Psychiatry careers

Saket Priyadarshi

Associate Medical Director and Senior Medical Officer Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services

Across Scotland, the alcohol and drugs field looks to GGC to lead the way and these are exciting times in GGC Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services. In response to the national mission to reduce drug related deaths, we are expanding and developing not only the services we offer, but our workforce. We are looking for doctors also to play their part as members of our deeply committed MDTs in reducing drug and alcohol related harms in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. We already have the most developed system of care for patients of anywhere in Scotland with our in-patient wards, opiate replacement therapies and shared care arrangements, but there are always opportunities to get involved in cutting edge treatments such as heroin assisted treatment, injectable buprenorphine and the use of fibroscanners in alcohol clinics. All this with supportive and friendly peers and managers and chances to get involved in clinical research, governance and teaching! Come and speak to us about jobs and careers in GGC alcohol and drug recovery services.

Sinead McAree

Consultant Psychiatrist & Clinical Lead

Working as a Consultant in Home Treatment in GGC is never boring! I cover a patch of approximately 200,000 in an area which straddles both rural communities and urban populations, each bringing their own needs and challenges.

My days are hard to predict and keep me on my toes. It's important to be flexible as, often, what my diary might say I'm doing is very different from what pans out. I work with a great team of senior nurses, support workers and admin staff and, together, we offer input to people at their most ill who, otherwise, would need admission.

It's really important that, as a team, we support each other and this was never more in evidence than during the pandemic, a time when we continued to see people in their homes given their level of need. Despite the demands of the clinical work, I do manage protected time to pursue other areas of interest and development and, again, my IHTT colleagues are really supportive of this. I can honestly say that I can't imagine working anywhere else. This job suits my personality, my way of working and really I would recommend to anyone.

Stephen Anderson

Consultant in Eating Disorders

The Adult Eating Disorder Service provides evidence based treatment for people within the GGC area who have a moderate to severe eating disorder. We have a multidisciplinary community team based at Florence Street Resource Centre in the Gorbals as well as 4 beds in a general mental health ward on the Stobhill Mental Health Campus. We have placements for core and higher trainees in psychiatry and are keen to promote education and training in eating disorders within psychiatry and across other areas of medicine. The service is available to offer advice and support to clinicians managing patients with eating disorders.

There is great opportunity for audit, research and service development within Adult Eating Disorder Service. Our commitment to service improvement is demonstrated though our involvement in national work. Dr Anderson is co-lead of the National Review group and leads on the skills and training group of the Scottish Government’s National Implementation Group. Dr Anderson was also on the SIGN guideline group.

Dr Scott Rae

Consultant Psychiatrist

Esteem is the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. It provides multidisciplinary care for young people aged 16-35 and their families affected by a first episode of psychosis. Having initially started as a pilot project in 2002, the service has expanded over the years and now covers the entire health board and comprises 4 separate MDTs. It is currently the only stand-alone EIP service in Scotland. Esteem is one of several specialist mental health services in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde which supports and leads on national work. It is a well-established and outward looking service, known for research activity and service development, and has developed its own evidence based integrated care pathway. With a recovery focus at the core of the EIP model, patients are offered an individually-tailored package of care, encompassing a range of evidence-based interventions including medication, groups, family work, and psychological therapies. The MDT has an informal youth focus and includes various disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, nursing, OT, support workers, peer support workers, and youth employment coach. The demographics of the Esteem patient group are diverse and varied, and the service works closely with various organisations and services, including third sector, social work, criminal justice etc. Patients and their families are supported for up to two years, before their care is either transferred to their local CMHT or GP.  Esteem is the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. It provides multidisciplinary care for young people aged 16-35 and their families affected by a first episode of psychosis. Having initially started as a pilot project in 2002, the service has expanded over the years and now covers the entire health board and comprises 4 separate MDTs. It is currently the only stand-alone EIP service in Scotland. Esteem is one of several specialist mental health services in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde which supports and leads on national work. It is a well-established and outward looking service, known for research activity and service development, and has developed its own evidence based integrated care pathway. With a recovery focus at the core of the EIP model, patients are offered an individually-tailored package of care, encompassing a range of evidence-based interventions including medication, groups, family work, and psychological therapies. The MDT has an informal youth focus and includes various disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, nursing, OT, support workers, peer support workers, and youth employment coach. The demographics of the Esteem patient group are diverse and varied, and the service works closely with various organisations and services, including third sector, social work, criminal justice etc. Patients and their families are supported for up to two years, before their care is either transferred to their local CMHT or GP.  

Stephen Byers

Consultant Psychiatrist, Associate Director for Medical Education in Mental Health

I have been a consultant psychiatrist working in Glasgow for the last nine years. I have always had a passion for education and my career has developed with medical education at its heart. Over the years I have progressed through various roles in training from undergraduate tutor to postgraduate educational supervisor. Latterly I have had the privilege of working in the role as Associate Director of Medical Education for mental health working for the Director of Medical Education. The Director of Medical Education has responsibility for both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, and as the largest territorial Board in Scotland, NHSGGC is one of the UK’s major Local Education Providers.

As part of my role within the directorate we act as a conduit between service providers and relevant external agencies, e.g. University of Glasgow Medical School, NHS Education for Scotland and the General Medical Council. We work to ensure the promotion and enhancement of evidence based learning to medical students and junior medical staff.

NHSGGC provides a rich environment for education and training and consultants with an interest in medical education will have an array of opportunities to progress their career in this area, or simply be part of the large family of clinicians who support and mentor our medical students and junior doctors.

Jaime Herron

Higher trainee recently recruited to Consultant post in HD Psychiatry/Research and Old Age Psychiatry

Mental health research within NHS GGC

As the largest health board in the UK, NHS GGC is home to world-leading research opportunities in clinical and academic research.  Regional research services offer unique opportunities for involvement in clinical trials and academic mental health research with state of the art infrastructure.  NHS GGC has close ties with academic partners including the University of Glasgow where a community of research active clinical academics in psychiatry are based. 

Clinical research is supported by a dedicated team managing the overall mental health research portfolio.  NHS GGC is currently home to ongoing clinical trials and exploratory research in psychosis, mood disorders, dementia and Huntington’s disease.  Research focussed clinicians can also be supported to apply for dedicated research time, including through opportunities such as externally-funded research fellowships.

Huntington’s disease psychiatry services within NHS GGC

NHS GGC is home to specialist psychiatric services in Huntington’s disease (HD).  The HD psychiatry service works closely with clinicians across disciplines, including Neurology colleagues and the Scottish Huntington’s Association to provide integrated care closely aligned with the National Care Framework for HD. 

NHS GGC is home to a number of regional specialist services.  The opportunities to develop special interests, and work with colleagues from across specialties, make NHS GGC is an ideal place to work as a psychiatrist.

Ashleigh McAuley 

Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist

NHSGGC hosts Scotland’s first Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) for mothers requiring specialist inpatient perinatal mental health care. The West of Scotland MBU is one of only two units in Scotland and provides a regional service for partner health boards.

In addition we have a well-established nationally recognised specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Team which covers the whole of NHSGGC. Both services provide an excellent opportunity to work with colleagues from other specialties including Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Primary Care, Social Work, Infant Mental Health and CAMHS. Recent national investment has led to a significant expansion in the Perinatal Mental Health Service which is an exciting time for existing and new staff.

Andy Williams

Consultant Medical Psychotherapist, NHSGGC Clinical Lead for Personality Disorder

NHS GG&C has taken a strong lead in development of specialist services for people with a diagnosis of personality disorder. We are improving access to a range of evidence-based therapies like STEPPS, DBT and MBT, and offering bespoke services to people who might traditionally find it difficult to engage (those experiencing homelessness with complex needs). The PD pathway includes an ambitious training programme for all mental health staff with the involvement of people with lived experience, aiming to impact positively on staff knowledge and attitudes and improve the consistency of care.

Erica Packard

Mental Health Research Manager

The vibrant, research and innovation environment in GG&C is recognised internationally as an excellent place to develop research skills and expertise and to participate in world beating research. The strategic alliances between GG&C and the universities in Glasgow provide access to strong academic support and state-of-the-art research facilities.

GG&C hosts a broad ranging active mental health research programme that includes early phase complex trials, trials of new and exciting pharmaceutical interventions, and new digital technologies in mental health. Researchers can access cutting edge neuroimaging technology at the Imaging Centre of Excellence, clinical research facilities across the Board, a regional tissue biobank, mental health dataset linkage through Safe Haven, and the Innovation Hub. Mental health research is one of the most active portfolios in Glasgow and has been identified as a key area of growth.

We welcome clinicians from all disciplines who would like to build or strengthen their research career. Our research partnership can offer mentoring, skills development, support to raise funding, and access to a broad range of background expertise.

As part of the Health Board’s ongoing commitment to developing new and experienced researchers, there is the opportunity to secure protected time for research at consultant level and through the NHS Research Career Fellowship scheme where a broad range of staff including newly appointed consultants can benefit from core funding from Scottish Government.

Nagore Penades

Consultant Psychiatrist & eHealth Lead

NHS GGC is a digitally mature Board that offers the opportunity to get involved in digital development at different stages, from clinical adopter to innovator. Data Science, Informatics and Precision Medicine are at the core of the Board's priorities and strategies, which mental health services are an integral part of.

While working within the NHSGGC MH services you will have the opportunity to become an active member of the digital developments and would benefit from curated clinical informatics to aid decision making and the locally developed digital decision support app NHSGGC MyPsych App.

Furthermore, as the host organisation of the West of Scotland Innovation Hub you will be able to take part on pilot projects and testing of new technologies and innovations.