Specialty Doctor – Borders Addiction Service

Job Description

OUR VALUES IN ACTION

Care and Compassion • Quality and Teamwork • Dignity and Respect • Openness, honesty and responsibility

Specialty Doctor in Addiction Psychiatry (0.8 WTE, Permanent)

Borders Addiction Service – Galashiels & Scottish Borders
Salary: £61,690 – £96,129 per annum (pro rata)
Hours: 0.8 WTE (8 PAs)
Base: Galavale, Galashiels (with travel across the Borders)

Why this role?

Join a dynamic, welcoming, and well functioning addiction service delivering high quality, compassionate care. Work in a beautiful rural region with excellent access to Edinburgh, and enjoy supportive consultant supervision, strong multidisciplinary working, and opportunities for professional development – including support toward MRCPsych and AMP status.

What you’ll do

• Provide holistic psychiatric assessments, including risk assessments, and develop treatment plans as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Support delivery of opiate substitution therapy (OST), including assessment, prescribing and monitoring.
• Oversee inpatient admissions (alcohol detoxification and drug stabilisation) at Huntlyburn House.
• Act as primary psychiatrist for an agreed number of community patients.
• Contribute to MDT meetings, case note reviews, physical health monitoring and caseload supervision.
• Participate in Mental Health Act work (with AMP recognition) and produce psychiatric reports as required.
• Engage in clinical governance, audit, SAE reviews, Drug Death Review Group and service development aligned to MAT standards.
• Take part in teaching, training, CPD, research and supervision within the wider Mental Health service.

What we’re looking for

• Primary medical degree (MBBS or equivalent) and full GMC registration with licence to practise.
• Minimum four years’ postgraduate training, including at least two years in psychiatry (or equivalent experience).
• Commitment to working with adults experiencing addiction and severe mental illness.
• Strong communication, teamwork and reflective practice skills.
• Understanding of clinical governance principles and evidence based practice.
• Alignment with NHS values: care, compassion, quality, teamwork, dignity, respect, openness and honesty.

Desirable

• Experience in adult or addiction psychiatry (community and inpatient).
• Experience in OST assessment/prescribing.
• MRCPsych or working toward it; AMP status (or intention to pursue).

What we offer

• Permanent Specialty Doctor post within a supportive, highly experienced team.
• Dedicated consultant supervision and a strong peer support network.
• SPA time for development, teaching, research and governance.
• Support toward MRCPsych exams and AMP training.
• Opportunities to develop special interests aligned with service needs.
• Access to NHS pension, annual leave entitlement, and relocation assistance (where applicable).
• Work-life balance in a scenic rural area with excellent outdoor activities and rail links to Edinburgh.

Interested?

For an informal chat or to arrange a visit, contact:

Dr Rosemary Gordon – Clinical Lead, Addictions Service

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.