Community CAMHS Consultant Psychiatrist

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust; Tunbridge Wells; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health service provider in Tunbridge Wells is looking for a Consultant Psychiatrist to join their CAMHS team starting April 2026. The position focuses on children and young people's mental health services and requires MRCPsych or equivalent. Responsibilities include assessing and developing care plans, and managing clinical complexity. The role offers various benefits, including a recruitment bonus, financial relocation support, and excellent professional development opportunities.

Benefits

A Recruitment Bonus of £15,000

Financial support for relocation of up to £8,000

Flexible working

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Access to NHS pension scheme

Qualifications

• Must have MRCPsych or equivalent and be on, or within six months of inclusion on, the Specialist Register.
• Experience in managing patients from different cultural backgrounds.
• Participated in continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Act as an autonomous, registered practitioner accountable for clinical actions.
• Assess and develop care plans for patients with various conditions.
• Provide patients and relatives with education to promote quality of life.

Skills

Excellent knowledge in specialty

Excellent clinical skills using the bio-psycho-social perspective

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty

Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA

Education

MB BS or equivalent medical qualification

Fully registered with the GMC with a Licence to Practise

On the GMC Specialist Register or within six months of completing CCST in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Approved Clinician status or able to achieve within 3 months

Approved under S12 or able to achieve within 3 months

Job description

About the Role

From spring 2026, our services will extend to include children and young people's mental health services and all-age eating disorder services within the Trust. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Consultant Psychiatrist to join our dedicated Tunbridge Wells CAMHS team from 1st April 2026.

The Tunbridge Wells CAMHS Community team provides a service to children and young people (under the age of 18 years) living in Tunbridge Wells. Tunbridge Wells has a CYP population of 27 910. The team is a generic Tier 3 CAMHS team who undertake assessment and treatment of a range of disorders in children and young people including ADHD, ASD, Mood disorders, Psychosis, PTSD, Anxiety disorders, emerging personality disorders and challenging behaviour. We have specialist teams within Kent for the treatment of eating disorders and moderate to profound learning disability. The services run a pathway model with clear treatment pathways for Mood & Anxiety, Conduct & Behaviour, Neurodevelopmental cases and Complex cases. We are able to offer a range of evidence-based treatments including CBT, DBT, Family therapy, NVR and Child psychotherapy.

Successful applicants will ideally have MRCPsych or equivalent and be on, or within six months of inclusion on, the Specialist Register. You will be fully registered with the GMC, have Approved Clinician status and S12 approval under the Mental Health Act (or have eligibility for it and be able to achieve this on appointment).

Main Duties

1. To act as an autonomous, registered practitioner who is legally and professionally accountable for own unsupervised actions guided by the professional code of conduct and Trust guidelines and protocols.
2. The post holder will have full registration with a licence to practice on the General Medical Council (GMC).
3. Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses, workshops, study, and in‑house training programmes.
4. To be responsible, and accountable, for service delivery to clients/patients.
5. To be able to assess and develop care plans to meet the complex needs of patients with a variety of conditions. This includes chronic, acute, and palliative care within own competencies, recognising own limitations and seeking advice when necessary. This will include continuously evaluating and acting on outcomes.
6. To be able to initiate referrals to other health professional specialist services and agencies.
7. To provide patients and relatives with information and education thus ensuring they have meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence, and quality of life.
8. To ensure practice is supported by research, evidence-based practice, literature, and peer review.

Benefits

• A Recruitment Bonus of £15,000*
• Financial support for relocation of up to £8,000*
• Easy access to in‑house research team and academic opportunities through Kent's own Medical School
• Generous annual leave and study leave entitlement and access to the NHS pension scheme
• Holiday of a Lifetime Scheme - bank your annual leave to save up for that all‑important extended break
• Flexible working – just ask and we will try to help
• Excellent learning and development opportunities. We offer doctors at all grades the chance to engage in leadership, educational, research, quality improvement development and seek growth opportunities tailored to their areas of interest
• Free access to an independent counseling service
• Blue Light Card – a discount service for the NHS
• Car lease scheme
• A variety of staff network forums which empower, support and encourage network members and allies, to reflect KMPT values and promote equality and diversity.

*If you would like further information or to know the full terms of the Recruitment Bonus and/or Relocation Allowance, then please contact our Medical Staffing Team: [e-mail]

Person Specification

Training, Qualifications and Registration – Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
• Fully registered with the GMC with a Licence to Practise
• On the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months of completing CCST in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Approved Clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
• Approved under S12 OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment

Desirable

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management
• MRCPsych
• Additional clinical qualifications
• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice

Clinical Skills, Knowledge and Experience – Essential

• Excellent knowledge in specialty
• Excellent clinical skills using the bio‑psycho‑social perspective and wide medical knowledge
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty
• Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others
• Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA
• Mastery in the management of a broad range of mental disorders in children, including neurodevelopmental disorders
• Experience in managing patients from different cultural backgrounds. Working with interpreters and translators

Desirable

• Wide range of specialist and sub‑specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service
• Practical experience in a short‑term psychological therapy

Academic Skills and Lifelong Learning – Essential

• 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

Desirable

• 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

Transport – Essential

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

Employer Details

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
Highlands House
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN1 2JN