Consultant Community Paediatrician

HCT Partnership; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 114,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

HCT Partnership is recruiting a Consultant Community Paediatrician to join the Autism Assessment Team in West Hertfordshire. The role involves clinical assessments of children with neurodevelopment conditions and close collaboration across multi-agency teams in Watford and surrounding areas.

The post is a full-time, permanent position based at one of the children's centres, with opportunities to contribute to education, safeguarding, and pathway development within the Neurodiversity pathway and

Qualifications

• Registered with GMC (Full)
• On the GMC Specialist Register or within six months of CCT at time of scheduled interview
• MRCPCH or equivalent
• Competent to the Higher Specialist Paediatric Training or equivalent
• Valid basic life support training
• A higher Medical Degree MSc, PhD in Paediatrics
• Experience of working in NHS
• Willingness to teach all grades of professional multidisciplinary trainees
• Experience in using assessment tools such as ADOS/ADI/DISCO for communication disorders, Griffith's neurodevelopment assessment
• Wider experience, research, and training in community paediatrics

Responsibilities

• Assessments of children with neurodevelopment conditions, autism, ADHD and neuro-disabilities
• Special educational needs, teaching and training
• Shared lead for neuro-disability and multi-agency assessments
• Provide expert advice to GPs and health professionals on neuro-disabilities and autism
• Attend safeguarding meetings and contribute to safeguarding plans

Skills

Ability to communicate effectively

Teamwork

Work under pressure

Leadership abilities

Education

MRCPCH or equivalent

GMC registration

Higher Specialist Paediatric Training

MSc/PhD in Paediatrics

Training the Trainers certification

Job description

Main area Paediatrics Grade NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 10 sessions per week (10 four-hour sessions per week) Job ref 812-26-CD-CCP-B

Site Peace Children's Centre Town Watford Salary £113,565 - £150,569 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 25/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 05/11/2026

Job overview

Come and be at the Heart of our Community.

Have you got exceptional clinical skills to support children and young people in West Hertfordshire?

HCT are advertising for a Consultant Community Paediatrician to be part of the Autism Assessment team.

The Community Paediatricians provide services to children and young people in Watford, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding areas.

This is a 10 programme activity post with Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. The post holder will be based at one of the three children’s centres in West Hertfordshire. All centres have excellent facilities and host several disciplines.

There is multiagency working within the department including assessment of autism.
There are close working relationships with both Acute Paediatrics Services and CAMHS. There are strong links with Hertfordshire County Council, Social Services and Education Department.

*Proposed Interview date: 5th November 2026*

HCT will prioritise recruitment of workers living in England under the new immigration rules for care workers effective from 9 April 2025. Employers must first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This ensures that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so.

Main duties of the job

The responsibilities will include:

• Assessments of children with neurodevelopment conditions, autism, ADHD and neuro-disabilities.
• Special educational needs, teaching and training.

This post holder will have shared lead for neuro-disability and where appropriate, participating in multi-agency / multidisciplinary assessments.

The Children’s Specialist Services Medical Team in West Hertfordshire consists of 18.5 Consultants and SAS Community Paediatrician, working across the three child development centres. They are supported by Specialist and Speciality grade doctors, and one resident doctor in rotation.

This new post in the Autism Assessment Team is an integral part of the Neurodiversity Pathway and links to the wider Community Paediatric Medical team. Other services in the Neurodiversity Pathway are the Sensory Processing Service and the Hertfordshire NHS CYP Neurodiversity Single Referral Service. The Community Medical Team works closely with therapy, community nursing and continuing care teams.

We welcome informal visits to our friendly team in Watford, St Albans & Hemel Hempstead.

Working for our organisation

A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.

You’ll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff.

We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities.

Our staff are proud to be Pioneering, Caring and Inclusive in their work to help achieve the Trust vision.

We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds.

We don’t want you to miss out so we’d like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible.

You’ve made a great decision to apply to join HCT - we’re looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide services to children with neurodevelopment conditions including development delay, autism, ADHD and neuro-disabilities within the wider child development team, and where appropriate, participating in multi-agency assessments. All referrals of children are discussed in the weekly 'intake meeting' to identify the appropriate clinics these children should be seen in. The new consultant is expected to be part of that team.

Where relevant, the post holder will provide expert advice to the GPs and other health care professionals on issues relating to neuro-disabilities, autism, and neurodevelopment. It is also expected that the consultant will attend any relevant meetings relating to development of services within the medical team.

The post holder is expected to be available to advise social services and the police on safeguarding matters for west Hertfordshire. The post holder is expected to advise and attend safeguarding strategy meetings, case conferences and reviews, particularly if directly involved in the care of the child being discussed including completion of section 17 reports on children seen.

Please see attached Job description for full details.

Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defense against COVID-19.

The post holder should hold a full, valid, UK driving license and have access to a car to use regularly for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

The use of AI is monitored and if you have used it then you are required to declare this, as well as what type of AI tools you have used and for what purpose. We reserve the right to further test your individual knowledge and skills in relation to the requirements for the post through robust and thorough interview and assessment.

Person specification

Qualifications & Clinical Experience

• Registered with GMC (Full)
• On the GMC’s Specialist Register or within six months of CCT at time of scheduled interview. CESR applicants must be on the Specialist Register at the point of appointment
• MRCPCH or equivalent
• Competent to the Higher Specialist Paediatric Training or equivalent
• Valid basic life support training
• A higher Medical Degree MSc, PhD in Paediatrics
• Experience of working in NHS
• Can demonstrate having achieved the competencies equivalent to the Higher Specialist Paediatric Training.
• Willingness to teach all grades of professional multidisciplinary trainees
• Experience in using specific assessment tools such as ADOS/ADI / DISCO for communication disorders, Griffith's neurodevelopment assessment, Paediatric neurology aspects of neuro disability.
• Wider experience, research, and training in sub-specialty in community paediatrics
• Training the Trainers’ certification

Knowledge and Skill

• Evidence of participation in clinical audit/QI project and or understanding the role of these in improving the medical practice
• Meets the requirements of the GMC’s ‘Good Medical Practice’
• Knowledge of risk management, appraisal review process, etc.
• Ability to work on own initiative, time management and decision making skills
• Knowledge of annual job planning

Management

• Knowledge of the management and structure of the NHS
• Understanding of medical management, clinical governance, service planning, and quality improvement
• Evidence of motivational skill, leadership attributes and experience

Personal Qualities

• Commitment to team-working, and respect and consideration for the skills of others
• Able to prioritise and work well against a background of change and uncertainty
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, and staff at all levels
• Ability to work under pressure with a flexible approach.
• Ability to fulfil all the duties of the post, including on -call commitments and travel requirements
• Able to drive to meet the requirements of the post

We will communicate any interview arrangements with applicants via e-mail so it is advisable that you check the email address you give on your application on a regular basis.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band and are subject to a probation period.

We are proud to be an armed forces friendly employer and support the employment of the armed forces community, including veterans, spouses and partners. For more information, contact [e-mail]

Applications from qualified job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications, subject to you meeting minimum criteria of the role and salary threshold. Please visit the Gov.UK website for detail.

If applicable to the role, staff are required to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use with business insurance (unless the member of staff has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

In submitting an application form, you authorise Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record Inter Authority Transfer process should you be appointed to the post.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.