Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post-holder is expected to consult to the team to offer psychiatric expertise and direct involvement in the areas of: assessment and diagnosis, pharmacological treatments, use of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation in the management of children and young people, and the management of complex and/or risky presentations and severe symptomatology. Psychiatrists are not expected routinely to take on the role of case coordinator and there is a team caseload ethos. Involvement in other clinical tasks for the team (routine consultations, therapy) may be possible but would be negotiated through job planning and would take second priority to the key psychiatric tasks.

Due to the fact that the job is split between geographically disparate sites, the successful candidate must be able to travel between these sites independently.

To manage, appraise and give professional supervision to junior medical staff as agreed between consultant colleagues and the medical director and in accordance with the Trust’s personnel policies and procedures.

To ensure that junior medical staff working with the post holder operate within the parameters of the New Deal and are Working Time Directive compliant.

To undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients.

To record clinical activity accurately and comprehensively and submit this promptly to the Information Department.

To participate in service and business planning activity for the locality and, as appropriate, for the whole child and adolescent mental health service. This can be dependent on interest in this aspect and service need and would be in collaboration with the team leads, service manager, operational manager and clinical directors.

To participate in annual appraisal for consultants.

To attend and participate in the academic programme of the Trust, including lectures and seminars as part of the internal CPD programme.

To maintain professional registration with the General Medical Council, Mental Health Act Section 12(2) approval, and to abide by professional codes of conduct.

To participate annually in a job plan review with the clinical manager, which will include consultation with a relevant manager in order to ensure that the post is developed to take into account changes in service configuration and delivery associated with modernisation.

To work with local managers and professional colleagues in ensuring the efficient running of services and share with consultant colleagues in the medical contribution to management.

To comply with the Trust’s agreed policies, procedures, standing orders and financial instructions, and to take an active role in the financial management of the service and support the medical director and other managers in preparing plans for services.

The post holder will be required to work in partnership at both strategic and operational levels with relevant and external stakeholders.  The post holder will need to ensure that people who use services, carers and advocates are treated with respect and dignity.

To offer psychiatric expertise and direct involvement in the areas of assessment and diagnosis, pharmacological treatments, use of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation in the management of children and young people referred to the team

The Consultant will provide clinical leadership in the management of complex and/or risky presentations and severe symptomatology.

The Consultant has a continuing responsibility for the care of patients. The consultant will liaise with the General Practitioners, hospital and community specialists and other agencies wherever relevant.

The Consultant will also undertake the appropriate administrative duties associated with the care of patients and the running of the clinical department, including the prioritization of the case load according to need.

The Consultant will be expected to provide leadership to the wider team, alongside the team manager and other senior team members within the CAMHS-ID team. They will liaise with the wider CAMHS service and other agencies to ensure that the health and care needs of patients are met. The post holder will be required to work in partnership at both strategic and operational levels with relevant and external stakeholders.  The post holder will need to ensure that people who use services, carers and advocates are treated with respect and dignity in conjunction with team and service requirements.

The consultant will contribute to the development of clinical expertise for the benefit of patients and the Service as a whole and will be responsible for offering expert advice on clinical issues, together with the maintenance of case work with individual patients till their safe discharge elsewhere.

These duties are an outline of the main duties of the post.  The post holder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade and is encouraged to develop special interests in agreement with the Service Group Manager.  Any changes to clinical commitments would include a review of the job plan and would take account of the experience of the post holder and the need for any additional training.  It is expected that the post holder will participate in peer supervision - necessary and appropriate arrangements for this will be negotiated with the post holder.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the post holder when necessary and in line with changing service needs.

There are 2 SPA sessions that can be utilised for special interest clinical activities. Time for other areas can also be negotiated in line with clinical needs and interests of the consultant around areas such as teaching/ training and supervision, governance and audit, research and academic time and any external duties.