Specialty Doctor in Older Adult Inpatient
Job Description
Job summary
We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic full time Specialty Doctor to join our Older Adult Inpatient team at Bracken Ward (Airedale Centre for Mental Health).
You will work as part of a dedicated and supportive multidisciplinary team, contributing to the delivery of high-quality care for older adults experiencing acute and complex mental health needs. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with the Consultant Psychiatrist and a wide range of professionals, supporting a service that places equal emphasis on mental and physical health, recovery, and maintaining dignity for patients during times of crisis.
This permanent, full-time post offers excellent support, including dedicated administrative assistance, IT equipment and access to flexible working arrangements. You will play an important role in patient care, clinical governance and service development, while benefiting from protected time for CPD, supervision opportunities and involvement in quality improvement initiatives.
If you are committed to delivering compassionate care, working collaboratively and contributing to continuous service improvement, we would love to hear from you!
Main duties of the job
This post is based on Bracken Ward at the Airedale Centre for Mental Health, Keighley. Bracken Ward is a 22-bedded Older Adult inpatient ward providing assessment and treatment for individuals over the age of 65 experiencing acute mental health difficulties, including both dementia and non-dementia related conditions. The post holder will work closely with the Consultant Psychiatrist and wider multidisciplinary team as a senior member of the medical workforce, supporting the day-to-day clinical management of patients in an inpatient setting.
The role involves undertaking comprehensive psychiatric and physical health assessments, conducting regular ward reviews, and contributing to the development and delivery of patient-centred care plans. You will participate in daily handovers (PIPPA), multidisciplinary ward reviews and team meetings, while providing clinical advice and support to colleagues across the team. You will also chair weekly physical health reviews, organise investigations and liaise with other specialties as required.
In addition, the post holder will support clinical leadership within the ward, particularly in the absence of the Consultant Psychiatrist, ensuring continuity of care and effective decision-making. There will be opportunities to contribute to teaching, supervision of junior staff, and involvement in audit, research and quality improvement work.
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen - We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 4500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
The role includes active involvement in Mental Health Act processes, including preparing reports and attending tribunals, as well as working in line with the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to ensure safe and effective care for patients.
Closing date: 26th July 2026
Shortlisting: w/c 27th July 2026
Interviews: 11th August 2026
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work andresidein the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond theexpirationof your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential youmaintainthe legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visaexpiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, mayimpactyour eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work statusimmediatelyand to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visain a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
About us:
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is a provider of award-winning mental health, learning disabilities and community health services to a growing population of 580,000 people across a diverse district comprising urban and rural Bradford, Airedale and Craven. The population is one of the most multicultural in Britain with over 100 languages. Localities in Bradford are amongst the most deprived in the country reflected in higher than average demand for health services and reduced life expectancy.
The Trust has embedded lean methodology throughout its services under the Care Trust Way continually improving together. Time and resources have been created to focus on pathways, workflows and information resources to continually improve in everything the Trust does.
Why Bradford:
Our district has 17,000 businesses, including more FTSE 100 companies than any other city in the north of England. From the best curry in the country, to the worlds turbo chargers, to breakthrough technologies helping to manage chronic pain and outstanding healthcare, we have something for everyone.
With amenities on our doorstep from modern shopping centres and leading restaurants to breath-taking countryside, Bradford has something for everyone.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Full registration and a Licence to Practice with the General Medical Council
- Have completed at least four years' full-time postgraduate training (or its equivalent gained on a part-time or flexible basis) at least two of which will be in a specialty training programme in a relevant specialty or as a fixed term specialty trainee in a relevant specialty; or shall have equivalent experience and competencies
- Section 12 (2) MHA 1983 approval or eligibility to apply.
Desirable
- MRCPsych
- MD, Other professional qualification (e.g. MSc)
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Effective leadership skills
- Ability to deliver care in collaboration with service users and their families/carers.
- Ability to supervise and offer clinical supervision to junior staff (FY1/2) and Core trainees
- Awareness of the funding arrangements in the NHS and recent NHS developments
- Ability to interpret published research and to apply research findings to clinical practice.
- Ability to conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments, formulate management plans, and perform physical health checks
- At least 3-4 years of experience in psychiatry, with specific experience in Old Age or General Adult Psychiatry
Desirable
- Experience of involvement in service development and/or reconfiguration
- Practical experience of research ...
