Consultant in CAMHS Psychiatry, Intellectual Disabilities

This is a 6 PA Consultant post in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Intellectual Disability Pathway. It is a replacement post based at the Sue Nichols Centre, Aylesbury, but the role is countywide.

The CAMHS pathway for children and young people with an Intellectual Disability can offer consultation, assessment, intervention, and care coordination for children and young people who require specialist Intellectual disability skills and knowledge due to moderate or severe, complex, and enduring difficulties.

In order for a diagnosis of an Intellectual disability (as distinct from learning difficulties) to be made, the young person must have a formal cognitive assessment that indicates an IQ score below 70 and a significant impairment in adaptive functioning. This diagnosis should also be made in the context of a holistic assessment of need, and the difficulties must be pervasive and longstanding.

In line with recent legislation and good practice guidance, the Bucks CAMHS-ID Pathway will work with and alongside the other Pathways in CAMHS to ensure that children with Intellectual disabilities have equal access to the range of specialist CAMHS Services available to children and young people who do not have Intellectual disabilities.

It is expected that in most cases, the mental health needs of children and young people with a mild Intellectual disability (IQ within the range of 50-70 and associated adaptive functioning difficulties) can be met within the other specialist CAMHS Pathways. This may require consultation from the Bucks CAMHS-ID Pathway to support assessment, formulation, and making reasonable adjustments to interventions as appropriate.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has been providing a comprehensive CAMHS service in Buckinghamshire for 7 years. The newly developed CAMHS service is based on a partnership between Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (main contract holder) and Barnardos. The new service is based on the ‘Thrive Model’ and during October 2015, the service transformed away from the traditional CAMHS tiered model to a service strongly influenced by children, young people, their parents/carers, and stakeholders. The new model is based on ease of access, getting advice, consultation, support, and specialist clinical pathways.

Benefits of working for Oxford Health NHS Trust include:

1. Excellent opportunities to take on additional roles, for e.g. Leadership, Management, Clinical / Educational Supervisor, Safeguarding Lead, etc.
2. 33 days annual leave (pro rata if part-time), plus bank holidays, with an increase to 35 days with 7 years of consultant service.
3. NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants, and retailers.
4. Staff accommodation.
5. Lease car scheme.
6. Cycle to work scheme.

The Consultant will carry medical responsibility only for those patients on his/her own caseload and that of medical staff under his/her care. The Consultant is expected to provide clinical leadership and collaborate in systems of supervision and care management within the teams. Consultants' leadership development is a priority within the directorate, and consultants are encouraged to take on leadership roles and work closely with team managers to ensure team cohesion and quality services.

The Consultant is required to work in conjunction with wider clinical leadership within the directorate - the Service managers, Head of Service, and Medical Lead/AMD within CAMHS and the Clinical Director and Service Director for the wider directorate. The Consultant and team will support the single point of access for all appropriate referrals.

The multidisciplinary teams, with the post holder and other Consultant Psychiatrists, will endeavour to assess all emergencies referred to them within the day of referral. When necessary, this will include responsibility for Mental Health Act assessment of patients.

The Consultant Psychiatrist will work in partnership with the multidisciplinary teams for the clinical management of patients in relation to the care programme approach (CPA). This will include risk assessment, the assessment of the needs of carers, and the development of services to meet the needs of patients and families for which the teams are responsible.

To liaise with Community Paediatricians, Adult Mental Health, and other agencies dealing with the same population, such as Education, Social Services, and Primary Care where children or adolescents may be treated.

To support and develop Community Mental Health services for patients and their carers in the catchment area. The Consultant Psychiatrist will work with other Mental Health Practitioners and other relevant agencies in the shared management of patients. He/she will be encouraged to develop services in line with the recommendations of the National Service Framework/NHS Plan modernisation programme.

The Consultant will share responsibility for the effective use of inpatient beds when necessary, ensuring prompt admission and discharge of patients from his/her catchment area.

Special clinical interests, with the agreement of the Clinical Director and Consultant colleagues within the locality, the post holder may develop a specialist clinical interest which contributes to the priorities of the service of which the Consultant is part.