Psychiatrist Jobs

Psychiatrist jobs: frequently asked questions

Welcome to our psychiatrist jobs page, featuring the very latest psychiatrist roles across the UK, as well as frequently asked questions below.

What is a Psychiatrist?

Psychiatrists are suitably qualified doctors who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with mental health disorders. These disorders can range widely, from depression or bipolar disorder, to eating disorders and dementia.

Psychiatric disorders can be caused by physical illnesses, and in turn, can cause physical illnesses. So psychiatrists are highly skilled in recognising both physical and mental health symptoms.

As a psychiatrist you could work in a hospital or community care setting, either within the NHS or privately.

What are the daily duties of a Psychiatrist?

Your responsibilities as a psychiatrist can vary according to your specialist field, which could be general adult, old age, children, forensic or medical psychotherapy, among others.

However, your responsibilities might include:

• Working directly with patients suffering from a range of mental health problems

• Assessing patients by reviewing their mental and physical health

• Deciding on suitable psychiatric treatment plans for patients

• Prescribing medication where necessary

• Monitoring and reviewing treatment plans

• Co-ordinating care with other multidisciplinary specialists and support staff

• Working closely with the friends and family of patients to explain conditions and treatments

Your working hours may vary according to the setting, but as with many medical professions, if you work in a hospital or 24-hour care facility you will probably work in a shift pattern that may include evenings and weekends.

How do you become a Psychiatrist?

To become a Psychiatrist, you first need to undertake a degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council. This normally takes five years to complete.

This is followed by two years in Foundation Training, where you’ll work in a hospital on a rotational basis as a junior doctor across different departments, including psychiatry.

Thereafter, you’ll begin your six-year dedicated training in psychiatry. This is made up of three years of core training and three years of higher training. The first three years involve multiple roles across different settings, and for the next three years you’ll focus on your specialist area.

After completing all of this and the relevant Royal College of Psychiatrists examinations, you’ll finally be formally registered within the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

However, not all practicing psychiatrists actually attain this fellowship, and instead choose to take up posts as Specialty Doctors and Associate Specialists. For this, you only need to be registered with the General Medical Council and to complete four years of postgraduate training.

How much do Psychiatrists earn?

Psychiatrist pay varies according to the point you’re at in your career.

As a junior doctor your salary will start at £26,614 in your first year and rise to £30,805 in your second year.

Beyond this, as a specialty doctor you could earn anywhere between £38,000 and £70,000 a year, while at consultant level your pay could be anywhere between £76,761 a year and more than £103,000 a year.

Therefore, pinpointing what you’ll earn as a psychiatrist is very difficult, because it varies enormously depending on your experience.

Nonetheless, as a broad guide, industry stats suggest that the average psychiatrist earns around £60,000 to £65,000 a year.

Find your next Psychiatrist job today

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