Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – North Somerset CAMHS

Job summary

Consultant Psychiatrist – North Somerset CAMHS (2 x 6 PA posts)

We are seeking enthusiastic & dynamic Consultant Psychiatrists to join North Somerset CAMHS. These posts offer an exciting opportunity to help shape & develop a well-established service within AWP CAMHS.

Based in the Core Community CAMHS Team, you will provide psychiatric assessment, consultation & treatment for children & young people with mental health needs. Working alongside experienced consultants & multidisciplinary colleagues, you will support therapeutic pathways including CBT, DBT, trauma-focused therapy/EMDR & family therapy.

The role combines direct clinical work with opportunities for service development & leadership. You will undertake psychiatric assessments and interventions, provide specialist consultation & formulation, and support multidisciplinary decision-making.

North Somerset CAMHS has approved Core and Higher Psychiatry Training placements, with opportunities for teaching and supervision.

As part of AWP CAMHS, the service is implementing the i-THRIVE model, offering opportunities to influence service transformation, develop specialist interests & contribute to innovative care.

You will join experienced consultants and a wider CAMHS network across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, including Learning Disability CAMHS, the Intensive Support and Hospital Assessment Team, and specialist services including Thinking Allowed, Be Safe and the Young People’s Substance Misuse Team.

Main duties of the job

Clinical Responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity to join a multidisciplinary CAMHS team, providing specialist assessment, diagnosis, management & treatment for children, young people & families experiencing severe and complex mental health difficulties.

Clinical Activity

You will undertake psychiatric assessments, provide clinical reviews and contribute to effective treatment planning. The role includes offering specialist consultation and advice to colleagues and partner agencies, working closely with education, social care, primary care & other services to support positive outcomes for young people.

You will provide expert psychiatric input across a varied caseload, including medication management, mental state monitoring, formulation and joint working with care coordinators & multidisciplinary colleagues. There will also be involvement in urgent clinical work where required.

Leadership and Service Development

As a senior clinician, you will provide clinical leadership within the multidisciplinary team, supporting high standards of care and contributing to service development and quality improvement. Working alongside senior clinical and operational colleagues, you will help shape responsive, evidence-based services for the local population.

Special Interests

The post offers opportunities to develop specialist clinical interests aligned with service priorities and local needs, supporting both professional development and the ongoing enhancement of CAMHS provision.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Full GMC Registration or eligibility to be included on the register and holding a current licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Eligible for inclusion in the Specialist Register or within 6 months of gaining CCT in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• Section 12 approval/ Approved Clinician Status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification.

Desirable

• Relevant Higher Degree e.g. MD, PHD, Msc or other additional clinical qualifications
• MRCPsych or MRCPsych equivalent approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Additional clinical qualifications

Experience

Essential

• Wide breadth of clinical experience working with children and young people with mental health problems and their families
• Knowledge and evidence of participation in CPD.
• Evidence of effective multidisciplinary team involvement.
• Evidence of effective multi-agency working

Desirable

• Specific additional therapy training (e.g. Positive Behavioural Support, CBT, systemic therapy, DBT etc.)

Personal Skills

Essential

• To possess leadership skills and be able to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to manage own time, workload and prioritise clinical work
• Able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, in order to effectively work with patients, carers and staff.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Clinical Skills

Essential

• Skills in psychiatric assessment, formulation and risk management (including safeguarding) as well as psychopharmacology in children, neurodevelopmental disorders and attachment difficulties.

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of the management skills required to function successfully as a Consultant.

Teaching

Essential

• Commitment to and experience of undergraduate and postgraduate learning and teaching.
• Understand principles of teaching.

Research & Audit

Essential

• Experience or involvement in a research project and publication.
• Ability to supervise junior medical staff undertaking research projects.
• Experience of carrying out an audit project

Management

Essential

• Evidence of management/leadership skills training.

Closing Date: 29 July 2026