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- Tasks: Join our team to assess and support children with developmental and behavioural challenges.
- Company: Be part of Southern Health and Social Care Trust, dedicated to improving children's health and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, professional development opportunities, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while working in a collaborative and innovative setting.
- Qualifications: Medical degree and relevant experience in paediatrics or child health required.
- Other info: Opportunity to develop special interests in areas like ASD and ADHD.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
Community Paediatrics is based in three localities: John Mitchell Place, Newry, Childrens Centre, Lurgan and Victoria House, Tower Hill site, Armagh. Outpatient clinics take place mainly on these 3 sites but there are outlying clinics for some specialist services in Dungannon, South Tyrone Hospital, Acorn Centre Armagh (ASD Clinic) and CDC in Newry.
A Multidisciplinary Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinic is based in the Acorn Centre in Armagh and the post holder may with experience be able to contribute to these clinical assessments if agreed as part of their job plan. The Trust has developed an ADHD service which is multidisciplinary and the successful candidate will contribute to this service.
SHSCT has adopted the regional emotional health and welfare model and created a single point of entry triage meeting twice a week to help families and referrers to navigate the complex MDT pathways most relevant to the child’s needs. The post holder will attend one of these per month.
The Trust has invested recently in the formation of integrated care teams in each locality which are PAMS personnel and part of their role is to provide a support service for children with complex disabilities discharged from hospital and also to provide an integrated multidisciplinary assessment service at initial referral to Community Paediatrics. The post holders will be expected to work closely with this service.
Community Paediatricians contribute to the assessment and management of children with safeguarding issues as part of the multidisciplinary team. Community Paediatricians are expected to attend Child Protection Case Conferences and provide reports to Social Services as required.
There are five Special Schools located in the SHSCT area who admit children with a range of problems including Autism and severe and complex disability. There are several children with very complex disabilities who require high levels of medical and community nursing input. There are also a range of specialised Learning Support Centres for children with Learning Difficulties, Speech and Language Disorders and Autistic Spectrum Disorders attached to mainstream primary schools.
Over 1000 children across the SHSCT area have statements of their Special Educational Needs and many of these pupils are supported in mainstream schools. Community Paediatricians are involved with the identification and assessment of children with Special Educational Needs. They also contribute to the Statementing process in line with Trust Guidelines and liaise with the Southern Education and Library Board as appropriate.
SHSCT community paeds has 2 advanced nurse practitioners who support the team and do their own clinics for ADHD, melatonin and education clinics. A Childrens Community Nursing service provides support to children at home with a wide range of disability and work closely with the Paediatric teams.
A number of Nurse Led Clinics are within the Trust including a Behavioural Support Service and an Enuretic Service. The area Child Development Clinic is based in the Childrens Centre in Lurgan and outreaches throughout the trust. Good links are maintained with the Child Development Clinic and Community Paediatrics.
There are close links between the Paediatric Community Service, acute Paediatrics and CAMHS. Partial booking has been implemented for new patients which has improved attendance. The trust will be adopting the Encompass electronic record in May 2025 and going paperless after this. This will free up admin time and improve many aspects of patient care.
The Childrens and Young Peoples Directorate completed an ambitious plan to further develop & enhance Paediatric services in Craigavon and Daisy Hill, which included a new children’s wards on both sites and the centralisation of all elective Paediatric Surgical and ENT services in Daisy Hill Hospital. The infrastructure for this project has been completed with a new build Paediatric ward on the Craigavon site and a newly refurbished children’s ward on the 6th floor of Daisy Hill hospital.
Future Plans for the Department include plans to develop Integrated Care and Treatment Centers across the SHSCT and it is hoped to build specific facilities within or linked to these centers to enhance multi-disciplinary working to improve services for children with disabilities. There is an advanced plan to build such a center in the Newry area and Community Paediatrics in John Mitchell Place are expected to relocate to that site.
A lot of work is going on to improve and shorten the patient and family journeys through different assessment pathways including ASD, ADHD and DCD.
DUTIES
- Development Assessment - Assess children referred by Consultant Paediatricians, General Practitioners, Health Visitors, education psychologists and AHP’s because of concerns about their developmental progress.
- Assessment and review of children with possible ASD in conjunction with the ASD assessment service.
- Behavioural Paediatrics Assessment and review of children with possible ADHD in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team.
- Liaison with colleagues in CAMHs and Tier 2 Primary Mental Health for children with other behavioural difficulties.
- School Health And Educational Medicine - Undertake selective review of children with special education needs.
- Assess children with special educational needs in accordance with the 1996 Education Act and Code of Practice and to contribute to the Statementing process in line with Trust Guidelines.
- Liaise with the Southern Education and Library Board and provide advice on home tuition, classroom assistants, home-school transport and Educational Welfare Officer reports as appropriate.
- Assist in the development and maintenance of Module V of the Child Health Surveillance System.
- Child Protection - Participate in child protection case conferences.
- To adhere to the Regional Child Protection Procedures.
- Special Interests - The post holders should or be prepared to develop a special interest such as Developmental Assessment, Autistic Spectrum Disorders and/or Behavioural Paediatrics including ADHD.
- Health Promotion - To participate in relevant Health Promotion activities as agreed with the line manager.
- Supervision - The post holders work under the supervision of a Consultant Paediatrician or Associate Specialist within each locality.
Specialty Doctor Community Paediatrics employer: Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Contact Detail:
Southern Health and Social Care Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Specialty Doctor Community Paediatrics
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific services offered by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, especially in Community Paediatrics. Understanding their approach to ADHD and ASD will help you demonstrate your knowledge during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of the Trust, particularly those in Community Paediatrics. They can provide insights into the team dynamics and expectations, which can be invaluable for your application and interview preparation.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on the latest developments in child protection policies and practices, as this role involves participation in case conferences. Being knowledgeable about current guidelines will show your commitment to safeguarding children.
✨Tip Number 4
Consider developing a special interest related to the role, such as Behavioural Paediatrics or Developmental Assessment. Highlighting this during your discussions can set you apart from other candidates and show your dedication to the field.
We think you need these skills to ace Specialty Doctor Community Paediatrics
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in community paediatrics, child protection, and multidisciplinary teamwork. Emphasise any specific roles or projects that align with the duties outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that addresses your passion for community paediatrics and your understanding of the role's responsibilities. Mention your willingness to contribute to services like ADHD and ASD assessments, as well as your commitment to safeguarding children.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Ensure you clearly list your medical qualifications, any special training in paediatrics, and relevant certifications. If you have experience with integrated care teams or child development clinics, make sure to include that.
Showcase Your Teamwork Skills: Since the role involves working closely with various professionals, provide examples of how you've successfully collaborated in a multidisciplinary setting. This could include experiences from previous jobs or training.
How to prepare for a job interview at Southern Health and Social Care Trust
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a solid grasp of the responsibilities and expectations of a Specialty Doctor in Community Paediatrics. Familiarise yourself with the specific services offered by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, such as the ADHD service and the Multidisciplinary Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinic.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous experience in paediatrics, particularly in community settings. Highlight any relevant work with children who have special educational needs or complex disabilities, as well as your involvement in child protection cases.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork Skills
Community Paediatrics relies heavily on multidisciplinary teamwork. Be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully collaborated with other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, psychologists, and social workers, to deliver comprehensive care.
✨Prepare Questions
Have thoughtful questions ready to ask about the role and the team dynamics. Inquire about the integration of care teams and how they support children with complex needs, as this shows your genuine interest in the position and the trust's future plans.
