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Psychiatry Recruitment

Psychiatry jobs
in the NHS

One in four NHS consultant psychiatry posts in England remains unfilled, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Ava Medical places consultant psychiatrists and SAS doctors in substantive NHS mental health trust posts — general adult, old age, CAMHS, forensic, liaison, addiction and more.

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Free for candidates Permanent roles only 50+ NHS trusts
Psychiatry NHS Permanent Roles
Consultant salary£105,504 – £139,882
SAS / Specialty Doctor£59,175 – £95,400
Training grade (CT1–ST6)£49,909 – £70,425
Vacancy rate (England)~25% unfilled
Free for doctors 50+ NHS trusts

About the specialty

Psychiatry careers in the NHS

Psychiatry is one of the most intellectually rich and personally rewarding careers in medicine — combining neuroscience, psychology, pharmacology and the art of sustained therapeutic relationships with patients facing profound illness.

Training pathway

Core Psychiatry Training (CT1–CT3) leads to the MRCPsych, which is required for entry to Higher Specialty Training (ST4–ST6). Total training from CT1 to CCT is six years. Sub-specialty endorsements are available in child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, old age psychiatry, addictions, liaison psychiatry, intellectual disability and medical psychotherapy.

Typical employers

NHS consultant psychiatrists are employed by dedicated mental health trusts (e.g. South London and Maudsley, Mersey Care, CNWL), combined acute and mental health trusts, and specialist organisations such as learning disability providers and forensic secure services. Liaison psychiatry posts are based within acute hospital sites. Community mental health teams (CMHTs) are a major employer for both consultants and SAS doctors across all sub-specialties.

Grades we recruit

Ava Medical recruits Consultants (CCT or CESR), Specialty Doctors and Associate Specialists across all psychiatric sub-specialties. SAS psychiatry posts are especially numerous given the scale of unfilled consultant vacancies. Overseas psychiatrists with MRCPsych-equivalent qualifications (e.g. from Ireland, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Asia) receive dedicated CESR pathway guidance.

NHS pay scales 2025/26

Psychiatry salary expectations

NHS psychiatric consultant posts are governed by the same national contract as all hospital consultants. Many psychiatry roles have favourable on-call patterns compared to acute specialties, which can make the net income per hour of work very competitive. Figures below reflect England 2025/26.

Grade Contract Base salary range Notes
Consultant 2003 Consultant Contract £105,504 – £139,882 Many community posts carry light on-call; additional PAs and CEAs available
Specialty Doctor (SAS) 2021 SAS Contract £59,175 – £95,400 Enhanced pay spine introduced 2021; distinction award available
Associate Specialist Legacy / 2021 SAS £83,945 – £111,199 Closed grade; post-holders on protected terms
Specialty Registrar CT1–ST6 Junior Doctor Contract £49,909 – £70,425 On-call supplement; London weighting applies

Salary figures are indicative and subject to annual review. Always confirm current rates with the employing trust. Source: NHS Employers 2025/26 pay circular.

Roles we recruit

Psychiatry sub-specialties

Psychiatry offers one of the most varied sub-specialty landscapes in medicine. Ava Medical recruits across every major area — matching your particular expertise and working preference to the right NHS service.

General Adult Psychiatry

Community mental health teams, inpatient acute wards and crisis resolution services. The largest sub-specialty and the area with the most NHS vacancies — both consultant and SAS posts.

Old Age Psychiatry

Dementia assessment and treatment, functional illness in older adults, memory clinics and inpatient older adult wards. High demand; community-based roles commonly available with favourable working patterns.

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (CAMHS)

Tier 2/3 community CAMHS, inpatient adolescent units, eating disorder services and perinatal mental health. Major NHS investment in CAMHS is driving significant consultant and SAS recruitment.

Forensic Psychiatry

High, medium and low secure services, prisons and diversion services. Complex and intellectually stimulating subspecialty; separate RCPsych endorsement required for most consultant posts.

Liaison Psychiatry

Mental health input within acute hospital settings — emergency departments, acute medical wards, intensive care. Growing subspecialty with expanding dedicated liaison teams at most NHS acute trusts.

Addictions Psychiatry

NHS community drug and alcohol services, dual-diagnosis liaison, and inpatient detoxification services. Expanding area with significant Commissioner investment — consultant and SAS roles available.

Why Ava Medical

Why psychiatrists choose Ava Medical

  • Mental health trust expertise. We understand the structural and cultural differences between NHS mental health trusts — from integrated acute/mental health organisations to standalone mental health foundations and specialist forensic services. We match you to the right trust culture, not just any available post.
  • MRCPsych and overseas qualification support. Psychiatrists trained in Ireland, Nigeria, Pakistan, India, South Asia and elsewhere hold MRCPsych or equivalent qualifications that are routinely assessed under the CESR route. Ava Medical provides detailed guidance on evidence requirements, portfolio structure and GMC timelines — we have placed psychiatrists from across the world into NHS posts.
  • Sub-specialty matching. Whether you want a community CMHT post with minimal out-of-hours commitment, a challenging forensic role in a medium-secure unit, or a CAMHS eating disorder post in a specialist centre, we identify the specific type of role and team that suits your clinical interests.
  • Pre-market access to NHS vacancies. NHS mental health trusts face exceptional difficulty filling psychiatry posts publicly — many come to Ava Medical first. Your CV reaches clinical and medical directors before vacancies are advertised on NHS Jobs.
  • Personal, honest service. Jack Mann, Ava Medical's founder, carries more than ten years in NHS recruitment, with thousands of doctors placed. Senior psychiatry searches receive his direct personal attention. You will never be passed to an inexperienced resourcer or receive generic advice.
  • Completely free for candidates. CV review, interview preparation, contract negotiation support, GMC/CESR guidance — all free. Every fee is paid by the hiring NHS trust. There are no hidden costs or tie-in periods.

Pay & conditions

What you can earn

Consultant basic pay (2026/27). NHS consultants in England earn £113,565–£150,569 on the 2003 contract. Wales runs higher — up to £166,585 — and Scotland to £148,064, each on its own national scale.

Most consultants earn well above basic pay through on-call availability supplements, additional programmed activities, clinical excellence & impact awards, and the NHS Pension Scheme — one of the most valuable defined-benefit pensions in the UK. Source: BMA consultant pay scales, 2026/27.

Explore more

Related NHS roles

Browse other specialties we recruit for, or see every current vacancy on the live board.

Common questions

Psychiatry recruitment FAQ

You require full GMC registration with a licence to practise, and either a CCT in Psychiatry (or relevant sub-specialty) awarded by the JRCPTB, or a CESR demonstrating equivalence to the CCT standard. Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register is mandatory before taking up a consultant post. The MRCPsych (comprising the Paper A, Paper B and Clinical Assessments of Skills and Competencies) is the standard exit examination for UK higher specialty training.
The CESR allows psychiatrists trained outside a UK CCT programme to obtain GMC Specialist Registration by demonstrating equivalence to the current psychiatry curriculum. You compile a portfolio covering the required RCPsych curriculum domains — clinical assessment, treatment, management, communication, research, teaching and leadership. Evidence includes case-based assessments, workplace-based assessments, supervision reports, and logbook data. MRCPsych (or an assessed equivalent such as FRANZCP) significantly strengthens a CESR application. Ava Medical can advise on evidence gaps and timeline, and connect you with experienced CESR supervisors.
On-call patterns vary considerably by sub-specialty and trust. Community general adult and old age posts often carry a 1-in-8 to 1-in-12 non-resident on-call, typically involving telephone advice and crisis input. Inpatient and forensic posts may carry more frequent or resident on-call commitments. Liaison psychiatry at acute hospital sites tends to have regular shift-based out-of-hours input. Many psychiatry consultant posts — particularly community-based ones — are regarded as having among the most favourable on-call patterns in hospital medicine, contributing to good long-term work-life balance.
Yes — many community-based psychiatric consultant posts in old age, CAMHS, addictions, and community general adult services carry minimal or no overnight on-call. Some posts are structured as purely day-time community roles with no on-call element at all, relying on trust-wide psychiatric on-call rotas for out-of-hours cover. Less-than-full-time (LTFT) consultant contracts are also widely available in NHS psychiatry. Ava Medical specifically identifies posts with on-call arrangements that match each candidate's stated preferences before introducing vacancies.
SAS (Specialty Doctor) psychiatrists are senior NHS doctors who work with clinical independence but without the formal CCT required for consultant status. The 2021 SAS contract significantly improved the pay range (£59,175–£95,400) and introduced a clearer career structure, including a distinction award and formal Clinical Excellence Award equivalent. SAS psychiatrists typically manage their own caseloads, lead outpatient clinics, contribute to ward rounds and take on-call responsibilities comparable to consultants in some trusts. For overseas psychiatrists progressing through CESR, an SAS post provides an excellent bridge — it is clinically substantive, well-paid, and generates strong portfolio evidence for the CESR application.

Ready for your next psychiatry role?

Upload your CV or browse live NHS psychiatry vacancies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our service is completely free for doctors — all fees are paid by the hiring trust.

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Questions? Email jack@avamedical.co.uk or call 07814 506719