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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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)