Job Title and Grade
Locum Consultant Psychiatrist (S.I. Perinatal Mental Health)
Competition Reference
2026/94
Closing Date
June 29, 2026, 5pm.
Taking up Appointment
As soon as possible.
Location of Post
This is an appointment on a Public Only Consultants' Contract by the Health Service Executive to be based at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin (37 hours per week).
Details of Service
The Perinatal Mental Health team is based at the Rotunda Hospital and currently consists of 1.0 WTE Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, 1 WTE NCHD, 3 WTE Clinical Nurse Specialists, 0.6 WTE Perinatal Occupational Therapist, 1 WTE Mental Health Social Worker, 1 WTE Principal Psychologist, 1.5 WTE Mental Health Midwives, 1 WTE Advanced Midwife Practitioner and 2.0 WTE administrator. There is a very strong multidisciplinary team ethos. The team has a weekly team meeting with discussion new patients and patient with a high level of MDT input.
There are regular business meetings and service development meetings.
The Consultant's role within the Rotunda will include:
Outpatient Clinic
Liaison session for inpatients
Admin. and service development
Leading MDT meeting.
Supervision Session
Spoke Hospital work
Reporting Relationship
As per POCC 2023 the Consultant's reporting relationship and accountability for the discharge of his/her contract is to the Master / Chief Executive Officer of the hospital through his/her Clinical Director.
The appointed consultant will work alongside the existing Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist and the multidisciplinary team, within the Perinatal Mental Health Service. The consultant will be in a lead role, managing and supervising the team, developing the service and assessing and managing the more severely mentally unwell patients referred to the service.
The multidisciplinary team is consultant-led with input from mental health midwives, clinical nurse specialists, senior psychologist, perinatal occupational therapist, mental health social worker, and by administrative staff. The post holder will report to the master of the Rotunda.
Purpose of the Post
The Rotunda Hospital has more births than any other maternity center in the country with 8324 individuals delivering there in 2024. The Rotunda serves a socially deprived area geographical area with additional mental health needs. Complex cases referred to the Rotunda also have additional needs. The SPMHS in the Rotunda saw a 43% increase in external referrals in 2024 compared to 2023. This is explained by CMHTs and Primary Care services becoming more aware of our service. In addition to this there were 2313 internal referrals.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for providing a Perinatal Mental Health Service at the Rotunda Hospital in conjunction with the existing Consultant Psychiatrist in post. This will in the first instance be to prioritise services to those who have the greatest need and where service provision will have the greatest impact. The Consultant will provide the highest quality of care for patients attending the service.
Standard duties and responsibilities include:
Lead the specialist multidisciplinary mental health team which consists of a Consultant, Senior Registrar, Senior Mental Health Social Worker, and Senior Psychologist, two Clinical Psychiatric Nurse Specialists, Senior Occupational Therapist, two Mental Health Midwives, team secretary and administrative support.
Provide support for the smaller spoke maternity units in OLOL Drogheda and Cavan General.
Provide on call cover to the Rotunda hospital.
Provide assessment, management and treatment for the mental health needs of all women attending the hospital in pregnancy and up to the first year after birth.
Provide timely access to high quality care and treatment to women in pregnancy and early postpartum. This is to ensure that the special needs of such women are met and the potential risk to both mother and child are minimised.
Prevention of avoidable relapses and reoccurrences in vulnerable women.
Provision of advice on the use of psychotropic medications given the change in pharmacokinetics in pregnant women and the special precautions required in treating pregnant or breastfeeding women because of potential effects on the foetus or baby.
Pre-conception advice to women at-risk of significant mental health issues postnatal.
Advice on treatment under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018
Any other duties deemed appropriate to the post. Please note that the duties of this post may change over time. Ensure that duties and functions are undertaken in a manner that minimises delays for patients and possible disruption of services.
Ensure in consultation with the Clinical Director that appropriate medical cover is available at all times having due regard to the implementation of the European Working Time Directive as it relates to doctors in training.
Supervise and be responsible for diagnosis, treatment and care provided by non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) treating patients under the Consultant's care.
Participate in clinical audit and proactive risk management and facilitate production of all data/information required for same in accordance with regulatory, statutory and corporate policies and procedures.
Participate in and facilitate production of all data/information required to validate delivery of duties and functions and inform planning and management of service delivery. Operational, strategic, developmental, clinical, administrative and other duties that will apply to the post:
Responsible for the care and treatment of patients in his/her clinical charge and to ensure mechanisms for the coordination of the care with the multidisciplinary team and between the team and other health and social care agencies are established and maintained.
To assist in the development of best practice protocols in line with emerging research and best practice. Work with a multidisciplinary team providing assessment and therapeutic services and to have special administrative responsibility if required for the Service.
The person appointed to the office is a Designated Officer under the "Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998" and consistent with Children's First Guidelines 2011 to receive reports of child abuse. Such officers will, on receiving a report of child abuse, formally notify the relevant Child and Family Services Manager (Tusla).
Prepare clinical and court reports pursuant to Section 25 of the Mental Health Act 2001.
To participate in development of and undertake all duties and functions pertinent to the Consultant's area of competence, as set out within the Clinical Directorate Service Plan and in line with policies as specified by the Employer.
To ensure that duties and functions are undertaken in a manner that minimises delays for patients and possible disruption of services.
To work within the framework of the hospital / agency's service plan and/or levels of service (volume, types etc.) as determined by the Employer. Service planning for individual clinical services will be progressed through the Clinical Directorate structure or other arrangements as apply.
To co-operate with the expeditious implementation of the Disciplinary Procedure.
To formally review the execution of the Clinical Directorate Service Plan with the Clinical Director / Employer periodically. The Clinical Directorate Service Plan shall be reviewed periodically at the request of the Consultant or Clinical Director / Employer. The Consultant may initially seek internal review of the determinations of the Clinical Director regarding the Service Plan.
To participate in the development and operation of the Clinical Directorate structure and in such management or representative structures as are in place or being developed. The Consultant shall receive training and support to enable him/her to participate fully in such structures.
To provide, as appropriate, consultation in the Consultant's area of designated expertise in respect of patients of other Consultants at their request.
To participate as a right and obligation in selection processes for non-Consultant Hospital Doctors and other staff as appropriate. The Employer will provide training as required. The Employer shall ensure that a Consultant representative of the relevant specialty / sub-specialty is involved in the selection process.
The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or experience
Full registration as a specialist in the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland in the specialty of Psychiatry.
and
Demonstrate up to date knowledge of all aspects of general Psychiatry practice.
and
Previous experience or qualifications in Perinatal Mental Health (desirable).
Entry to competition / recruitment process
No candidate will be appointed as a Medical Consultant unless (s)he is registered as a Specialist in the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council of Ireland.
Successful candidates must be registered as a Specialist in the relevant Specialty on the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council of Ireland within 180 days of the day of interview.
Should the successful candidate not be registered as a Specialist at that time, the post may be offered to the next suitable candidate. Should no suitable candidate exist, a further recruitment process may be initiated.
Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge
Working with Others
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Ability to work effectively and manage relationships with the key stakeholders.
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Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex needs of patients with severe enduring mental health problems and to work with families and carers of these patients.
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Demonstrate evidence of ability to treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.
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Develop networks and work in partnership with patients/service users, carers and colleagues within and across systems to deliver and improve services.
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Encourage and create an environment where others have the opportunity to contribute.
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Work with others to improve services.
Managing Services
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Demonstrate evidence of effective planning, team leadership and organising skills including awareness of resource management and appropriate accountability.
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Demonstrate effective time management, prioritisation and appropriate delegation skills.
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Contribute to the development of business and service plans to achieve service goals.
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Manage resources to ensure the delivery of safe and effective services.
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Manage people by providing direction, reviewing performance, motivating others and promoting equality and diversity.
Setting Direction
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Demonstrating leadership and management skills including the ability to work with others.
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Demonstrate knowledge, awareness and appreciation of Intellectual Disability Services, relevant policies, reports and service plans, regulation and relevant legislation together with key challenges faced.
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Applies knowledge and evidence, gathering information to produce an evidence-based challenge to systems and processes to identify opportunities for service improvement.
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Makes sound evidenced-based decisions consistent with the values and priorities of the organisation and profession.
- Measures and evaluates outcomes taking corrective action where necessary and being accountable for decisions.
Improving Services
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Critically evaluates services to identify where services can be improved, working individually or as part of a team.
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Encourages improvement and innovation, creating a climate of continuous service improvement.
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Facilitates transformation, actively contributing to change processes that lead to improved healthcare.
Demonstrating Personal Qualities
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Demonstrate effective communication skills including:
- The ability to present information in a clear and concise manner,
- The ability to lead and manage through challenges and demands placed on them,
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The ability to give constructive feedback so as to encourage learning and improved service functioning.
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Organises and manages self while taking into account the needs and priorities of others.
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Learns from participating in continuous professional development and feedback.
Acts with integrity, behaving in an open, honest and ethical manner.
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Competition Specific Selection Process
Ranking/Shortlisting / Interview
A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998
As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.
This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
If you have any queries regarding the re recruitment process, please email [email protected]
