JOB TITLE: Consultant Community CAMHS Psychiatrist SET Mid Essex CAMHS (Chelmsford & Halsted)
Contract: 6 Programmed Activities (6 PAs). This post is funded as eight Programmed Activities (6 PAs) post with 4.5 Direct Clinical Contact (DCC) and 1.5 Supporting Professional Activities (SPAs). This post was originally covered by a full‑time specialty doctor but has now been converted into a new part‑time Consultant post due to the previous doctor leaving the organisation to progress their training. The post is currently vacant and will be filled once a suitable candidate is recruited, with the current incumbent set to retire in October 2026.
Location: Stapleford House, Stapleford Close, Chelmsford CM2 0QX and The Coach House, Trinity Street, Halstead, CO9 1JD. The postholder will provide services across Chelmsford and Maldon in Mid Essex.
On-call Responsibilities
- The postholder will be part of the Senior Psychiatrist out of hours on-call rota.
- On-call duties include telephone advice to crisis teams, the first point of call for children in crises out of hours, covering Southend, Essex, and Thurrock.
- Shifts are from 17:00 – 09:00 Monday to Friday, all day on weekends and bank holidays.
- On-call does not include support to psychiatric inpatient units or Section 136 suites, which is provided by another organisation.
Main Responsibilities
- Organise and prioritise own and others' workload in day‑to‑day allocation of work.
- Deputise when required in the team manager’s absence and delegate appropriately to other medical staff.
- Possess organisational knowledge of Trust protocols and procedures and adhere to them.
- Maintain accurate records of information required by the Trust for audit purposes.
- Ensure effective risk management at team level through accident/incident reporting, risk assessment, and control, contributing residual risks to the Trust’s risk register.
Clinical Skills
- Act as an autonomous, registered practitioner clinically and professionally accountable for unsupervised actions, guided by the professional code of conduct and Trust guidelines.
- Hold full registration with a licence to practice on the General Medical Council (GMC).
- Maintain professional knowledge through accredited courses, workshops, study, and in‑house training programmes.
- Develop and assess care plans that meet the complex needs of patients with a variety of conditions, recognising own limitations and seeking advice when necessary.
- Initiate referrals to other specialist services and agencies.
- Provide patients and relatives with information and education that promotes dignity, independence, and quality of life.
- Support practice with research, evidence‑based approaches, literature, and peer review.
Training & Supervision
- Act as clinical supervisor to junior colleagues (FY/CT/GPVTS/ST), facilitating their development and ensuring high standards of medical care.
- Support junior colleagues to achieve their learning needs and to integrate within the team.
- Maintain own professional development, supporting a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.
- Plan and undertake mandatory training and workshops, and participate in their design.
- Carry out regular appraisals, developing personal development plans reflecting local health needs and Trust strategy.
Contact
Medical Director: Dr Sarah Dracass, email Sarah.Dracass@nelft.nhs.uk
Associate Medical Director: Dr Viviana Porcari, email Vivana.Porcari@nelft.nhs.uk
Medical Staffing: medicalstaffinghr@nelft.nhs.uk
