Medical Advisor for Adoption and Fostering

To undertake the role of Medical Advisor for Adoption and/or Fostering in Brent as part of a multidisciplinary service that provides integrated support for children and young people who may be vulnerable and require additional support. Specific responsibilities of the post are outlined below. This job description covers both Medical Advisor roles; however, the roles may also be undertaken separately. We will consider applications from individuals who wish to undertake either one or both roles. Based on recent activity levels, the Medical Advisor for Adoption role equates to approximately 8.2 programmed activities (PAs) per month, and the Medical Advisor for Fostering role equates to approximately 6.75 PAs per month. These allocations may be subject to change through contractual variation with Local Authority commissioners, depending on fluctuations in the number of children and young people (CYP) requiring input.

Main duties of the job

• Medical Advisor for Adoption:
• Provide timely written health reports for children being considered for adoption/permanency.
• Advise the Agency Decision Maker (ADM) and adoption panel on medical matters relating to children and prospective adopters.
• Review and comment on health assessments for children with adoption care plans.
• Assess and advise on current and future health risks for children and adopters, including support needs.
• Support preparation of permanence reports and court reports relating to adoption proceedings.
• Offer health advice on intercountry adoption and wider adoption processes.
• Contribute to identifying adoption support needs and post-placement support.
• Work collaboratively with adoption agencies, partner organisations, and health professionals to support children's health needs.
• Attend adoption panels and provide specialist medical input.
• Medical Advisor for Fostering:
• Review and comment on Adult Health forms for foster carers, kinship carers, connected persons carers, Special Guardians, and private foster carers.
• Advise and attend Local Authority fostering panels.
• Work closely with safeguarding teams and professionals supporting looked after children to ensure high-quality clinical services.
• Monitor and support service quality through audit and oversight.
• Maintain strong working relationships with paediatricians, CAMHS, primary care, health visitors, 0-19 services, and other specialist professionals involved in children's care.

Person Specification

• Education/Qualification:
• Full GMC Registration and Licence to Practise
• MBBS or equivalent
• MRCGP or MRCPCH by examination or equivalent
• On the GMC Specialist Register (including via CESR/European Community Rights) or will have a CCT/CESR(CP) dated within 6 months of scheduled interview.
• Note: Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) applicants must be on the Specialist Register at the point of application.
• Experience:
• Experience of working with the vulnerable/cared for/adopted child.
• Have attended CoramBAAF course on Adult medical advice.
• Have relevant experience in the clinical management of children (including those with neuro-developmental, emotional, behavioural and attachment difficulties), child protection, and adult health issues pertinent to parenting.
• Ability to demonstrate level 3 CCH competencies achieved (if do not hold a CCT in community child health).
• Certified GP with recent clinical practice experience.
• Knowledge of UK hospital systems (or equivalent).
• Knowledge and participation in CPD.
• Able to apply knowledge.
• Safe and effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Meet the requirement of the GMC's 'Good Medical Practice'.
• Experience in adoption and fostering, including report writing, liaison and attendance at panel, or a willingness to train to take on this role.
• Experience of working within multidisciplinary and multiagency teams.
• Experience of NHS and knowledge of the management and structure of the NHS.
• Valid BLS Training.
• Good experience of General Professional Training in paediatrics.
• Extensive Higher Specialist Training, including Community Paediatrics.
• Training is available, but a certain level of experience is still expected.
• Be involved in clinical work with Looked After Children.
• For Medical Advisors whose sole role is as Medical Advisors to Panel, it is important that they keep up to date with community paediatric practice.
• Wider experience, research and training in subspecialty area or area allied to community child health, for example general practice, child mental health, paediatric neurology or neurodisability.
• Valid APLS and NLS (this may be mandatory for some posts).
• Skills and Knowledge:
• Knowledge of clinical governance and its implications for services, including experience of quality issues, research and audit.
• The ability to maintain up to date clinical knowledge and skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, report writing, presentation skills, behavioural change skills.
• Experience and knowledge of critical appraisal of evidence.
• Ability to effectively manage staff and to undertake appraisals.
• Evidence of organising programmes and teaching medical students and junior doctors.
• Willingness to teach medical undergraduates and postgraduates.
• Able to make decisions involving complex facts and situations, plus manage/reconcile conflict.
• Ability to manage time effectively, set priorities, meet deadlines and deal with complex work pressures, demands and interruptions.
• Ability to deal professionally and objectively with distressing/uncomfortable situations, e.g. terminally ill patients, child abuse, providing guidance to team members where appropriate.
• Knowledge of diversity issues and ability to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• A forward thinking, creative and flexible approach.
• Ability to fulfil all duties of post, including on-call commitments and travel to meet requirements of the post.
• Prior experience of using EMIS.
• Range of different posts with varying requirements throughout previous career history.
• Key Attributes:
• Ability to cope with stressful situations and undertake responsibility.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team-working skills.
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary and multi-agency team.
• Ability to work flexibly in response to the changing needs of the service.
• Positive attitude to change and service development.
• Willingness and ability to travel within geographical area of service.
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required.
• Able to prioritise conflicting demands.
• Confident and self-motivated.

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.

£113,565 to £150,569 a year MA for Adoption (8.2 PAs/month) MA for Fostering (6.75 PAs/month)