County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Community Paediatrician
The closing date is 19 March 2026
This is an exciting opportunity to work with a team of dynamic and experienced community paediatricians in an active and progressive department at County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. We work closely with our acute paediatric colleagues and are an active training unit. The community paediatric team hold clinics at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
The post holder will be expected to provide consultant input into the child development and Neurodevelopmental/Neurodisability Service and will also undertake Initial Health Assessments for Children in Care.
There is also scope to develop the role as Medical Adviser for adoption and fostering and previous experience of LAC and/or adoption and fostering would be welcomed.
There is no out of hours commitment with this post.
Main duties of the job
* Regular outpatient clinics for children referred for neurodevelopmental/neurodisability concerns.
* Deliver statutory assessments for children in care.
* Allotted time for multi‑agency liaison and district admin, to facilitate the complex neurodevelopmental work in line with British Association of Community Child Health guidance.
* Opportunity to contribute to the assessment of acute child protection referrals for children presenting with physical injuries and neglect on a rota basis with other paediatric colleagues.
* Departmental governance and teaching activities, including contribution to monthly Safeguarding, Audits, Governance and Education (SAGE) meetings, participation in quality improvement activities within the department/Trust, Clinical and/or Educational supervision of paediatric trainees.
* Appraisal and Revalidation – To take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competence. To participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan and the Trust’s appraisal process.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre‑employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester‑Le‑Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community‑based settings and providing care in patients’ homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be expected to –
* Work with a dedicated team of community and developmental paediatric consultants to deliver holistic and multi‑disciplinary care to children with developmental disorders and complex health needs in the locality. They will work alongside specialist community nurses, paediatric therapists and child psychologists.
* Liaise with colleagues in Primary Care, Education (including the provision of health advice for the Special Education Needs and Disability assessment process) and Social Services in the delivery of care.
* Support statutory services undertaken by the department which will include Children in Care Initial Health assessments and may include safeguarding assessments of physical injuries and neglect.
* Contribute to service development, departmental clinical governance and annual appraisals towards revalidation with the GMC.
* Participate in postgraduate training within the clinical environment and support paediatric trainees.
Person Specification
Statutory Registration
* Full registration and license to practice with General Medical Council or eligible if currently working overseas.
Experience
* Experience in General Paediatrics, Paediatric Neurodevelopment.
* Relevant higher specialist training, including community paediatric experience or is able to demonstrate having achieved competencies equivalent to the highest specialist paediatric training.
* Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of complex patients.
* Teaching experience in a wide variety of settings.
* Audit/QIP evidence of understanding of audit principles and having taken a lead role.
* Leading a multi‑disciplinary team.
* Evidence of previous experience in undertaking neurodisability/neurodevelopment clinics (patients with cerebral palsy, complex multisystem neuro‑genetic or neurometabolic patients).
* Specialist experience/training in particular area of CCH practice.
* Attendance at a recognised teaching course e.g. Teaching the Teachers.
* Publications in peer reviewed journals, presentations at national or international level.
* Enthusiasm for undertaking clinical research in a relevant area.
* Training in research methodology and practical experience of clinical research.
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Experience of disability and neurodevelopmental paediatrics.
* Effective communicator and team worker.
* Ability to conduct a comprehensive assessment of children with an understanding of relevant psychosocial factors and liaise effectively with other professionals to ensure treatment and support.
* Able to demonstrate an understanding of the absolute need for child advocacy in any forum.
* Leadership ability to develop a vision and lead the change that brings it into effect within a multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency context.
* Effective time management, able to work under pressure.
* Flexible, adaptable, thorough and resilient.
* Well‑developed reflective and self‑care skills and able to foster these attributes in others.
* Ability to share knowledge and difficulties with colleagues.
* Highly developed IT skills.
* Ability to work as part of a multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency team.
* Knowledge of recognised tools for the assessment of developmental disorders.
* Understanding of multi‑agency working in the context of the management of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and safeguarding.
* Experience in undertaking initial health assessments for children in care.
* Understanding of multi‑agency working in the context of the management of children in care.
Qualifications
* CCT/CCST or equivalent accreditation and community paediatrics or equivalent training and experience.
* MRCP, MRCPCH or equivalent.
* Full registration and license to practice with General Medical Council or eligible if currently working overseas.
* On specialist register or within 6 months of CCT at time of scheduled interview.
* Approved training in child protection/safeguarding at Level 3 in line with the intercollegiate guidelines.
* Sheffield neurodisability diploma or equivalent experience.
* Level 3 competencies in the intercollegiate guidelines – knowledge, skills and competencies for children in care.
Special Requirements
* An exceptional practitioner who is able to demonstrate ambition for themselves, the team and the service.
* Membership of appropriate professional groups.
* Active involvement in continuing professional development.
* Ability to be flexible, adaptable, thorough and resilient.
* Understanding of equality and diversity within the workforce.
* Ability to share knowledge and difficulties with colleagues.
* Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post.
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 YC72 Pay Scale per annum pro rata
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