NIMDTA Deputy Head of School of Psychiatry & Training Programme Director for Core Psychiatry

Deputy Head of School of Psychiatry & Training Programme Director for Core Psychiatry
Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA)

Background to NIMDTA
The Role of NIMDTA can be found on the Agency website here:

NIMDTA’s Mission, Vision and Values
NIMDTA’s Mission is: ‘Enhancing patient care through training’
NIMDTA’s Vision is: To equip, develop and inspire doctors and dentists in training to provide and continuously improve the quality of health care delivery to the population of Northern Ireland’
NIMDTA’s Values are those of the HSC:

NIMDTA’s strategic plan 2023 – 2028

• Objective 1: To work in partnership with Local Education Providers (LEPs) to deliver high quality medical and dental education and training to meet curricular requirements & standards set by regulatory bodies
• Objective 2: To create an environment which develops our organisational workforce into a dynamic structure that empowers the individual and promotes opportunity, transparency and effective communication
• Objective 3: To provide an excellent employment service to Doctors and Dentists in Training (DDiT)
• Objective 4: To promote NIMDTA training posts as an excellent career pathway of choice
• Objective 5: To provide Postgraduate Education through effective strategic leadership & Governance

Organisational Structure
The operational responsibility for the work of NIMDTA lies with the Chief Executive which is delegated to the Senior Management Committee (SMC). This post reports to the Director of Hospital Specialty Training.

JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB SUMMARY
The Deputy Head of School of Psychiatry is a leadership position responsible for continuously improving the quality of Postgraduate Training for trainees in Northern Ireland in the Psychiatry Training Programme.
The Deputy Head of School will work with the Head of School to manage the recruitment, rotation, assessments and quality management of training in Psychiatry.
The TPD will work in close partnership with the Director of Hospital Specialty Training and Head of School to provide leadership, promote excellence and support continuous improvement in the training, supervision and experience of Core Psychiatry Resident Doctors.

KEY RESULT AREAS
Service Delivery

• Support the Head of School in leading the Recruitment and Selection of Core Psychiatry Resident Doctors.
• Ensure Specialty Induction is provided for new Resident Doctors entering the training programme.
• Supporting the Head of School in managing and delivering the nationally approved training curriculum.
• Organising courses to deliver the curriculum and prepare for specialty examinations.
• Manage applications for Less than Full Time Training.
• Arrange and attend ARCP panels in conjunction with Head of School, and TPDs where appropriate, according to Deanery guidance for Core Psychiatry Resident Doctors.
• Support the Head of School in manging the allocation of Study Leave including the budget allocation in line with NIMDTA policy.
• Ensure appropriate support systems are in place for Resident Doctors.
• Ensure appropriate career advice is in place for Resident Doctors.
• Support trainees who wish to pursue an academic career.

Quality

• To communicate regularly with Educational and Clinical Supervisors to ensure timely identification and remediation of any issues relating to Core Psychiatry Resident Doctors.
• To represent Psychiatry at Educational Monitoring visits to assess the quality of training provided in Trusts.
• Advise NIMDTA on any service reconfigurations which impact Psychiatry training.
• Support the Director of Hospital Specialty Training with requests for the establishment of new training posts or in the reduction of training posts.
• Respond to findings of the GMC National Training Surveys.
• Assist NIMDTA in appeals processes.
• Represent NIMDTA at relevant national meetings.

Corporate Management

• Lead by example in practising the highest standards of conduct in accordance with the HSC Code of Conduct which covers all staff.

External Relationships

• Liaise with Medical Directors and Directors of Medical Education.

Finances

• To comply with NIMDTA procurement and financial policies with respect to Medical Education Courses.

People Management

• Ensure that people management practices support continuous improvement in staff capability and quality of services provided including encouragement of and widening participation in learning opportunities.

Development of Self

• Undertake annual appraisal and continuing professional development.
• Lead by example in practising the highest standards of conduct in accordance with the Code of Conduct for HSC managers.

General Requirements
The post holder will be required to:

• Assist NIMDTA in fulfilling its statutory duties under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to promote equality of opportunity and good relations and under the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. Staff are also required to support NIMDTA in complying with its obligations under Human Rights Legislation.
• Ensure NIMDTA’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.
• Co-operate fully with the implementation of NIMDTA's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.
• Adhere at all times to all NIMDTA policies/codes of conduct, including for example: Smoke Free policy, IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct, Standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour
• Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.
• Co-operate fully with regard to NIMDTA policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.
• Take responsibility to minimise the NIMDTA’s environmental impact wherever possible. This will include recycling, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use. Helping to reduce paper waste by minimising printing/copying and reducing water usage, reporting faults and heating/cooling concerns promptly and minimising travel.
• All employees of NIMDTA are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within NIMDTA including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the NIMDTA policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.
• Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.
• Represent NIMDTA’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
It is a standard condition that all NIMDTA staff may be required to serve at any location within NIMDTA’s business areas, as the needs of the service demand.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION
Notes to applicants:

• 1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
• 2. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note The Organisation reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
• 3. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.
Factor: Experience / Qualifications / Registration

• 1. Primary medical qualification
• 2. Registered with the General Medical Council with a licence to practise.
• 3. Practising in a Substantive Post in a specialty within the School in NI.
• 4. CCT/CESR or equivalent in the Specialty
• 5. In depth knowledge of the medical training processes and their relationship to workforce planning
• 6. Evidence of participation in the management of medical education

Other

• Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by NIMDTA which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage:
Skills / Abilities

• Advanced communication skills congruent with a high profile leadership role
• Excellent listening, influencing and negotiation skills

Knowledge

• GMC systems and processes.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA
SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted
Qualifications / Experience

• Postgraduate medical qualification
• Minimum of 2 years in a substantive post
• Postgraduate education qualification

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required competencies to be effective in this demanding leadership role. The competencies concerned are set out in the NHS Healthcare Leadership Model, details of which can be found at Particular attention will be given to the following dimensions:

• Inspiring shared purpose
• Leading with care
• Evaluating information
• Connecting our service
• Sharing the vision
• Engaging the team
• Holding to account
• Developing capability
• Influencing for results.

If this post is being sought on secondment then the individual MUST have the permission of their line manager IN ADVANCE of making application.
As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for The Organisation to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.
THE ORGANISATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment.

KEY TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
Tenure: Temporary - 3 years in the first instance; may be re-appointed for a further period of up to 3 years.
Educators (Medical and Dental Professionals) are appointed to NIMDTA positions after an open advertisement on the HSC recruitment portal and through a fair and transparent recruitment process. The job role is described in the application pack together with the person spec required for the role.
NIMDTA business hours are 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Hours may be worked flexibly from 8 am to 6 pm but there is no discretion outside of these business hours for a NIMDTA role. Due to the nature of NIMDTA’s work there must be flexibility by the Educator to meet peak periods of educational activity.
After a successful interview a conditional offer letter will be sent to a candidate which will confirm the terms of the appointment and the duration (if applicable). Some NIMDTA roles have a fixed tenure.
If an Educator is being released from another HSC employer for a number of sessions to undertake a NIMDTA role they will be required to have this agreed in advance with their Clinical and Medical Director.
If an Educator remains on a Trust Payroll a copy of their Trust Job Plan to include the NIMDTA job role must be sent to NIMDTA PSW for audit purposes. This protects both the Educator and NIMDTA in managing public money.
NIMDTA has a Statutory Equality duty to ensure fairness for all applicants and to provide new opportunities for those seeking to obtain a NIMDTA role. It is therefore not encouraged that one individual should hold two NIMDTA salaried roles at the same time. There is also the requirement for organisational resilience with regard to NIMDTA’s statutory brief.
NIMDTA will be responsible for advising of any conflicts of interest that will present in taking the role. A candidate will have to demit from a NIMDTA role to take up another role where there is a conflict between the roles or time is not available within NIMDTA business hours. This includes medical leadership, clinical or management roles within NIMDTA or another organisation, line management responsibility for their current role or where there is access to information within one role which is normally not available with another role.
Due to the nature of PSW work it is not possible to hold an educational role with a NIMDTA PSW role.
Remuneration: 2 PAs paid at current clinical rate incorporated into job plan with employing Trust.
Hours: The normal hours of work are 2 PAs (8 hours) per week. The post-holder will be required to work flexibly in order to successfully carry out the duties of the role.
Annual Leave: As per current terms and conditions.
Pension Scheme: All employees are now automatically enrolled in the HSC Pension scheme. Further information on the scheme is available from the HSC Pensions website via the following link:
Location: NIMDTA offices, 42 Beechill Road, Belfast, BT8 7RL. As the role carries regional responsibility, travel across Northern Ireland (and on occasion further afield) will be required in order to attend meetings and fulfil the full range of duties and responsibilities.
Pre-Appointment Checks: Appointment is subject to the completion of satisfactory pre-appointment checks which may include:

• Confirmation of eligibility to work in the UK.
• Receipt of two satisfactory references – references will only be taken up for the preferred candidate following final interview.
• Provision of documentary evidence of qualifications as listed in the person specification.
• Letter of support from Clinical Director or equivalent.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Enquiries: Please email View email address on meeveem.com or call View phone number on meeveem.com with queries regarding the application process.
Submission of completed applications: For further information and to apply online please visit: Please note NIMDTA accept online applications only.
Completed applications must be submitted by 12 noon on Thursday 22 October 2026.
Interviews: It is anticipated that interviews for this post will take place on Friday 6 November 2026 (PM).
All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times