The Havens Out of Hours Paediatrician

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a part-time Out of Hours Paediatrician to provide expert medical care and forensic examinations for children affected by sexual abuse. This role involves working with various professionals, maintaining clinical standards, and ensuring children's safety across London. Ideal candidates will have substantial paediatric experience, relevant qualifications, and a compassionate approach to sensitive cases. Competitive salary and flexible shifts are offered, emphasizing work-life balance.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Supportive work environment

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Wide experience in general and/or community paediatrics as a consultant paediatrician.
• Experience & competency in paediatric ano-genital examination managing child sexual abuse cases.
• Knowledge and experience of Child Protection and safeguarding processes.

Responsibilities

• Clinical assessment and examination of children under 13 years during forensic medical examinations.
• Provide appropriate medical care, emergency contraception, and advice to complainants.
• Attend Court and give objective unbiased evidence.

Skills

Experience in paediatric services

Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams

Child safeguarding level 3 or more

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Education

MRCPCH

CCT

Full registration with GMC

Other higher degree or diploma (e.g., MD)

Job description

The Havens Out of Hours Paediatrician

The closing date is 19 December 2025

The Child and Young Persons (CYP) Havens service provides expert physical and mental health care and support to children and their carers affected by sexual abuse. The service offers a 24/7 service of advice and forensic medical examination. The major responsibility of the post-holder will be to provide expert advice to other professionals and paediatric expertise during out of hours paediatric forensic medical examinations of victims of sexual abuse aged 0–12 years, and 13–19 years if there are additional needs. The examinations will usually be undertaken at the Havens, but may, in an emergency, be conducted elsewhere such as within a hospital.

The post-holder will be responsible for the decision to arrange a forensic examination and offer out-of-hours advice to partnership agencies and other professionals in any of the 32 boroughs of London as part of the CYP Havens team. The examinations are detailed, lengthy consultations, which must meet strict standards in terms of expertise in the holistic care of children and young people, including assessment of general health, development, sexual health and injuries. As part of this work, other important standards include precise documentation, avoidance of DNA contamination, adherence to safeguarding protocols and writing referrals for follow‑on care. A Witness Statement is requested by the police in a small proportion of cases and the post-holder may be required to attend court to give evidence.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will offer expert advice to a range of professionals with regard to children presenting with allegations of sexual abuse and provide the paediatric input at forensic medical examinations for children under 13 or under 19 with additional needs, and to provide an immediate response to police enquiring about a forensic medical examination of a child under 13 years.

The on‑call rota operates Monday to Friday during the evening and night (17:00 to 09:00) and all day at weekends and bank holidays (09:00 to 09:00). The post holder will be expected to undertake 3–4 shifts per month including at least one weekend day. Consideration will be given to weekend‑only work requests. The requirement is that the post holder is available on the telephone and to attend one of the Havens sites if required.

There is a requirement to attend a minimum of 4 peer review meetings per annum, annual review and supervision and some daytime training, but this will be managed in line with any other commitments the post holder has.

The post holder will be required to work at all three Havens sites (at Haven Camberwell, at Kings College Hospital in Denmark Hill; Haven Paddington at St Charles, at the St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing in Ladbroke Grove; and Havens Whitechapel, close to The Royal London Hospital). The post holder will maintain good working relationships with the Havens CYP team and with the wider Havens staff base.

About us

Kings College Hospital NHS Trust opened Haven Camberwell in 2000 as London's first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) serving parts of South London. In 2004 Imperial College and Barts and the London respectively opened the Haven Paddington and the Haven Whitechapel, expanding the SARC service across the whole of London.

April 2013 saw the three Havens come together under Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as one service delivered on three sites. The Havens service is jointly commissioned between NHS England and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and is the largest SARC in the UK.

Job responsibilities

• Clinical assessment and examination of children typically, but not exclusively, under 13 years of age during forensic medical examinations
• Provide an immediate response to police enquiring about a forensic medical examination of a child under 13 years. The examinations will usually be undertaken at the Havens, but may, in an emergency, be conducted elsewhere such as within a hospital Accident and Emergency department or hospital ward
• Provide appropriate medical care, emergency contraception, post exposure prophylaxis for HIV, screening and management of STIs and advice to complainants. The post holder will be expected to adhere to all Haven clinical and administrative aftercare protocols and guidelines
• Accurately record details of examinations and provide written reports to police officers and Haven staff
• Attend Court and give objective unbiased evidence
• Identify safeguarding needs and complete referrals to social care at the time of forensic medical examination, and contribute to weekly safeguarding meetings either with written notes or in person
• Strive to achieve excellent verbal and written communication with clients, carers and professionals within and outside the Havens, including communicating with and/or responding to the daytime or incoming forensic team regarding pending cases or referrals in a timely way
• Prepare for and undertake any interventions that you are responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence based practice and maintaining patient safety
• Attend Haven medical staffing peer review meetings and undertake any further training required by the Havens training matrix or as part of new training initiatives
• Contribute to the Havens audit programmes, clinical governance programmes and attend Peer Review Meetings
• Engage with regular clinical supervision as provided by the service
• Liaison with police and social services in relation to advice and planning about ongoing health and safeguarding needs of the child and his/her carers
• Provide witness statements within 15 working days from the request date for use in Court

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• MRCPCH
• CCT (within 6 months of at interview)
• Full registration with GMC and name on Specialist Register on date of taking up appointment
• Other higher degree or diploma (e.g., MD)

Knowledge and Experience

• Wide experience in general and/or community paediatrics as a consultant paediatrician
• Specialist training in general or community paediatrics
• Experience & competency in paediatric ano‑genital examination Managing child sexual abuse cases
• Knowledge and experience of Child Protection & safeguarding processes and procedures
• Experience in writing statements (for court or otherwise)
• Child Safeguarding level 3 (or more)
• Knowledge and experience of clinical governance procedures and adverse incident reporting and management
• Havens training courses, and/or experience or RCPCH child sexual assault and the forensic examination course
• Experience in sexual health
• Experience in Forensic medicine
• Experience as a witness to the fact in court

Skills and Competencies

• Experience in day to day organisation of paediatric services
• Able to demonstrate capability to work well within multi-disciplinary teams
• Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit. Must have undertaken and completed audit projects
• Able to deal with the sensitive nature of the work in a CSA service within a SARC: non‑judgemental and empathetic approach
• Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills
• Flexible and resilient
• Professional attitude towards work, reliability, good record of attendance and tidy personal appearance
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of Kings Values & Commitment to uphold Kings Values
• Familiar with current structure of Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes
• Teaching skills course/qualification

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.

Address

The Havens Pan London - Camberwell, Ladbroke Grove, Whitechapel

Salary

£61,542 to £99,216 an hour pro rata per annum with London zone

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part‑time

Reference number

213-DivisionB-7631302

Job locations

The Havens Pan London - Camberwell, Ladbroke Grove, Whitechapel