Specialty Doctor in Psychiatry or Paediatrics in Surrey

Vertis Health is looking for an experienced and committed Pediatrician or Psychiatrist to join our developing Children and Young People's ADHD and ASD Assessment Services. This is an opportunity to take on a senior clinical role within a growing multidisciplinary service built around high-quality, person-centred assessment and care. The post will have a particular focus on assessing children and young people referred to the ASD and ADHD pathway. The successful applicant will work across the CYP neurodevelopmental service and must have appropriate knowledge and practical experience of autism and ADHD assessment.

You will join a senior paediatric medical team that includes a Clinical Lead and a Consultant Paediatrician. Working within this structure, you will provide additional specialist medical capacity, support continuity of care and provide appropriate deputy and backstop cover during periods of absence. The role will complement, rather than replace or duplicate, the responsibilities of the Clinical Lead and Consultant Paediatrician. It will strengthen the service's senior medical resilience and contribute to safe, consistent and timely decision-making across the ADHD and ASD pathways.

Alongside clinical work, you will contribute to the development of the service and its workforce, including mentoring less experienced colleagues, supporting clinical learning, contributing to multidisciplinary working and helping us build a skilled and sustainable neurodevelopmental workforce.

Main duties of the job:

• Undertaking comprehensive paediatric and neurodevelopmental assessments.
• Independently assessing children and young people referred for possible ADHD.
• Medication prescribing for ADHD CYPs as indicated.
• Contributing medical expertise to ASD assessments and the wider neurodevelopmental pathway.
• Gathering, interpreting and integrating information from children, young people, families, education settings and other professionals.
• Considering relevant differential diagnoses, co-occurring conditions and areas of clinical complexity.
• Formulating clear, balanced and evidence-based clinical conclusions.
• Contributing to multidisciplinary diagnostic formulation and decision-making.
• Preparing clear, accurate and timely clinical records and reports.
• Communicating assessment findings and outcomes sensitively and clearly.
• Identifying and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns, clinical risks and cases requiring escalation.
• Contributing to clinical triage and decisions about prioritisation or onward direction of referrals.
• Providing senior medical advice within the postholder's competence and agreed responsibilities.
• Supporting continuity across the paediatric element of the service.
• Working in accordance with agreed clinical pathways, standard operating procedures, professional standards and governance arrangements.

Vertis Health is a federation of general practices delivering high-quality NHS services across Worcestershire. We were founded by local primary care clinicians and are owned by the practices we serve. As a purpose-led limited company, the money we generate is reinvested into the local healthcare economy, helping to strengthen services, support innovation and improve patient care.

Our neurodevelopmental services are being built around clinical quality, meaningful outcomes and strong governance. You will join an organisation that understands NHS systems and values while giving experienced clinicians the opportunity to influence, develop and improve services.

Depending on the role, our benefits include access to the NHS Pension, structured learning and development, clinical leadership opportunities, career progression and genuine flexibility.

If you want to help build a clinically rigorous, compassionate and sustainable service, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Person Specification

Experience Essential:

• Significant experience assessing and managing children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Experience undertaking ADHD assessments and contributing to diagnostic decision-making.
• Experience contributing to Autism Spectrum Disorder assessments as part of a multidisciplinary process.
• Experience of considering differential diagnoses, co-occurring conditions and clinical complexity.
• Experience of working collaboratively with families, education professionals and partner agencies.
• Experience preparing high-quality clinical reports and maintaining accurate clinical records.
• Experience identifying and managing safeguarding concerns and clinical risk.
• Experience working autonomously within a defined scope of practice and clinical governance framework.

Knowledge and Skills Essential:

• Detailed knowledge of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder in children and young people.
• Understanding of current evidence-based approaches to neurodevelopmental assessment.
• Knowledge of child development, mental health and neurodevelopmental presentations.
• Understanding of safeguarding legislation, responsibilities and best practice.
• Knowledge of professional, ethical and medico-legal responsibilities relevant to clinical practice.
• Professional, reliable and accountable.
• Compassionate and respectful approach to children, young people and families.
• Flexible and adaptable within a developing service.
• Collaborative and supportive team member.
• Motivated to contribute to service growth, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in healthcare delivery.
• Understanding of multidisciplinary working within children and young people's services.
• Excellent clinical assessment and diagnostic skills.
• Ability to interpret information from multiple sources and formulate balanced clinical conclusions.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to produce clear, concise and professional reports.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to explain complex information sensitively.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with children, young people, families and professionals.
• Ability to prioritise workload and manage competing demands effectively.
• Commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to clinical governance, quality improvement and continuous learning.

Desirable:

• Experience prescribing and monitoring medication for ADHD in children and young people.
• Experience working within dedicated neurodevelopmental assessment services.
• Experience supporting, supervising or mentoring junior colleagues.
• Involvement in service development, pathway redesign or quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience of working within NHS commissioned services.
• Knowledge of current national guidance and best practice relating to ADHD and Autism assessment pathways.
• Teaching, training or leadership experience relevant to multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

Qualifications Essential:

• Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and licence to practise.
• Registered Specialist Doctor, Paediatrician or Psychiatrist with appropriate training and experience working with children and young people.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to neurodevelopmental assessment and care.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.