Locum Psychiatry Consultant

Job Overview

The Locum Consultant Psychiatrist provides senior‑level psychiatric leadership across adult, old‑age, child & adolescent (CAMHS), learning‑disability, liaison, or community psychiatry services. The role involves leading clinical decision‑making, overseeing multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring safe, person‑centred, evidence‑based mental health care in inpatient and community settings. This position is suited to experienced consultants seeking flexible locum work within the Irish Mental Health Services framework.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide consultant‑level assessment and management of patients with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychosis, personality‑related difficulties, substance‑use‑related illness, neurodevelopmental, and learning‑disability‑related conditions.
• Act as clinical lead on wards, in community mental health teams, or in specialist services (e.g., CAMHS, old‑age, liaison, substance misuse, or intellectual‑disability‑related psychiatry, as specified).
• Lead multidisciplinary team meetings, case‑formulation discussions, and risk‑assessment reviews.
• Undertake and supervise crisis assessments and emergency psychiatry interventions, including home visits and crisis‑resolution‑team involvement where applicable.
• Supervise and mentor registrars, SHOs, and other junior medical staff, providing clinical guidance and training.
• Ensure high‑quality pharmacological and psychosocial management plans, regularly reviewing treatment efficacy and safety.
• Maintain accurate documentation, including MSEs, risk assessments, and care‑plan records in line with HSE and HIQA standards.
• Uphold patient‑safety, safeguarding, and confidentiality protocols in all interactions.

Requirements

• Medical degree recognised by the Irish Medical Council.
• Full Specialist Registration in Psychiatry on the Specialist Division of the IMC register.
• Consultant‑level experience in one or more domains (General Adult, Old‑Age, CAMHS, Liaison, Learning Disability, Substance Misuse, or Rehabilitation Psychiatry).
• Eligibility to work in Ireland (e.g., Irish/UK/EU passport or Stamp 4).
• Strong leadership, communication, and risk‑management skills.
• Commitment to recovery‑oriented, trauma‑informed, and person‑centred care.

Skills and Competencies

• Advanced clinical judgment and risk‑assessment ability in complex mental health presentations.
• Leadership and team‑management experience in a psychiatric service.
• Empathy and professionalism when working with vulnerable individuals and their families.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced and often high‑pressure environment.
• Strong organisational and documentation skills.

Working Conditions

• Consultant‑level rota that may include day‑based, ward‑based, community‑based, or mixed‑model sessions, depending on the service.
• Mental‑health inpatient units, community mental health teams, specialist clinics, and sometimes liaison‑psychiatry or emergency‑department settings.
• May involve short‑term or fixed‑term contracts aligned with HSE‑style service‑need timelines.

Remuneration and Benefits

• Highly competitive locum rates, typically ranging up to €130–140 per hour for direct‑on‑site work and lower on‑call‑off‑site rates, depending on subspecialty and agency/hospital.
• Flexible working arrangements and short‑ to medium‑term contracts.
• Opportunity to work in a range of specialist psychiatric services across Ireland.