Psychiatry is a heavily stereotyped occupation in the UK. When those outside of the profession hear the term ‘psychiatrist’, they will usually picture a bespectacled doctor looking on thoughtfully as their patient reveals their problems while laying on a couch. And while occasionally this may be the case, there is of course far more to the profession than meets the eye.
Locum psychiatry
While specialising in a particular area of mental health is one path, psychiatrists who prefer or require a complex mix of skills, can broaden their knowledge by exploring different realms of the profession.
Often the best way to experience a diverse range of conditions and mental health cases is to become a locum psychiatrist. This allows you the opportunity to work within a range of settings and hone your clinical abilities and diagnostic capabilities.
Taking on psychiatry locum jobs can offer new opportunities to further your learning. It can also improve the personal qualities you will have already acquired through years of training and professional practice. Such skills include careful history taking, the ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, high interpersonal and listening skills and the ability to liaise with other agencies.
While there are plenty of psychiatry locum jobs available, there is a particular demand for those who are involved in forensic psychiatry and old age psychiatry. Child and adolescent mental health psychiatrists are also highly sought-after.
The advantages of psychiatry locum jobs
Taking on psychiatry locum jobs has many advantages. Not only can the work be supplementary to your current job allowing you to earn extra money with lucrative pay rates, but it can also widen your skillset as you experience different conditions and specialist areas.
The flexibility that comes with locum psychiatry roles is another of the major benefits. Working as a locum psychiatrist means you can choose hours to suit you. This gives you the freedom to manage your working hours, fitting them around your family, friends and other personal commitments.
Plus, while working psychiatry locum jobs you will receive ongoing support from your agency. Working alongside you, your locum agency will help to find you work which best suits your skills and personal circumstances. A good locum agency will be guide you carefully through the process of registration and then ensure that each role you are put forward for is a perfect fit.
Working environments for locum psychiatrists
An additional advantage of taking on psychiatry locum jobs is that you can choose where you work. With a range of environments on offer, you have the option to stick to familiar spaces or step out of your comfort zone and bring your skills to a new mental health setting.
Many psychiatrists will have experience of working within the NHS in permanent roles, but there are many locum positions available throughout the country in both NHS and private settings.
Naturally, the profession is ever-evolving. While hospitals are still very much utilised, smaller, more modern units are now relied upon to treat people with mental illness both physically and psychologically. Of course, many of these conditions are still managed in hospital units, although specialist community settings are also used to promote rehabilitation.
If you are familiar with working in small specialist clinics, general psychiatry locum work in a hospital unit could prove to be a great way to broaden your skills. This line of work allows you to see a greater range of patients exhibiting more diverse symptoms and complaints.
Psychiatry locum jobs with Medacs Healthcare
If you are eager to expand your horizons by taking on psychiatry locum work, Medacs Healthcare could be the locum agency for you. Working as a locum psychiatrist with Medacs Healthcare means that you will enjoy an array of benefits including exclusive access to jobs, a range of long and short-term opportunities across the UK, support with revalidation and excellent rates of pay.
Find out more
If you would like to learn more about working as a locum psychiatrist with Medacs Healthcare, take a look at our latest psychiatrist jobs or call 0800 389 9055.
