Specialty Doctor – Psychiatry (Child and Adolescent)

The Specialty Doctor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry plays a vital role in delivering high-quality specialist mental health services to children, adolescents, and their families. As a key contributor to clinical excellence at North London, the Specialty Doctor ensures safe, effective, and compassionate care while working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

This position requires strong clinical reasoning, the ability to work autonomously, and a commitment to evidence-based practice. Typical duties include comprehensive psychiatric assessment, contributing to diagnosis and formulation, developing and implementing care plans, monitoring clinical progress, maintaining detailed medical records, and supporting governance, audit, and service-improvement activities.

The role involves active participation in multidisciplinary team meetings, case discussions, training sessions, and quality initiatives aimed at enhancing the experience of young people accessing mental health services. Professionalism, empathy, resilience, and adaptability are essential, particularly when supporting children and adolescents experiencing emotional distress, behavioural difficulties, neurodevelopmental concerns, or significant mental health crises.

In addition to core clinical responsibilities, the Specialty Doctor is expected to support junior staff, contribute to teaching and training programmes, and engage in continuous professional development to maintain and advance specialist competence. The ability to manage complex caseloads, prioritise effectively, and remain calm under pressure is fundamental within the often fast-paced and sensitive environment of CAMHS.

The role requires adherence to all clinical governance frameworks, safeguarding procedures, and regulatory standards while promoting a culture of safety, dignity, and respect. Leadership qualities such as problem-solving, initiative, and thoughtful clinical decision-making further strengthen the Specialty Doctor’s contribution to overall service effectiveness.

Strong interpersonal skills and a child-centred, family-focused approach underpin this role, ensuring that care delivery aligns with organisational values and contributes positively to North London’s wider CAMHS mission. The position demands ongoing professional development, adaptability, collaborative teamwork, and a sustained commitment to delivering consistently high-quality mental health care to children and young people.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver safe, effective, high‑quality clinical services.
• Conduct assessments and develop patient‑centred treatment plans.
• Maintain accurate documentation and adhere to clinical guidelines.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Support service development and quality improvement initiatives.
• Participate in training, teaching, and supervision where appropriate.
• Uphold safeguarding, governance, and regulatory standards.

Key Requirements:

• Relevant professional qualification and registration.
• Experience in the specialty of practice.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage workloads.
• Commitment to evidence‑based and patient‑centred care.
• Understanding of clinical governance and risk management.
• Professionalism, reliability, and problem‑solving skills.