What I do
I work as a staff psychiatrist in a specialist assessment and treatment service (SATS) in a learning disability hospital. I get background and history from people being newly admitted and their families. After initial examinations and assessments, I plan and deliver appropriate treatment. I work under the supervision of consultant psychiatrists but have a lot of freedom to make clinical decisions and provide treatment. I enjoy the breadth of the job, which involves me working in a supportive team with nurses, psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and other professionals who are involved with the individual’s care and treatment, dealing with physical, mental health, and legal matters.
I have regular contact with other agencies such as general hospitals, GPs, and practice nurses, as well as social services. As a consequence of this, my working life is varied and exciting and I am faced with new challenges daily.
The best bits
I feel privileged to be in a position to work with people with varying degrees of learning disability who also have chronic and enduring mental health illnesses, and to help them move on to better and more fulfilling lives in the community.
Dr Kal Tayar, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust