Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Forest)

Job summary

We are seeking a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

CAMHS is part of the Specialist Services Strategic Business Unit in HPFT, managed by the Clinical Director (Dr Shaheen Shora – Fiona McMillian-Shields -non-medical).

CAMHS is managed by a Senior Service Line Leader, Gill Bienveniste supported by Professional Leads and CAMHS Community Managers.

The clinics accept referrals from a number of sources including General Practitioners, SocialWorkers, Health Visitors and Consultant Paediatricians.

Referrals are processed through SPA (the Single Point of Access). The teams are multi-disciplinary including Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Mental Health Nurses, Child Psychotherapists, Systemic Therapists and Social Workers.

These teams work on an outpatient model and currently receive approximately 250 referrals per month across Hertfordshire.

Forest House is a specialist psychiatric inpatient unit providing care to children and young people 13 to 18.

The unit admits children through a planned process of assessment, family consultation and liaison with the local CAMHS Tier 3 team.

The Unit has recently been refurbished and extended to 16 beds to include acute admissions and it is an in-patient adolescent unit for East of England NHS.

There is also a provision for eating disorder admissions under the supervision of a dedicated Eating Disorder Service.

“This JD and PS is currently with the Royal College for approval”.

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has become available for a Consultant Psychiatrist to join our current consultant workforce in our Adolescent In-Patient Unit, Forest House Adolescent Unit within Radlett in Hertfordshire.

The successful applicant will work alongside 1 substantive consultant and a medical team composed by Specialty Doctors, GP trainees, Psychiatry Specialty and Core Trainees.

The post holder will complement and support the Senior Leadership Team composed by the other consultant, Therapy Lead, Modern Matron, Team Leaders, Consultant Social worker, Home Treatment Team Lead to achieve the delivery of highest standards of care and contribute to operational management and clinical governance.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.
• Higher qualification in the field of psychiatry such as MRCPsych OR MRCPsych equivalent qualification approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists

Desirable

• Qualification or higher degree in medical education, clinical research or management.
• Relevant higher degree, e.g. MD, PhD, MSc or other additional clinical qualifications.

ELIGIBILITY

Essential

• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• CCT in Psychiatry; OR Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register in psychiatry; OR within six months of achieving CCT/CESR at the time of interview.
• Section 12/Approved clinician approval.

Desirable

• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice.

CLINICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Experience of the full range of clinical responsibilities expected of a consultant in child and adolescent service.
• Experience of close collaborative working with social care and other agencies.
• Experience of working with service users who have complex needs within child and adolescent service.
• Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty.
• Makes decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others.
• Broad range of experience in psychiatric practice and in the use of psychological therapies.
• Willingness and ability to work with others to achieve shared goals.
• Experience of working in a multi- disciplinary team.
• Ability to demonstrate experience and knowledge of Safeguarding in child and adolescent mental health

Desirable

• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service.
• Excellent degree of medical knowledge in relation to child and adolescent service.

ACADEMIC SKILLS LIFELONG LEARNING

Essential

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training.
• Participated in continuous professional development.
• Participated in research or service evaluation.
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• Has actively participated in clinical audit.
• Holds a full valid driving license and access to a car (Unless you have a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995).

Desirable

• 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.
• Experience of organising and overseeing psychotherapy training program for psychiatry trainees.

Closing Date: 2 August 2026