Dr. Kristan Howcroft
Eastbourne,East Sussex
Summary
Foundation qualified doctor with over 20 years’ experience in mental health services, including senior leadership roles as Ward Manager (Band 7) within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Extensive experience across acute inpatient, forensic, and community psychiatry settings.
Recently qualified in medicine (BMBS, 2024), with broad foundation training including acute and emergency care. Brings a unique combination of psychiatric expertise and medical training, enabling safe and effective management of patients with complex mental health needs.
Seeking a Locally Employed Doctor post in psychiatry, with the intention of progressing through the LED pathway and applying for Core Psychiatry Training.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Foundation Doctor (FY2)
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
2025.08 - 2026.08
- Delivering supervised care across A&E, public health and urology
- Responsible for assessment, management planning, and prescribing
- Participation in on-call rota and escalation of deteriorating patients
Foundation Doctor (FY1)
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
2024.08 - 2025.08
- Developed core competencies in clinical assessment and decision-making
- Experience in stroke, care of the elderly and general surgery
- Involved in ward rounds, discharge planning, and MDT communication
Charge Nurse / Deputy Ward Manager
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
2019.09 - 2024.08
- Senior leadership role managing ward operations, staffing, and patient flow
- Led multidisciplinary team coordination and risk management
Ward Manager - Forensic High Dependency Unit
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
2017.10 - 2019.09
- Held full clinical and operational responsibility for psychiatric HDU
- Managed high-risk patients and ensured governance compliance
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
2002.01 - 2017.01
- Progression from Healthcare Assistant → Staff Nurse → Community Mental Health Nurse → Charge Nurse
- Experience across inpatient, forensic, and community mental health services
Education
BMBS -
Brighton And Sussex Medical School
United Kingdom 2019.08 - 2024.07
Skills
- Psychiatric assessment and risk management
- Mental state examination and crisis intervention
- Capacity assessment and end-of-life decision-making
- Acute medical assessment and escalation
- Multidisciplinary team leadership
- Safeguarding and clinical governance
- Communication with patients and families
- Service improvement and systems leadership
Accomplishments
- Led management of a high-risk forensic inpatient incidents’ including arson, violence and suicidality
- Led implementation of a two-shift system, improving continuity of care and staff wellbeing; model adopted across multiple wards
- Contributed to reducing staff sickness rates to approximately 3%
- Played a key role in reducing violent incidents and use of seclusion compared to previous years
- Contributed to achieving a CQC rating of Good, with Outstanding in safe and caring domains
Career Intentions
Committed to a career in psychiatry, with the aim of progressing through the LED pathway and applying for Core Psychiatry Training. Motivated to contribute to high-quality patient care while continuing professional development.
Additional Training & Experience
- Advanced Life Support (ALS)
- Suicide Intervention Training (ASIST)
- PMVA (extensive experience; currently lapsed)
- Clinical audit experience
- Public health research contribution (Health in All Policies - climate change)
- First Line Management Training (2017)
- Experience mentoring junior nursing staff
Timeline
Foundation Doctor (FY2)
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
2025.08 - 2026.08
Foundation Doctor (FY1)
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
2024.08 - 2025.08
Charge Nurse / Deputy Ward Manager
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
2019.09 - 2024.08
BMBS -
Brighton And Sussex Medical School
2019.08 - 2024.07
Ward Manager - Forensic High Dependency Unit
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
2017.10 - 2019.09
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
2002.01 - 2017.01