Consultant in CAMHS - Inpatient

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Bodmin; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS mental health provider in Bodmin is seeking a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist for its purpose-built adolescent inpatient unit. This role involves providing clinical leadership, conducting psychiatric assessments, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. Candidates should have CCT or equivalent in CAMHS and experience in community mental health settings. The position offers opportunities for research, teaching, CPD, and flexible working arrangements. The Trust aims to support the health and wellbeing of the local population.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Support for CPD

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Substantial experience managing a busy caseload of clients with mental health problems.
• Experience of assessing and treating young patients and families in acute and community settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership for a 14-bed CAMHS inpatient unit.
• Undertake comprehensive psychiatric assessments and care planning.
• Chair and participate in admission CPA meetings.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary team and liaise with community teams.
• Engage in audit, research, and quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Excellent clinical assessment skills

Experience in community mental health

Ability to manage risk

Education

CCT or equivalent in CAMHS

Approved Clinician status

Job description

We are seeking a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist to join Sowenna, Cornwall's first purpose‑built adolescent inpatient unit (14 beds for ages 13‑18). The service is QNIC‑accredited and provides trauma‑informed, relational care within a bio‑psycho‑social and Care Programme Approach (CPA) framework. You will provide clinical leadership to a skilled multidisciplinary team, oversee assessments and care planning, and work closely with community CAMHS, Eating Disorder, and Neurodevelopmental teams. There are opportunities for research, teaching, and service development, with strong support for CPD and flexible working. Applicants should hold GMC specialist registration (or be within 6 months of CCT) and ideally have Approved Clinician/Section 12 status (or willingness to achieve this). We are also open to discussing opportunities for individuals not yet on the specialist register.

Main Duties of the Job

• Provide clinical leadership for Sowenna, a 14‑bed Tier 4 CAMHS inpatient unit for young people aged 13‑18.
• Undertake comprehensive psychiatric assessments, formulation, diagnosis, and care planning in line with CPA and bio‑psycho‑social models.
• Chair and participate in admission CPA meetings and regular MDT reviews.
• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team (nursing, psychology, family therapy, OT, social work, specialty doctor) and liaise with community CAMHS, Eating Disorder, and Neurodevelopmental teams.
• Offer clinical supervision and contribute to teaching, training, and service development.
• Participate in audit, research, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Engage in the consultant on‑call rota as agreed.
• Uphold professional standards, safeguarding, and equality principles in all aspects of care.

Leadership & Development Responsibilities

• Act as part of the service leadership team, providing support and supervision to team members.
• Provide specialist psychiatric advice to the MDT and join therapy sessions in complex cases where appropriate.
• Support medical trainees and advanced clinical practitioners through supervision.
• Ensure effective communication with referring and receiving teams across the Trust and primary care.
• Contribute to strategic service development alongside the Service Manager and senior CAMHS leadership.

About us

We're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital‑based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.

Job description

An advert can only tell part of the story; the full details of this role are outlined in the enclosed Job Description. Please note that the Job Description is currently under review as part of the Royal College approval process. We are looking for appropriately qualified professionals holding Approved Clinician status who are passionate about delivering high‑quality care and open to development opportunities. If you're seeking a role where you can make a real difference and grow your career, we would love to speak with you. For more information or to arrange an informal visit, please contact: Dr Kasu Kiran, Clinical Director, CAMHS.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• CCT/ or equivalent in CAMHS
• Substantial experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems
• Evidence of working within a community mental health setting

Desirable

• Participation in user involvement in services

Skills and Aptitude

Essential

• Experience of assessing and treating young patients and families in acute & community psychiatric settings, and ability to offer expert opinion on a range of problems in child and adolescent psychiatry
• Excellent clinical assessment skills
• Ability to manage risk

Desirable

• Awareness of community structures and social care options and processes
• Understanding of recovery principles in mental health

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply. 201-MD-25-CON-039