Child & Adolescent Consultant Psychiatrist -Inpatient

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Haywards Heath seeks a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to enhance Tier 4 inpatient CAMHS services. This role involves clinical leadership of a compassionate multidisciplinary team and significant responsibilities in treatment planning. Offering competitive recruitment and retention packages, flexible work arrangements and opportunities to shape a vital service, this position is ideal for those looking to make a significant impact in mental health care for youth.

Benefits

£45,000 Recruitment & Retention Package

Bespoke job planning

Relocation support if applicable

Qualifications

• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.
• Approved clinician status or able to achieve within 3 months.
• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership for a skilled and compassionate MDT.
• Lead on formulation, risk management and treatment planning.
• Supervise junior doctors and trainees, contributing to teaching.

Skills

Excellent knowledge in specialty

Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective

Excellent oral communication skills in English

Ability to deliver teaching and training

Education

MB BS or equivalent medical qualification

Fully registered with the GMC

Included on the GMC Specialist Register

Job description

Child & Adolescent Consultant Psychiatrist -Inpatient

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to play a key role in the future development of Tier 4 inpatient CAMHS in Sussex. Chalkhill, our 12-bed General Adolescent Unit in Haywards Heath (15 minutes from Brighton / 45 minutes from London), is entering an important phase of strengthening, innovation and service redesign.

You will join an established, well-supported multidisciplinary team and have the opportunity to help shape how the inpatient pathway evolves, drawing on best practice, national standards and collaboration across CAMHS. We are open to bespoke job planning and flexible working arrangements, including exploring a shared post model across Chalkhill and the COAST CAMHS Acute service, where this supports continuity, service quality and candidate preference.

This post offers a £45,000 Recruitment & Retention Package, bespoke job planning, relocation support (where applicable) and opportunities to shape a service with momentum and leadership visibility.

If you are seeking a Consultant role where you can make a meaningful impact and help define the next chapter of inpatient CAMHS in Sussex, we would be delighted to hear from you. Informal conversations and visits are warmly welcomed.

Main duties of the job

As Consultant Psychiatrist for Chalkhill, you will:

• Provide clinical leadership for a skilled and compassionate MDT caring for young people aged 13-18 with complex needs
• Lead on formulation, risk management and treatment planning, working closely with families and partner agencies
• Supervise junior doctors and trainees, and contribute to teaching, audit and quality improvement
• Work within a supportive leadership group with strong operational and clinical management backing
• Participate in the CAMHS Consultant on-call rota (1:9, with allowance for compensatory rest)

Permanent, full-time (10 PAs), based at Chalkhill, Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath.

About us

About Chalkhill and Sussex Partnership Chalkhill is one of the country's leading Tier 4 CAMHS inpatient units, working closely with community CAMHS and COAST to deliver safe, integrated pathways for young people. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is rated Good overall and Outstanding for caring by the CQC, with strong links to Brighton & Sussex Medical School and active peer support networks.

Consultants benefit from:

• Flexible job planning and opportunities for hybrid working
• 30 days' study leave over 3 years, with funding
• Wellbeing initiatives, occupational health and staff networks

Living and Working in Sussex

• A mix of coastline, countryside and vibrant cities (including Brighton & Hove)
• Excellent links to London and Gatwick Airport
• South Downs walking and cycling routes

Recruitment & Retention Package (£45,000 over 3 years)

• £15,000 on appointment
• £10,000 after 12 months
• £10,000 after 24 months
• £10,000 after 36 months (Pro‑rata for part‑time employees)

Contact: [e-mail] for full terms and conditions of this package

Job responsibilities

Full details of the role can be found in the attached job description but if you’d like to know more or arrange an informal visit, please contact: Dr Saam Idelji-Tehrani [e-mail] Nicola Chainey [e-mail]

Qualifications

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Included on the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months.
• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
• Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment

Transport

• Holds and will use valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative.

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Excellent knowledge in specialty
• Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service

Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
• Ability to work in and lead team
• Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement.
• Participated in continuous professional development
• Participated in research or service evaluation.
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes
• Ability to work in a participatory way so that shared decision making and conversations around formulation/diagnosis and ongoing care are a collaborative endeavour with the people who access our service.
• Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post
• Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken
• Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation
• Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
• Has led clinical audits leading to service change or improved outcomes to patients

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Clinical Director for Specialist Services