General Practitioner, Special Interest in Children in Care
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
We are seeking expressions of interest from an enthusiastic general practitioner, with an interest in children and young people, who would be keen to develop expertise in medical work related to Children in Care.
The closing date is 07 January 2026
This is a unique and exciting opportunity for the successful applicant to work on a sessional basis (to be agreed) as part of the CDDFT Community and Developmental paediatric service. The role would be to work alongside an established team of consultants and GP to deliver statutory health assessments to children and young people Looked After in Durham and Darlington. There may also be an opportunity to work as a medical adviser in fostering and adoption. They would work in partnership with Childrens Services and adoption agencies providing medical advice to support fostering and adoptive placements. Relevant training and clinical supervision would be provided as well as an opportunity to develop competence in the related aspects of developmental paediatric medicine. In addition, there would be opportunity for the applicant to be integral to the future development of the service with potential for a leadership role.
Main duties of the job
* Work with a dedicated team of community and developmental paediatric consultants and GP to deliver holistic and multi-disciplinary care to children in care placed in Durham and Darlington and contribute to assessments for children where the plan of permanence is adoption.
* Share the ethos of our team in delivering high quality care to children and young people in care and, where indicated, liaise with a range of professionals dependent on the needs of the child or young person.
* Participate in peer review, contribute to service development, departmental clinical governance and annual appraisals towards revalidation with the GMC.
* Use knowledge and skills gained within post to strengthen links and pathways for children in care accessing primary healthcare services, acting as an advocate and leader in service development and improvement.
* Participate in training within the respective clinical environments and work with the Named Doctor for Children Looked After to support development of knowledge, skills and competence of the workforce in line with Intercollegiate Guidance.
Job responsibilities
* Regular outpatient clinics for the statutory Initial Health Assessments of children in care.
* Allotted time for admin, matched to outpatient clinics, in line with standards outlined by Coram BAAF and the British Association of Community Child Health.
* Time to attend departmental governance and opportunity for continuing professional development appropriate to the role.
* Appraisal and Revalidation: Time to participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan and the Trusts appraisal process.
Person Specification
Statutory Registration
* Full GMC Registration
Qualifications
* MRCGP or equivalent.
* Full GMC Registration.
* Level 3 Safeguarding Children training and experience.
* Evidence of attendance at management courses e.g. leadership course.
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Effective administrative and time management skills.
* Understanding of current legislation and issues within the NHS, especially in relation to children.
* Evidence of contribution to clinical governance clinical risk management and clinical audit activities.
* Knowledge of evidence based medicine and critical appraisal.
* Evidence of previous clinical audit or quality improvement presentations.
Special Requirements
* Good interpersonal, time management, organisational and communication skills.
* Effective team worker/player.
* Ability to travel to undertake clinical commitments.
Experience
* Interest and experience in children and young peoples health.
* Experience in teaching medical students/postgraduate doctors with feedback.
* Completion of Adult Health Medicals within primary care.
* Experience in the management of children with developmental difficulties within primary care.
* Experience in the Medical Adviser role for Independent fostering/adoptive agencies.
* Demonstrates an understanding of the legal framework related to children in care and those whose plan of permanence is adoption.
* Proven research experience.
* Publications or presentations.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
£109,725 to £145,478 a year
MSGP pay scale per annum pro rata
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