Child And Adolescent Psychiatrist
12 days ago
Liverpool
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. 1. 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. 1. 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. 1. 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. 1. 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. 1. 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. 1. 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)