Job overview
An exciting opportunity has opened up within the Psychological and Mental Health Services (PAMHS) at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
This is an 8 PA (programmed activities) post for a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with the Social Communication and Autism Spectrum Service (SCASS) for 6 months. The post is based in Psychological and Mental Health Services (PAMHS) at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
The successful applicant will provide psychiatric input to SCASS, a national service which specialises in second opinion autism spectrum disorder assessments in children and adolescents aged 4-17, in mainstream education, who often complex comorbidities. Young people are referred to the clinic with a combination of neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric or mental health difficulties and a request for diagnostic clarity. The clinic carries out diagnostic assessments, makes recommendations for treatment and advises on educational strategies. The team provides psycho-education groups for children and young people and their families called PEGASUS aimed at enhancing young people’s understanding of their condition and to help them to develop compensatory strategies and realise their potential. The service has a strong multidisciplinary approach.
This post is available from November 2025.
Main duties of the job
The successful appointee will be expected to work in liaison with:
· Consultant clinicians and their resident doctor staff in Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and affiliated organisations
· Chief of Mental Health
· Members of the extended multidisciplinary teams at GOSH
· All nursing and allied health care professionals
· General practitioners and CAMHS and paediatric staff in the community.
· The Chief Executive and other senior executive staff of Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
· Administrative staff in Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Working for our organisation
We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as the communities we serve, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic heritage, people with a disability, and people from LGBTQ+ communities. By growing an ever more diverse workforce, we’ll have a greater range of perspectives and knowledge, meaning that we can provide the children and young people at our hospital with even better care.
Our hospital is committed to creating an environment that is open and inclusive. Our staff are encouraged to engage with colleagues through the following networks: REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) ENABLED (Enhancing Abilities & Leveraging Disabilities Network), PRIDE and Women’s networks; all of which are sponsored by a member of our Executive Management Team.
We want to ensure that all of our people, regardless of their background, are seen and heard. We want to attract applicants that share our commitment to inclusion and that understand diversity is a strength that is embraced and valued.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.
Person specification
GOSH Culture and Values
Essential criteria
* Always welcoming
* Always helpful
* Always expert
* Always one team
* Knowledge and Understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives
* Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace.
* Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
Academic/Professional qualification/Training
Essential criteria
* GMC specialist registration with a Licence to Practice (obtained by designated start date)
* MRCPsych or equivalent
* CCT/CCST in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (or within 6 months at time of interview) or equivalent training and experience (eligible for CESR)
* Section 12 approval
Desirable criteria
* Higher degree – PhD, MD or equivalent
* Formal teaching qualification
* Leadership qualification
Experience and knowledge
Essential criteria
* Specialist experience and knowledge in the assessment and management of autism and comorbid conditions
* Experience of teaching students and multi-disciplinary team
* Experience of leading in Clinical Audit processes
* Awareness of the importance of Clinical Governance through experience of participating in quality or safety improvement projects
Desirable criteria
* Published research in peer reviewed journals in relevant area
* Experience of recruiting patients to clinical research trials
* Experience of working in shared care clinics and clinical networks
* Experience of clinical leadership or management
Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria
* High level written and oral communication skills
* Ability to organise and prioritise own workload
* Ability to work under pressure in a multi-disciplinary environment
* Presentation skills
* Understanding and proven ability to apply research findings in a clinical/organisational context
* Excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills
* Ability to work on own initiative within an ever changing environment.
Desirable criteria
* Leadership skills