General Practitioner, Special Interest in Children in Care

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 109,000 - 146,000; Part time

Job summary

A regional health service organization is seeking a General Practitioner with a special interest in Children in Care. The role involves working alongside a dedicated team to provide holistic care and health assessments to children. Responsibilities include attending outpatient clinics, participating in clinical governance, and supporting service development. Ideal candidates should have MRCGP or equivalent, be GMC registered, and hold safeguarding training. This position offers a competitive salary and unique developmental opportunities.

Qualifications

• Interest and experience in children and young people's health.
• Experience in teaching medical students/postgraduate doctors.
• Demonstrated understanding of the legal framework related to children in care.

Responsibilities

• Conduct regular outpatient clinics for health assessments of children in care.
• Admin support matched to outpatient clinics maintaining standards.
• Participate in training and governance activities.

Skills

Effective administrative and time management skills

Understanding of current legislation and issues within the NHS

Knowledge of evidence-based medicine and critical appraisal

Good interpersonal skills

Education

MRCGP or equivalent

Full GMC Registration

Level 3 Safeguarding Children training

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Go back County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

General Practitioner, Special Interest in Children in Care

Closing date: 07 January 2026

We are seeking expressions of interest from an enthusiastic general practitioner, with an interest in children and young people, who would be keen to develop expertise in medical work related to Children in Care.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity for the successful applicant to work on a sessional basis (to be agreed) as part of the CDDFT Community and Developmental paediatric service. The role would be to work alongside an established team of consultants and GP to deliver statutory health assessments to children and young people Looked After in Durham and Darlington. There may also be an opportunity to work as a medical adviser in fostering and adoption. They would work in partnership with Childrens Services and adoption agencies providing medical advice to support fostering and adoptive placements. Relevant training and clinical supervision would be provided as well as an opportunity to develop competence in the related aspects of developmental paediatric medicine. In addition, there would be opportunity for the applicant to be integral to the future development of the service with potential for a leadership role.

Main Duties of the Job

• Work with a dedicated team of community and developmental paediatric consultants and GP to deliver holistic and multi-disciplinary care to children in care placed in Durham and Darlington and contribute to assessments for children where the plan of permanence is adoption.
• Share the ethos of our team in delivering high quality care to children and young people in care and where indicated liaise with a range of professionals dependent on the needs of the child or young person. This may include specialist nurses for children in care, specialist paediatric nurses, paediatric therapists, child psychologists, Education and Social Services.
• Participate in peer review, contribute to service development, departmental clinical governance and annual appraisals towards revalidation with the GMC.
• Use knowledge and skills gained within post to strengthen links and pathways for children in care accessing primary healthcare services, acting as an advocate and leader in service development and improvement.
• Participate in training within the respective clinical environments and work with the Named Doctor for Children Looked After to support development of knowledge, skills and competence of the workforce in line with Intercollegiate Guidance.

Job Responsibilities

• Regular outpatient clinics for the statutory Initial Health Assessments of children in care.
• Allotted time for admin, matched to outpatient clinics, in line with standards outlined by Coram BAAF and the British Association of Community Child Health.
• Time to attend departmental governance and opportunity for continuing professional development appropriate to the role.
• Appraisal & Revalidation: Time to participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan and the Trusts appraisal process.

About Us

We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

For the most up‑to‑date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

You must be able to produce all certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre‑employment checks.

Statutory Registration

• Full GMC Registration

Qualifications

• MRCGP or equivalent.
• Full GMC Registration.
• Level 3 Safeguarding Children training and experience.
• Evidence of attendance at management courses e.g. leadership course.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Effective administrative and time management skills.
• Understanding of current legislation and issues within the NHS, especially in relation to children.
• Evidence of contribution to clinical governance, clinical risk management and clinical audit activities.
• Knowledge of evidence based medicine and critical appraisal.
• Evidence of previous clinical audit or quality improvement presentations.

Special Requirements

• Good interpersonal, time management, organisational and communication skills.
• Effective team worker/player.
• Ability to travel to undertake clinical commitments.

Experience

• Interest and experience in children and young people's health.
• Experience in teaching medical students/postgraduate doctors with feedback.
• Completion of Adult Health Medicals within primary care.
• Experience in the management of children with developmental difficulties within primary care.
• Experience in the Medical Adviser role for Independent fostering/adoptive agencies.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the legal framework related to children in care and those whose plan of permanence is adoption.
• Proven research experience.
• Publications or presentations.

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.

Offer

£109,725 to £145,478 a year (MSGP pay scale per annum pro rata)