MEDICAL SPECIALIST – PSYCHIATRY (X1 POST)

This specialist post at Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital offers an experienced psychiatrist the opportunity to lead and shape mental health services within a regional hospital setting. The successful candidate will be based in the Psychiatry Department and will be responsible for the overall management of psychiatry at the hospital, including the provision of clinical care to mental health care users, the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and the supervision of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health care providers. The role is a senior one, combining hands-on specialist clinical work with administrative, academic and leadership responsibilities, and is graded on the OSD scale with three appointment levels depending on years of experience after registration as a Medical Specialist in Psychiatry.

Applicants must hold a Grade 12 certificate and an appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a medical specialist in psychiatry, specifically a Master of Medicine in Psychiatry or a Fellowship of the College of Psychiatrists of South Africa. An essential attribute is the ability to teach, train, conduct research and supervise research for academic degree purposes, along with a willingness to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students and other health care workers. For appointment at Grade 1, no prior experience as a specialist is required beyond registration. Grade 2 requires five years of appropriate experience as a Medical Specialist after registration with the HPCSA, while Grade 3 requires ten years of such experience.

The clinical duties are comprehensive. The specialist will manage an acute psychiatric unit in a general hospital setting, evaluate and treat mental health care users, run the specialist outpatient psychiatry clinic, lead multi-disciplinary ward rounds, and provide consultations for patients outside the psychiatry unit. The post also entails reviewing and auditing patient medical records, ensuring that care aligns with the National Core Standards, Batho Pele Principles, the Mental Health Care Act and other medico-legal regulations. Administrative responsibilities include managing patient-related administration, addressing patient complaints, attending hospital management meetings, contributing to research databases, coordinating duty lists and staff allocations, and supporting the recruitment and retention of staff. The specialist will also liaise with other departments and hospitals, as well as district mental health services, where required.

On the academic front, the role involves coordinating academic programmes, ensuring that students are taught in a safe environment, supporting postgraduate students with research projects, and developing one's own research interests for publication. The successful candidate must also be willing to undergo continuous training and development, attend approved meetings, and comply with the Performance Management and Development System. The application process carries strict conditions: a fully completed and signed new Z83 form and a detailed CV are required, with the CV set out in chronological order including start and end dates, employer names and positions. Certified copies of qualifications are only requested from shortlisted candidates, and reference checks will be conducted. It is a legislative requirement for all new appointments, and the employer reserves the right not to fill the post.