Child Psychiatrist

We are seeking a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist to act as Medical Director for a CQC-regulated Independent Mental Health Service (IMHS) and Neurodevelopmental (ADHD/ASD) pathway. This is a senior clinical leadership role, responsible for designing, governing, and defending clinically-led service pathways that are treatment-focused, outcomes-driven, and fully CQC-compliant, while also supporting sustainable service growth through NHS, ICB, and Local Authority engagement. This is not a sessional assessment role. It is a build, lead, and govern position with full clinical authority and service ownership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Clinical Authority & Risk Leadership
  • Act as final clinical decision-maker for high-risk CAMHS presentations, including self-harm, aggression, absconding risk, and complex neurodevelopmental cases.
  • Determine appropriate levels of care (admission vs community-based management) with clear documented rationale.
  • Authorise and oversee psychopharmacological treatment plans, including initiation, titration, and review.
  • Ensure all high-risk clinical decisions are fully defensible and appropriately documented.
• IMHS Clinical Pathway Design & Governance
  • Design, implement, and maintain the end-to-end treatment pathway: Intake → Assessment → Stabilisation → Therapy → Review → Step-down.
  • Define admission criteria, treatment goals, and discharge thresholds.
  • Ensure all placements demonstrate active, measurable treatment rather than containment.
  • Embed outcome tracking across all stages of care.
• ADHD & Neurodevelopmental Service Leadership
  • Own the clinical model for ADHD and neurodevelopmental assessment and treatment.
  • Ensure adherence to NICE-aligned diagnostic frameworks and prescribing standards.
  • Define diagnostic thresholds, assessment quality standards, and titration protocols.
  • Supervise clinicians and provide sign-off for complex or borderline diagnostic cases.
  • Maintain safe, scalable service delivery without compromising governance.
• MDT Leadership & Clinical Integration
  • Chair weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings (Psychiatry, Psychology, Nursing, PBS, OT/SALT where applicable).
  • Lead formulation-based care planning with clear, measurable outcomes.
  • Ensure alignment across psychiatric, psychological, and behavioural interventions.
  • Drive accountability for outcomes at individual service user level.
• CQC Compliance & Clinical Governance
  • Lead clinical governance for all IMHS and neurodevelopmental services.
  • Oversee clinical audits, incident reviews, safeguarding escalation, and learning processes.
  • Ensure documentation standards meet and exceed regulatory expectations.
  • Act as clinical lead during CQC inspections and regulatory engagement.
• Crisis Response & Out-of-Hours Clinical Oversight
  • Define escalation thresholds from triage and out-of-hours services to psychiatric review.
  • Provide rapid clinical decision-making support for high-risk cases.
  • Ensure continuity and consistency of clinical decision-making across 24/7 operations.
  • Embed clear documentation standards for all out-of-hours interventions.
• Commissioner & System Engagement
  • Act as senior clinical interface with NHS ICBs, Trusts, and Local Authorities.
  • Support case discussions, placement decisions, and complex funding pathways.
  • Contribute to service design, transformation, and commissioning proposals.
  • Provide credible clinical justification for service models and packages of care.

Scope of Practice:

• CAMHS (0–18), with appropriate transitional work into young adult services where clinically indicated.
• Neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD and ASD).
• High-acuity, complex presentations requiring intensive MDT input and oversight.

Essential Requirements:

• GMC registration with entry on the Specialist Register (Child & Adolescent Psychiatry).
• Significant experience in CAMHS crisis / Tier 3–4 services.
• Neurodevelopmental assessment and ADHD prescribing.
• High-risk community or inpatient CAMHS settings.
• Demonstrable leadership of MDTs and clinical governance systems.
• Strong experience working within regulated or inspected healthcare environments (CQC or equivalent).