquiring leadership skills and Quality Improvement Projects

Audit: Audit lead is based in Victoria Centre and will have an opportunity to participate in new audits or help in ongoing audits.

Teaching: There will be ample opportunity to teach and supervise a core psychiatry trainee (CT1), GP trainees and Foundation Trainees. The two wards are supported by 4 GP trainees, 1 Core Psychiatry trainee, 1 FY1 and 1 FY2.There will be opportunity to support medical students and also informal teaching sessions for MDT in the ward. Recently we have gained experienced specialty doctor support for the dementia assessment ward and the trainee can concentrate on functional ward if they prefer to do so.

Psychotherapy: The Consultant will be keen to support psychotherapy supervision for the advanced trainee by liaising with senior psychologists in the locality and Psychotherapist’s within AWP.

Additional Clinical Opportunities:
1. Memory Clinic
2. Mental Health Liaison service in Great Western Hospital (adjacent to the Victoria Centre), Swindon
3. Care Home Liaison work and the team is based in Victoria Centre
4. Complex Intervention and Treatment team and Primary Care Liaison services

On Call – Swindon/Wiltshire Rota

9 Old Age Psychiatry – Community (Forest of Dean) and Medical
Management Trainer: Dr Martin Ansell

This is primarily a Community Old Age Psychiatry post based at Colliers Court in Cinderford. The patch covers both rural Communities of the Forest of Dean and the Market Towns of Coleford, Lydney and Newent. There is a diverse population with a number of retirees from the Midlands and local Foresters. Since being the site of Edward 1s crossbow bolt factory in the 12th Century the area has had a unique juxtaposition of an industrial heritage in a rural environment. There will be opportunity to undertake outpatient clinics and home visits for both functional and organic conditions and to be part of the stand-alone Memory Assessment Service which specialises in early dementia diagnosis.

The post holder will become an active member of the CMHT and will be able to take part in and chair referral and business meetings, CPA meetings and Best Interest meetings with staff, carers and partner agencies. There will be opportunities for hospital liaison work in our 2 community hospitals working with the specialist older people’s liaison nurse. There are a number of local care homes who we assist in the management of psychiatric illness in their residents alongside our care home support team.

We work closely with the Crisis home based treatment team in managing our acutely unwell patients and this will provide experience of managing risk in the community and the use of the MHA. Inpatient beds are located at Charlton Lane Hospital in Cheltenham and sessions can be undertaken as special interest sessions or can be timetabled in as part of the job with clinical supervision provided by the locality in-patient consultant.

Dr Ansell is currently both the Deputy Medical Director and Quality and Leadership Champion for the Trust and as such there will be ample opportunities to gain experience of medical management including an understanding of the principles of clinical governance, budget setting, business planning and developing business cases.

The Locality has a population of 18,000 over 65s. The Trainee will join a team which consists of a consultant old age psychiatrist, a specialty psychiatrist and GP trainee. The CMHT has community nursing staff, OTs, physiotherapists, and psychologists. We also regularly take Medical Students from Bristol University and nursing students from UWE. There is ample scope for teaching. As well as providing teaching for the Medical Student and junior medical staff, the CMHT is always eager for enlightenment and the team provides regular educational sessions for the local GP practices.

On call: 1 in 20

Research Interest: Mental Capacity Act; Medical Management, Service Development

Away from the Trust Dr Ansell is Severn’s Choose Psychiatry Lead and joint Equalities Lead for the Royal College and trainees will have ample opportunity to gain experience and assist in developing the college’s agenda in both these areas.

10 On Hold - TBC

11 Old Age Psychiatry – Community. Stroud, Gloucestershire
Trainer: Dr Joe Stratford

This post is based within the Stroud Older person’s Mental health Service. It is a semi-rural area encompassing Stroud and its neighbouring villages. The population it services is approximately 18,000 (over 65 years). The team operates along traditional CMHT lines rather than being split into functional units. Staff include nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists and a social worker as well as 2 other LTFT consultant psychiatrists, and (usually) a Core Psychiatry trainee.

The post is primarily community-based since the inpatient beds at Weavers Croft relocated to Cheltenham and Gloucester in December 2007. However, there is ample opportunity to be involved in the inpatient units and this would be encouraged. The postholder would be expected to assess new and existing patients in community, outpatient and general hospital settings, suffering from a variety of both functional and organic mental health conditions. She/he would also be expected to liaise closely with members of the team, carers, statutory agencies and other healthcare professionals as well as providing a degree of clinical support to junior staff.

There is good liaison with our neurological and radiological colleagues locally, and a cutting-edge neuroradiology service which has just been awarded the first UK license for running amyloid scans outside London. If desired, special interest sessions can be arranged accordingly. There is also now daily consultant old age psychiatrist membership of the general hospital liaison team and established liaison links with geriatrician colleagues within the general hospital, enabling focussed experience there, as well.

There is an excellent local academic weekly programme run in Gloucester which the ST4-6 will be encouraged to attend as well as providing support to CT1-3 colleagues with their presentations. There is also regular teaching and examination training provided by the ST4-6’s for those junior colleagues attempting MRCPsych exams. Medical students are also attached to the old age psychiatry teams and so there is the opportunity to help with their training. There are plenty of opportunities for special interest sessions and a popular theme tends to be linking in with the local Care of the Elderly teams for a variety of learning experiences (eg ward rounds, specialist clinics etc).

On Call Rota: 1 in 20

12 Old Age Psychiatry – memory service /research. Cheltenham
Trainer: Dr Tarun Kuruvilla

This is primarily a memory service post within Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC), based at Charlton Lane Centre, Cheltenham.

The trainee will primarily work with the highly acclaimed Memory Assessment Service (MAS) for Cheltenham & the North Cotswolds. The team comprises of memory nurses, a young-onset dementia nurse, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, SALT, a speciality doctor & various trainees.

The trainee will get experience in carrying out initial memory assessments; chairing the MAS MDT meeting; training in neuropsychological assessments; interpreting structural & functional scans; formulating & giving diagnosis of dementia; and commencing treatment in a memory clinic setting. On Call 1 in 20.

Prof Kuruvilla is a NIHR funded researcher; clinical lead for Division 4 of the West of England Clinical Research Network; clinical director for research at GHC; and visiting professor at the School of Health & Social Care, University of Gloucestershire (UoG). The trainee will be encouraged to actively participate as a sub-investigator in the various NIHR portfolio adopted dementia research studies that the Trust is carrying out at its purpose-built clinical trials facility (The Fritchie Centre) allowing the trainee to get valuable research competencies. There will also be opportunities for home-grown research projects potentially leading to publications and conference presentations.

The trainee will get experience in the dementia education programme; in managing BPSD while working with the care home support team and the community dementia nurses. There is also close working with the late life community mental health team based at Avon house, Tewkesbury and opportunities, if interested, to work with the general & community hospital liaison teams; and the crisis team who provide home treatment for the functionally ill older adults.

Dr Kuruvilla has an interest in neuroimaging which the trainee will be encouraged to take up as a special interest, getting experience in interpreting CT, MRI, FDG-PET and Amyloid PET scans. Shadowing radiologists / radiographers at the nearby, highly acclaimed, Cobalt imaging charity, will be a unique learning opportunity especially for the PET scans, which are not routinely available in most parts of the country.

Other clinical special interest sessions offered are geriatric medicine including Parkinson’s disease and falls clinics; neurology clinics; and palliative care.

We get fourth year medical students from University of Bristol, GP trainees from the Severn Deanery GP School and advanced trainees from different specialities from Severn and Oxford Deaneries for special interest / research sessions. The trainee will also get the opportunity to work with academics at UoG on various research projects & teaching opportunities. The trainee will attend the weekly postgraduate academic programme in Gloucester and the monthly old age psychiatry meetings at Charlton lane centre.

There are several management projects which the trainee can participate in such as the young-onset dementia STP working group; the functional neuroimaging for dementia service; organising dementia conferences etc.

Research Interests: Neuroimaging in dementia; early diagnosis and newer treatments for dementia; young onset dementia

13 Old Age Psychiatry Inpatients Cheltenham (Charlton Lane)
Trainer: Dr Katie Kelly

This post is based on Chestnut Ward at the Charlton Lane Hospital in Cheltenham.

The post offers experience in a wide range of inpatient assessment and management of both functional and organic illness. The trainer (Dr Kelly) divides her time between the ward and her role as medical lead for old age psychiatry and clinical director for community physical health services across the county.

Chestnut Ward is one of three wards at Charlton Lane Hospital. It has 14 beds for older patients with a mix of early and late onset disorder, including some patients with SMI and ageing related issues, including dementia.

There is the opportunity to supervise junior doctors attached to the ward, as well as working closely with care of the elderly colleagues and GPs who provide regular input and advice on the management of long term medical conditions. There is also good liaison with our neurological and radiological colleagues locally and the trainee would be encouraged to establish close links with medical colleagues at Cheltenham General Hospital, particularly with respect to mutual patients.

The advanced trainee will have the opportunity to provide specialist psychiatric input in these settings and learn to take decisions at a level appropriate to his or her expertise. There would be the opportunity to write Tribunal and Managers’ Meeting reports and attend hearings.

Additional opportunities exist in memory assessment and research (with Dr Kuruvilla), teaching and management. Dr Kelly chairs the older people’s clinical oversight group, attends the mortality review group and meets the older people’s commissioners regularly to discuss service development. She also has a new role as clinical director of physical health community services in the Trust and is involved in looking at how older people’s mental and physical health services can work as closely together as possible. The advanced trainee would be encouraged to gain experience in all the above.

There is an active weekly postgraduate programme based in Gloucester and a monthly Old Age Psychiatry academic session in Cheltenham and for both of these there is protected time.

On-Call: 1:20.

14 Old Age Psychiatry – Cotswolds and Tewkesbury CMHT (Community).
Trainer: Dr Nik Bhandari

The post is based in the community and offers a broad range of experience in the assessment and management of organic and functional mental health disorders in older adults. There will also be opportunity for the trainee to join NIHR and commercial research trials.

The trainer is a full-time substantive consultant psychiatrist based at Avon House, Tewkesbury, and provides consultant input for the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury CMHT. He is also the Chief Investigator for an Alzheimer’s IMP trial, and Principal Investigator for another monoclonal antibody Dementia trial.

The catchment is predominantly rural and suburban and includes the scenic AONB of Cotswolds with market towns of Burton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold. The CMHT has staff members from various disciplines including nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists, with a strong focus on multi-disciplinary approach in developing patient care plans.

The trainee will have a dedicated desk, lockable drawer, phone, computer facilities and full secretarial support at Avon House, Tewkesbury. As part of their training, the trainee will have out-patient clinics, domiciliary visits to patients’ homes, will work with Care Home Support Team and Community Dementia Nurses for assessment and management of patients in community. The trainee will have the opportunity to work with specialist old age liaison team at North Cotswolds and Tewkesbury community hospitals. The CMHT works closely with Crisis Team for functional patients and there will be opportunities for the trainee to gain experience in managing emergencies and use of MHA, where appropriate.

The trainee will be encouraged to take on management roles within the team, such as chairing MDT meetings, CPA reviews and best interest meetings. The trainee will also be liaising with GPs and professionals from other organisations such as locality Social Workers, and staff from third sector organisations such as Alzheimer’s society and Age UK. There will be opportunity to undertake inpatient work if required (with clinical supervision provided by the inpatient consultants at Charlton Lane Hospital).

There are opportunities for teaching junior doctors and medical students who are attached for blocks of time. Also, as part of the Managing Memory Together, the trainee will be encouraged to do teaching sessions for dementia patients and carers. The trainee will also be offered support to participate in audits and Quality Improvement Projects. On Call is 1 in 20.

15 Old Age Psychiatry – Community and Day Hospital. West Mendip Somerset
Trainer: Dr Antony Christopher

This post offers a broad experience in community old age psychiatry, including organic and functionally ill patients and those with early memory problems. The post is based in an overwhelmingly rural area of the Mendips and out into the Somerset levels. The patch includes the Cathedral City of Wells and the small country towns Shepton Mallet, Street and Glastonbury and the villages between these. There is a wide socio-economic spread – some villages are very affluent, whereas other areas are more deprived. The population of patients over 65 supported is approx. 15,000

The trainee would be part of an integrated multidisciplinary team covering The Mendips – although this is split into two geographical teams – one based in Frome, and the other at The Bridge on the Priory Health Site in Wells. The overall team leader covers both sites, and specialist psychology is also split between the two. Medical, nursing, OT, STAR (enabling) and admin staff work within the same team but will generally work at one site. The trainee would be based at The Bridge where they have access to their own office, with IT access and part time admin support, which would cover support for all aspects of the trainee’s work, including on-call.

The work is outpatient based with clinics running both in The Bridge, and also being accommodated in the patient’s own GP surgeries. Many patients require to be visited at home, and access to independent transport will be essential. There will also be liaison work into the local community hospitals and local nursing and residential homes. Patients requiring inpatient admission would be admitted to the specialist OPMH inpatient wards in Taunton. Although the trainee would not normally continue with responsibility once admitted, training and experience with inpatients can be arranged if this is appropriate.

The Bridge also runs Day Hospital services ( for both organic and functional patients) which has its own dedicated nursing staff team. The trainee would be welcome and encouraged to gain experience in this area of work. Dr Christopher has special interests in both education and management, and is the Clinical Director for OPMH.

There are many opportunities for enthusiastic trainees to participate in management activities as a special interest either for ongoing operational or more project based work. There are also many opportunities to be involved with education as the trust has both core and higher trainees, and also undergraduate students. The trust runs an active PGME and audit programme which the trainee would be able to become involved with.

Research Interest: Management.

On-Call: 1:15 (until midnight)

16 Old Age Psychiatry – Inpatients. Taunton, Somerset
Trainer: Dr Stephen de Souza

This an inpatient post based at Pyrland Ward, Taunton. The post offers those undertaking their first or second higher training job an excellent grounding in old age psychiatry and in particular provides an excellent start to higher training. For those with more experience the post can be adapted to reflect this seniority, by offering more responsibility as required, supported by close consultant supervision.

Pyrland Ward is a 28 bedded unit, 14 are for those over 65 with functional illness, and 14 for those with organic illness. The organic beds are prominently used to care for patients with behaviour that challenges in dementia.

Pyrland Ward offers a countywide service, treating patients from Minehead in the West to Wincanton in the East. The geographic spread of the patients offers unique challenges, as well as opportunities to use innovative solutions to ensure continuity of care.

The ward is currently working towards accreditation as an AIMS-OP site, and higher trainees interested in service development can be involved in this work.

Dr De Souza is currently the Clerkship Lead in psychiatry for students from the University of Bristol on rotation in across Somerset. As such he has a particular interest in medical education and would be happy to support any trainee if they wish to develop this further. He is also involved in a number of medical education projects, and again interested higher trainees can be involved with these.

If the post holders’ interests lie elsewhere however, there are multiple opportunities with a range of clinical and nonclinical special interests available, including managerial opportunities. Dr De Souza is a former CD in the trust, holding an MSc in leadership and organisational development, completed during his own higher training. He is happy to support trainee to pursue interests in leadership and management through this post. There is the chance to work with a highly regarded CAT service delivered locally and as well the Somerset intensive dementia support service. There is an emerging neuro-stimulation service, and the trust will support higher trainees interested being involved with this service as part of their clinical special interest.

On Call 1 in 15 (until Midnight)

17 Old Age Psychiatry (Intensive Dementia Support Service – IDSS) Yeovil & Taunton.
Trainer: Dr Raji Makena

This advanced training post is primarily across Somerset with bases in Pyrland House, Taunton and Magnolia House, Yeovil for community work within the Intensive Dementia Support Service IDSS.

The advanced trainee will be involved in joint and individual visits to patients’ homes, Care homes and Nursing homes and to the local DGH and local Community Hospitals.

The Intensive Dementia Support service was created following the closure of Magnolia ward and provides support for patients in crisis. The aim is to prevent admission with early and intensive support. It is a nurse led service with medical support provided for advice and visits. The team consists of CPN’s, Occupational therapist, Community Support Workers CSW’s, Admin and Team Manager

MDT meetings are held weekly on Monday morning in Yeovil and Tuesday morning in Taunton with twice daily handover meetings on both sites
The team includes OTs, Support, Time and Recovery Workers (Community Support workers) and Community nurses.

Supervision will be provided weekly for an hour.
Regular attendance at local PGME on Wednesday mornings and Audit meetings will be strongly encouraged

There will be some night and weekend on call requirements as part of the county wide senior on call rota.
However – given the potential travelling distances involved for ST4-6 trainees based in the Somerset area the first on call commitment will be limited to daytime and evenings only.
ST4-6's will be first on call for telephone calls and referrals up until midnight. After midnight the second doctor on the rota will become “first on call” for telephone calls and referrals.

ST4-6 trainees will participate in the rota with a frequency of 1:15 (until midnight).

The population served is approximately 28000. Dr Makena also has 2 Programmed Activities dedicated to her role as a medical manager and will be able to provide insights into this work for the higher trainee.

Secretarial support is available via Dr Makena’s secretary for all aspects of the trainee’s work.

The higher trainee would have a permanent base between Pyrland House in Taunton and Magnolia House in Yeovil with office space for use up to 5 days per week and with access to their own Trust laptop computer and mobile phone.

18 Old Age Psychiatry – Community. Bridgewater and Burnham on Sea (Sedgemoor).
Trainer: Dr Tiff Earle

This advanced training post is primarily based in the Mulberry Centre (Burnham on Sea) and encompasses functional and organic psychiatry for those aged over 65. The 2 teams are the CMHT and the memory assessment service, with opportunities for experience across both fields. The Memory Assessment Service is the only one in Somerset with MSNAP college accreditation.

The advanced trainee will be involved in clinic appointments on site as well as joint and individual visits to patients’ homes, Care homes and Nursing homes and to the local Community Hospitals. There is a particular emphasis on development in neuropsychiatry, frailty and comorbid physical health issues (including delirium) in addition to the core competencies of the old age psychiatrist

The team work closely within a primary care network, and there are daily meetings with GPs, geriatricians, District Nurses, social services and neighbourhood agents. We also work alongside the newly created transformation teams, whose aim is to ‘fill the gap’ between primary and secondary mental health care.
In addition, we work closely with the care home PCN team – care home in reach, to advise and desk top review patients with dementia in care homes in the patch, looking specifically at deprescribing.

Dr Earle is especially passionate about leadership development (Having had medical management roles and an MBA qualification); a proven track record in service development and QI and a broad range of experience in teaching and training beyond mental health services. The trainee would be encouraged to participate in all of these areas. We have a number of QI projects currently, including preventing dementia with Public Health.
I am also acting as PI in research projects for treatment resistant depression for Esketamine nasal spray and psilocybin – as part of a strategic plan to develop a neuromodulation and novel treatments in affective disorders, centre of excellence in the South West

Clinical Special Interest opportunities within the locality are many and varied and would include: Leadership development with a consultant, having experience of management roles and an MBA; neuromodulation service (ECT and rTMS); newly developed memory assessment hub; EHCH care home in reach team; Intensive Dementia Support Service; Liaison Psychiatry.

Other opportunities with the acute trust side could be explored, such as: Geriatric Medicine, Neurology; Parkinson’s disease clinic and Neuroradiology experience, to name but a few.
OPMH CMHT meetings are held weekly on Monday morning, and there will be opportunity for joint visits with team members as well as individual assessments allocated when new referrals are discussed

The team includes CPNs, Psychologists, Community OTs, Support, Time and Recovery Workers (Community Support workers)

Clinic slots are flexible and will cover both CMHT and MAS, in Bridgewater and Burnham.

Supervision will be provided weekly for an hour on Wednesdays

Regular attendance at local PGME on Wednesday mornings and Audit meetings will be strongly encouraged

The total population of Sedgemoor is 122,000, concentrated in the towns of Burnham on Sea and Bridgewater, with a large surrounding rural area. The area has mixed socio-economic characteristics, providing a variety of clinical and social problems. The elderly population is around 20 000, with a number of care homes on the patch.

There is a 0.5 WTE consultant based in Bridgewater, and secretarial support is provided by the medical secretary attached to either Mulberry Centre or Glanville house.

We are one of the first areas in the trust to get a developmental advanced clinical practitioner nurse, who will work with the senior trainee on complex cases

The higher trainee would have a permanent base at the Mulberry Centre, Burnham on Sea, with office space for use up to 5 days per week and with access to their own Trust laptop computer and mobile phone

There will be some night and weekend on call requirements as part of the county wide senior on call rota. However, given the potential travelling distances involved for ST4-6 trainees based in the Somerset area the first on call commitment will be limited to daytime and evenings only. ST4-6's will be first on call for telephone calls and referrals up until midnight. After midnight the second doctor on the rota will become “first on call” for telephone calls and referrals.

Research Interest: Neuromodulation (including ECHO Esketamine study); Leadership; teaching

On Call rota: 1 in 15 (until Midnight)

19 Old Age Psychiatry – Community. Bridgewater and Burnham on Sea (Sedgemoor).
Trainer: Dr Victor Aziz

This is a community post in Old Age Psychiatry, offering memory services and functional community experience in the Bridgwater locality. The Advanced Trainee will be a member of the integrated multidisciplinary team and will be encouraged to work closely with the team. The team is based in Glanville House in Bridgwater. The Team provides excellent clinical and up-to-date evidence-based practice. The post offers a broad range of experience in the assessment and management of organic and functional mental disorder in older adults. The team provides a good example of multidisciplinary working, opportunities for psychotherapy cases and supervision together with quality improvement projects, teaching in local postgraduate programme/journal club/medical students, opportunity for clinical research and publications. Dr Aziz is also a CASC examiner and external advisor to the College.

Dr Aziz is a consultant old age psychiatrist working in Somerset Foundation NHS Trust. The post holder will be supervised by Dr Aziz together with weekly supervision session for an hour and plus ad hoc supervision as needed. This post will involve working and communicating closely with the community team to ensure a comprehensive care planning process. The post also provides close working relationship with local GPs, Primary care Network, Social Services, home treatment team and intensive dementia support services.
As of August 2022, Dr Aziz will work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each week (this will suit less than full time trainees).

There may be opportunities to participate in Mental Health Act procedures e.g. community Mental Health Act Assessments, CTOs, Manager’s Hearings and Tribunals, and Court reports e.g. S49 reports. This is a job you’ll enjoy, and a team you will enjoy working with. So, don’t miss out.

Clinic slots are flexible and will cover both CMHT and MAS, in Bridgewater and Burnham.

Supervision will be provided weekly for an hour on Tuesdays or Wednesdays
Regular attendance at local PGME on Wednesday mornings and Audit meetings will be strongly encouraged

The total population of Sedgemoor is 122,000, concentrated in the towns of Burnham on Sea and Bridgewater, with a large surrounding rural area. The area has mixed socio-economic characteristics, providing a variety of clinical and social problems. The population is around 44,500, with a number of care homes on the patch.

The higher trainee would have a permanent base at the Glanville House in Bridgwater together with close working with Mulberry Centre, Burnham on Sea, with office space for use up to 5 days per week and with access to their own Trust laptop computer and mobile phone

There will be some night and weekend on call requirements as part of the county wide senior on call rota. However, given the potential travelling distances involved for ST4-6 trainees based in the Somerset area the first on call commitment will be limited to daytime and evenings only. ST4-6's will be first on call for telephone calls and referrals up until midnight. After midnight the second doctor on the rota will become “first on call” for telephone calls and referrals.

Research Interest and opportunities are available depending on the trainee interests with potential publications.

On Call rota: 1 in 15 (until Midnight)

20. Old Age Liaison – Somerset Foundation Trust, Musgrove Park Hospital.
Trainer: Dr Ben Wood

The team and Trust

This is a post within a RCPsych PLAN accredited liaison team on a busy district hospital site – Musgrove Park in Taunton. The team comprises 2 full time consultants, 10 band 6 and 7 specialist nurses and at least one foundation doctor +/- core trainee. There is also an 8a service manager. The team is very friendly, cohesive and both passionate and effective in their work. SomersetFT is a trust where things are done differently. Acute, community and mental health services are all under the same Trust. This provides a much-improved working environment for all clinicians and better care for patients. We are currently Mental Health Trust of the Year as awarded by the HSJ due to the innovative and collaborative care we provide.

Clinical activities

Trainees will be performing specialist psychiatric assessments in the acute hospital environment. Assessments will inform diagnosis, treatment and management of existing or suspected new mental disorder. This is for patients aged 18 and over who are admitted to the acute hospital or who attend the emergency department, but there can be an emphasis on specific age ranges depending upon the trainee’s interest/speciality (ie general adult or older adult – the consultant is dual trained in GA/OA).F For older adults this will encompass both organic and functional psychiatric illness. There is a strong emphasis on the interaction between mental and physical health and how a holistic approach must be taken to address both areas equally.

Trainees will provide evidenced-based and Royal College of Psychiatry-accredited care to patients of the acute trust. There is a significant amount of liaising with relevant community and in-patient mental health services to ensure appropriate ongoing care after discharge. This allows a deep knowledge of the various areas of the mental health care system and how it is integrated.

Clinical work also includes: Partaking in shared-care planning with other speciality colleagues, undertaking complex capacity assessments and attending best interest meetings in complex scenarios, formulating risk management plans and developing personal support plans for high impact users, potential for consultation to multi-disciplinary teams for outpatient based care in functional illnesses, providing medical input and clinical supervision to all members of the psychiatric mental health team.

Weekly supervision with the consultant will take place. The consultant has a specific interest in medical education and has a number of qualifications in this area.

There are opportunities to undertake S12 work and to develop an expert understanding of the use of the MCA and MHA and their interaction in all clinical settings.

ECT & TMS is delivered locally and there is the opportunity to achieve competencies in these areas.

Nonclinical opportunities

There are many and varied clinical audit and quality improvement/service development projects available.

Plentiful medical education opportunities exist including to acute trust colleagues, medical students and others supported by a consultant with significant experience and interest in this area.

Trainees can attend senior management meetings and contribute to the development of service strategy.

Such activities can often be done remotely if this is preferred.

On call

There is a 1:15 all age senior on call rota supported by a consultant on call. The trainee is on call until midnight only including at weekends. Trainees are paid extra in line with local commission group guidelines for mental health act assessments undertaken when on call.

Trainees will receive a trust laptop and work smartphone.

 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Example Trainee Timetable 

 

0900 Team handover/board round

 

10.00 Ward Round/reviews

Clinical

SI

9.30- 11.30 PGME/medical audit meeting (currently virtual)

Non – Clinical SI

 

0900 Team handover/board round

10.00 Ward Round/reviews

 

1300 Team supervision

1400 Ward reviews/case supervision

Clinical SI

1300 Team supervision

1400 Special interest clinic/work

Non – clinical      SI

1300 Team supervision

1400 Supervision with consultant

1500 Admin

 

 

21. Old Age Psychiatry – Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service, Brookland Hall.
Trainer: Dr James Main

This Higher Training post is based at Brookland Hall in central Bristol within the Dementia Wellbeing Service (DWS), and specifically with its Care Home Liaison and Central-and-East Community teams (with a population of around 13 000 aged over 65).

The rotation is designed to develop specific expertise and confidence in the diagnosis of dementia, including the less common syndromes and management of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD). The DWS is a large and supportive team made up of many different professional backgrounds making it a rewarding and enjoyable place to work.

The DWS is a unique model for dementia care where patients remain with the team life-long from diagnosis onwards. GPs in Bristol have been trained to diagnose the majority of uncomplicated dementia and initiate cognitive enhancers. The DWS then supports those with a diagnosis and their carers in maintaining independence, transitions of care, management of BPSD and admission avoidance. The service also provides diagnostic assessments for more complex cases.

The DWS is a partnership between the Alzheimer’s Society and the Devon Partnership Trust with a stepped-care model. The MDTs incorporate a wide range of professional backgrounds including RMNs, RGNs, OTs, Paramedics and Social Workers, all trained in the diagnosis and management of dementia.

A post-diagnostic support team is being developed to deliver cognitive stimulation therapy and individually tailored interventions. The service is supported by a psychology team, who provide neuropsychology assessments, brief psychological interventions and formulation meetings for complex cases. AMPS assessments are available and there is a monthly neuroradiology meeting. The service benefits from close links to the Cognitive Neurology team and local Learning Disability team for liaison and joint working where appropriate.

The post holder will provide senior clinical input into diagnostic and clinical management MDTs, assess patients jointly with Dementia Practitioners and independently. They will conduct diagnostic clinics and formulate management plans in discussion with their consultant supervisor where required and liaise with primary care and other relevant agencies. The trainee will receive 1 hour weekly consultant supervision to focus on training and development and ad hoc case discussions for clinical issues as they emerge. While the emphasis is on admission avoidance, some MHAAs are expected.

There are a wealth of special interest opportunities in Bristol within local Mental Health/ Liaison teams and they are encouraged to approach the acute trust regarding opportunities in geriatrics, neurology and movement disorders.

The service is supported by a full time Research Assistant practitioner and the post holder is encouraged to be involved in research and QI or Audit during their rotation. Research links exist with the Cognitive Neurology team at Southmead Hospital and are being developed with academic colleagues in Exeter.

There are multiple opportunities for delivering education and training both to external agencies e.g. GPs and to MDT colleagues including a Practitioner Competency programme.

There are opportunities to shadow senior clinician-managers and attend leadership meetings alongside direct links to the Dementia Health Integration Team in Bristol.

Dr Main is the clinical lead for community dementia care in Bristol and is especially passionate about training. He has formal experience in neuropsychiatry; training in senior medical management; a background in Philosophy of Psychiatry; and an MA in Medical Ethics & Law with a focus the MCA. Trainees can be supported in further study into these areas should they be of interest.

While this post is hosted by Devon Partnership Trust, the on-call component remains with AWP.

On-call: AWP Super-Rota, 1:15.

22. Older Adults Liaison, Bristol Royal Infirmary.
Trainer – Dr Seona Duroux