CAMHS Consultant Psychiatrist - COAST (Enhanced £45k RRP) in Haywards Heath

COAST (Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team) is seeking a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist to help lead intensive home treatment and crisis outreach for young people across Mid Sussex. Based at Chalkhill, Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, you will support an active caseload of approximately 12–20 young people at any one time, working at the interface of inpatient and community CAMHS services. This is an opportunity to influence clinical pathways, strengthen system relationships and shape the delivery of crisis care within a well-established multidisciplinary team including creative therapists, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, systemic therapy and social work. The service works closely with inpatient units, community CAMHS and the Southern Counties Provider Collaborative to reduce avoidable admissions and improve outcomes for young people in crisis.

Recruitment & Retention Package – up to £45,000 over three years (pro-rata for part-time): £15,000 on appointment, £10,000 after 12 months, £10,000 after 24 months, £10,000 after 36 months.

Haywards Heath offers direct rail links to London and the south coast, proximity to Gatwick Airport and easy access to the South Downs National Park. Free on-site parking is available, with additional local parking nearby.

Main duties of the job

• The Consultant Psychiatrist will provide senior psychiatric leadership within COAST and across the wider CAMHS system.
• Key duties include:

• Leading psychiatric assessment and management of complex clinical presentations, including medication management.
• Providing specialist psychiatric input to young people receiving intensive home treatment.
• Supporting access and gatekeeping assessments, advising and reviewing cases as required.
• Acting as Responsible Clinician for young people detained under the Mental Health Act where applicable.
• Ensuring high standards of clinical governance and statutory compliance.
• Providing clinical supervision and support to non-consultant medical staff.
• Participating in the CAMHS Consultant on-call rota (currently 1:9 with compensatory rest).
• Contributing to service development, redesign and quality improvement work.

You will offer visible clinical leadership across daily handovers, safety huddles, ward rounds and system escalation discussions, supporting coordinated decision‑making across services.

Working for our organisation

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust delivers mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services across Sussex and is rated Good overall and Outstanding for Caring by the CQC. The Trust maintains strong academic links with Brighton and Sussex Medical School and an established consultant peer network.

Consultants benefit from:

• Flexible job planning and opportunities for hybrid working.
• 30 days’ study leave over three years with associated funding.
• Wellbeing initiatives, occupational health services and staff networks.
• Opportunities for teaching, research and service innovation.
• Supportive medical leadership and peer supervision structures.
• Dedicated SPA time with opportunities for teaching, audit and CPD, including access to the local psychiatry group meeting.

We are open to bespoke job planning and flexible working arrangements, including shared post models where this supports service continuity and candidate preference.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide senior psychiatric leadership within the COAST CAMHS Acute Service. The role is permanent, full-time (10 PAs) and based at Chalkhill, Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, with flexibility considered. Responsibilities include:

• Delivering specialist psychiatric assessment, formulation and treatment planning for young people presenting in mental health crisis.
• Supporting safe and effective intensive home treatment aimed at preventing unnecessary inpatient admission.
• Working collaboratively with inpatient services, community CAMHS teams, primary care and provider collaboratives to maintain clear and consistent care pathways.
• Acting as Responsible Clinician under the Mental Health Act where required and ensuring compliance with statutory and governance frameworks.
• Providing consultation and expert advice to multidisciplinary colleagues and partner agencies.
• Supervising junior medical staff and contributing to workforce development.
• Participating in leadership forums, contract meetings and strategic discussions relating to CAMHS delivery.
• Contributing to audit, quality improvement and research activity where appropriate.

Person specification

Qualifications

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• MRCPsych or equivalent.
• CCT in Child and adolescent psychiatry or equivalent.
• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• Additional clinical qualifications.
• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Included on the GMC Specialist Register or within six months.
• Approved clinician status or able to achieve within 3 months of appointment.
• Approved under S12 or able to achieve with 3 months of appointment.
• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.

Transport

• Holds and will use valid UK driving licence or provides evidence of proposed alternative.

Knowledge

• Excellent knowledge in specialty.
• Excellent clinical skills using bio‑psycho‑social perspective and wide medical knowledge.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty.
• Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others.
• Able to meet duties under MHA and MCA.
• Wide range of specialist and sub‑specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
• Experience of service development/service improvement.

Academic Skills and Lifelong Learning

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training.
• Ability to work in and lead team.
• Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement.
• Participated in continuous professional development.
• Participated in research or service evaluation.
• Able to plan and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and training relevant to this post.
• Reflected on purpose of CPD undertaken.
• Experienced in clinical research and / or service evaluation.
• Evidence of achievement in education, research, audit and service improvement: awards, prizes, presentations and publications.
• Has led clinical audits leading to service change or improved outcomes to patients.

SPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented. Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced. SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.