Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Community West: Sponsorship Available

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to recruit a passionate, dedicated Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to join our ‘CQC — OUTSTANDING’ service.

This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside experienced medical and clinical colleagues across Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the eastern area of the county

The postholder will provide clinical leadership and contribute to the delivery of high-quality mental health care across a number of service locations.

This is a substantive, full-time position comprising of 10 Programmed Activities (PAs) per week

The role offers a high degree of flexibility and can be tailored to the successful applicant’s interests, experience, and career aspirations. In addition to clinical responsibilities, there are opportunities to become involved in Mentoring and coaching, Medical education and training, Service development and quality improvement initiatives, Leadership and professional development activities

These additional responsibilities can be discussed during the recruitment process and incorporated into the individual’s job plan.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is committed to supporting the professional development and wellbeing of its senior medical workforce, offering a collaborative environment in which consultants can thrive and develop their careers.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide clinical leadership and contribute to the development of Somerset’s community-based Specialist (Tier 3) CAMHS service.

Based at Foundation House, Taunton, the postholder will primarily support children and young people from Bridgwater and the western area of Somerset. The successful applicant will work closely with a 0.9 WTE Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and a 0.6 WTE Specialty Doctor, with support from an ST4 CAMHS trainee when allocated.

The Consultant will be part of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team comprising psychologists, nurses, social workers, family therapists, art psychotherapists, CBT therapists, mental health practitioners, and support workers, supported by dedicated operational, administrative, and secretarial staff.

The role includes providing psychiatric assessment and treatment for children and young people experiencing a range of mental health difficulties, as well as contributing to consultant cross-cover arrangements across Somerset CAMHS services. This includes providing cover for annual and study leave and participating in S12 and Approved Clinician cross-cover arrangements.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • MBBS, MBChB or equivalent
  • Full GMC Registration with a licence to practice
  • Section 12 MHA approval or will be applying for this
  • AC approval or will applying for this
  • Success in Intercollegiate Specialty Examination or equivalent
  • Clinical training and experience equivalent to that required for gaining UK CCT in child and adolescent psychiatry (Minimum 6 years training in psychiatry post residency/ foundation years)

Desirable

  • Included on the GMC Specialist Register for CAMHS; or within 6 months at time of application

Experience

Essential

  • Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on a range of problems in child and adolescent psychiatry
  • Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
  • Compassionate – Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with young people, carers and allied professionals remaining sensitive and empathetic
  • Listens to others’ views respecting and valuing individual patient needs.
  • Professional and patient focused approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
  • Sufficient leadership, organisational, professional and personal skills to undertake effectively the role of consultant or Associate Specialist in a health community.
  • Excellent oral & written communication skills — including active listening skills, competency
  • Publications in peer-reviewed journals problems
  • Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems
  • in English to a level that enables the role to be undertaken effectively and to assure the delivery of safe care to patients, the ability to understand and summarise a discussion, ask appropriate questions, provide constructive challenge and give effective feedback
  • Experience in Safeguarding Children and working in partnership with children’s social care and education
  • Experience of audit management and clinical governance such as learning from serious incident investigation reviews
  • Ability and willingness to work within the Trust and NHS
  • Motivating, influencing and negotiating skills
  • Enthusiastic, motivated, conscientious and ability to meet deadlines
  • Enquiring, critical approach to work and objective evaluation skills
  • Experience of teaching basic clinical skills to undergraduates
  • Ability to teach every day clinical skills to medical students, junior doctors and MDT

Additional Criteria

Desirable

  • Publications in peer-reviewed journals problems
  • Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 6 September 2026

To apply for this job please visit somersetft.tal.net.