Child And Adolescent Psychiatrist

Medical Director – IMHS & Neurodevelopmental Pathways - CAMHS

Role Summary:

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:

1. 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

Outcome:

Consistently robust, audit-ready clinical decision-making across all high-risk cases.

2. 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

Outcome: A clearly defined, CQC-defensible clinical pathway demonstrating active treatment and

recovery focus.

3. 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

Outcome: A clinically robust, scalable ADHD service with consistent diagnostic and prescribing

standards.

4. 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

Outcome: Fully integrated MDT care plans with measurable clinical progress indicators.

5. 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

Outcome: A consistently inspection-ready service with demonstrable governance and learning systems.

6. 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

Outcome: Safe, consistent, and well-governed clinical escalation across all service hours.

7. 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

Outcome: Strong commissioner confidence leading to sustained referrals and commissioned

placements.

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)