Consultant child and Adolescent Psychiatrist (CCATT)

Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust is seeking a Consultant Children and Adolescent Psychiatrist to join their CAMHS Children's Crisis and Assessment and Treatment Team in Hertfordshire. This role involves providing clinical leadership, engaging in multidisciplinary teamwork, and contributing to service development, with a focus on delivering high-quality mental health care to children and adolescents.

Qualifications

• Experience in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• Full GMC registration with a license to practice.
• CCT in Psychiatry or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert clinical leadership and care within CAMHS services.
• Engage in clinical governance, audit, and service development activities.
• Supervise and support junior medical staff and trainees.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Communication

Decision-making

Teamwork

Education

MB BS or equivalent medical qualification

MRCPsych or equivalent

Higher degree in medical education, clinical research, or management

Job description

Employer heading

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant

Values Based Screener

At Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust, we are looking for people who share our values and those of the NHS. Before your application can be considered, please participate in our online values questionnaire, accessible below. Upon completion, you will receive a 'completion code' by email, valid for 6 months and required to submit your application.

Job overview

We are seeking a Consultant Children and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

CAMHS is part of the Specialist Services Strategic Business Unit in HPFT, managed by the Clinical Director (Dr Shaheen Shora – Fiona McMillian-Shields - non-medical). CAMHS is managed by a Senior Service Line Leader, Natalija Lytrides, supported by Professional Leads and CAMHS Community Managers.

The four geographical divisions provide Tier 2 and 3 services, the CAMHS Targeted team, and parenting support services into the Family Centres.

CAMHS services are provided by Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust across the entire county.

The clinics accept referrals from GPs, Social Workers, Health Visitors, and Consultant Paediatricians, processed through SPA (Single Point of Access). Teams are multidisciplinary, including Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Mental Health Nurses, Child Psychotherapists, Systemic Therapists, and Social Workers. These teams operate on an outpatient basis, receiving approximately 250 referrals per month across Hertfordshire.

The aim of these posts is to support youth offending teams, who often encounter children with mental health difficulties. These children may not access traditional child and family services or may have low-complexity difficulties manageable within their community through short interventions.

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a substantive Consultant Psychiatrist to join our CAMHS Children's Crisis and Assessment and Treatment Team (CCATT) in Hertfordshire. This post is to cover a vacancy and has been expanded to become 10 PAs.

CCATT operates over three clinical sites: Watford General, Lister Hospital, and an operational site at 15 Forest Lane, Kingsley Green, Harper Lane, Radlett. The team meets daily to discuss referrals and escalations.

The team comprises a Clinical Manager, Clinical Lead, 9 social workers (bands 6-7), 16 qualified nurses (bands 5-7), two Healthcare Assistants, one Psychologist, one Assistant Psychologist, one Psychotherapist, one Counsellor, two admin staff, and one receptionist.

Working for our organisation

Over the past 12 years, the Trust has secured contracts for specialist Learning Disability services in Norfolk, North Essex, and Buckinghamshire. We serve a mix of rural and urban areas, including St Albans, Watford, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Radlett, Berkhamsted, Harpenden, Hertford, Ware, Bishops Stortford, Hitchin, and Letchworth.

Hertfordshire Social Services divides the county into four areas. The county is served by three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs): Herts Valleys, Dacorum, and East and North Herts.

The Trust collaborates closely with Hertfordshire County Council and other NHS organizations to promote mental health in the community. Clinical services moved from Strategic Business Units into four divisions on April 1, 2024, providing clinical services to the areas outlined above.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide expert clinical leadership and care within the CAMHS services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and service planning.
• Engage in clinical governance, audit, and service development activities.
• Supervise and support junior medical staff and trainees.
• Contribute to teaching and training programs.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant policies, procedures, and standards.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records.
• Participate in on-call duties as required.
• Engage with service users, families, and carers to deliver person-centered care.
• Collaborate with partner agencies to support holistic care.

Person specification

Qualifications

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• MRCPsych or equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
• Higher degree in medical education, clinical research, or management (e.g., MD, PhD, MSc).

Eligibility

• Full GMC registration with a license to practice.
• CCT in Psychiatry, or inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register, or within six months of CCT/CESR at interview.
• Section 12/Approved Clinician approval.
• In good standing with GMC regarding warnings or conditions.

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Experience across the full range of clinical responsibilities expected of a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• Experience working collaboratively with social care and other agencies.
• Experience with service users with complex needs.
• Excellent clinical skills using a bio-psychosocial approach.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty.
• Decision-making based on evidence and experience.
• Experience with psychological therapies and psychiatric practice.
• Willingness to work with others towards shared goals.
• Experience in multidisciplinary team working.
• Knowledge of safeguarding in child and adolescent mental health.
• Wide range of relevant NHS or comparable service experience.
• Excellent medical knowledge related to child and adolescent services.

Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning

• Ability to deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training.
• Participation in CPD and research or service evaluation.
• Use and appraisal of clinical evidence.
• Active involvement in clinical audits leading to service improvements.
• Hold a full, valid driving license and access to a car (unless disabled).
• Experience organizing and overseeing psychotherapy training programs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to DBS checks, and applicants must disclose any criminal convictions.

Additional Information

Applications from those requiring UK sponsorship are welcome. Please ensure you provide accurate immigration status details. Overseas applicants must present criminal record certificates from countries of residence over the past 10 years.

UK Registration

Applicants must hold current UK professional registration.

About us

HPFT is rated highly by the CQC and has received awards for its mental health and learning disability services. We pride ourselves on our supportive, values-driven culture, and our commitment to high-quality care and staff wellbeing.

Additional Information

We promote equality, diversity, and human rights, and encourage applications from all community sections. We support flexible working and are committed to infection prevention and control measures.