Medical Specialist – Phychiatrist at County Government of Kirinyaga

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Providing specialized psychiatric clinical services including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up of patients with mental illness, substance use disorders and psychological conditions;
• Running specialized outpatient psychiatric clinics, inpatient wards, and consultation-liaison psychiatry for other departments;
• Conducting forensic psychiatric assessments and preparing reports for courts and other legal agencies;
• Providing emergency psychiatric care, including management of acute psychosis, suicidal emergencies and substance withdrawal;
• Initiating and managing psychotropic medication, psychotherapy, Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT) where available, and other therapeutic interventions;
• Developing, implementing and reviewing county mental health policies, protocols, guidelines and standard operating procedures in line with Kenya Mental Health Action Plan 2021-2025;
• Planning and coordinating mental health outreach, community mental health programs, school mental health and substance abuse prevention programs;
• Leading and supervising multidisciplinary mental health team including psychiatric clinical officers, psychiatric nurses, psychologists, counsellors and social workers;
• Training, mentoring and coaching medical officers, clinical officers, nurses and interns on mental health;
• Conducting research, data collection and reporting on mental health indicators (KHIS), and using evidence for planning;
• Managing and ensuring proper use of psychiatric drugs and equipment and ensuring compliance with Mental Health Act 2022 and other relevant laws;
• Participating in medico-legal duties, quality assurance, CME and mortality audits;
• Any other duty as may be assigned by the Chief Officer, Medical Services.

Job Requirements

For appointment to this grade, a candidate must:

• Be a Kenyan Citizen;
• Have a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree from an institution recognized by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (MPDC);
• Have a Master of Medicine (M.Med) Degree in Psychiatry from an institution recognized by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council;
• Be registered and licensed as a Specialist in Psychiatry by the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council;
• Have a Certificate of Registration and a valid Retention Certificate from the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council;
• Demonstrate understanding of Mental Health Act 2022, National Mental Health Policy and County health systems;
• Have good leadership, communication and interpersonal skills;
• Certificate in computer applications from a recognized institution;
• Demonstrate understanding and commitment to the values and principles as outlined in article 10 and 232 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010;
• Satisfy the requirements of Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010