About this role
Job summary
Vertis Health, is looking for an experienced and committed Specialist Paediatrician to join our developing Children and Young People's ADHD and ASD Assessment Services.
This is an opportunity to take on a senior clinical role within a growing multidisciplinary service built around high-quality, person-centred assessment and care.
The post will have a particular focus on assessing children and young people referred to the ADHD pathway. The successful applicant will also work across the wider neurodevelopmental service and must have appropriate knowledge and practical experience of autism assessment.
You will join a senior paediatric medical team that includes a Clinical Lead and a Consultant Paediatrician. Working within this structure, you will provide additional specialist medical capacity, support continuity of care and provide appropriate deputy and backstop cover during periods of absence.
The role will complement, rather than replace or duplicate, the responsibilities of the Clinical Lead and Consultant Paediatrician. It will strengthen the service's senior medical resilience and contribute to safe, consistent and timely decision-making across the ADHD and autism pathways.
Alongside your clinical work, you will contribute to the development of the service and its workforce. This will include mentoring less experienced colleagues, supporting clinical learning, contributing to multidisciplinary working and helping us build a skilled and sustainable neurodevelopmental workforce.
Main duties of the job
The successful postholder will undertake high-quality clinical work within the Children and Young People's ADHD and Autism Assessment Services. Responsibilities will include:
undertaking comprehensive paediatric and neurodevelopmental assessments;independently assessing children and young people referred for possible ADHD;contributing medical expertise to autism assessments and the wider neurodevelopmental pathway;gathering, interpreting and integrating information from children, young people, families, education settings and other professionals;considering relevant differential diagnoses, co-occurring conditions and areas of clinical complexity;formulating clear, balanced and evidence-based clinical conclusions;contributing to multidisciplinary diagnostic formulation and decision-making;preparing clear, accurate and timely clinical records and reports;communicating assessment findings and outcomes sensitively and clearly;identifying and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns, clinical risks and cases requiring escalation;contributing to clinical triage and decisions about prioritisation or onward direction of referrals;providing senior medical advice within the postholders competence and agreed responsibilities;supporting continuity across the paediatric element of the service; andworking in accordance with agreed clinical pathways, standard operating procedures, professional standards and governance arrangements.
About us
Vertis Health is a federation of general practices delivering high-quality NHS services across Worcestershire. We were founded by local primary care clinicians and are owned by the practices we serve. As a purpose-led limited company, the money we generate is reinvested into the local healthcare economy, helping to strengthen services, support innovation and improve patient care.
Our neurodevelopmental services are being built around clinical quality, meaningful outcomes and strong governance. You will join an organisation that understands NHS systems and values while giving experienced clinicians the opportunity to influence, develop and improve services.
Depending on the role, our benefits include access to the NHS Pension, structured learning and development, clinical leadership opportunities, career progression and genuine flexibility.
If you want to help build a clinically rigorous, compassionate and sustainable service, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Job description Job responsibilities
We are looking for an experienced Specialist Paediatrician to join our Children and Young People's ADHD and Autism Assessment Service. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a growing multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental team providing high-quality, evidence-based assessment services for children and young people.
The postholder will work as an autonomous senior clinician, undertaking comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments and contributing specialist medical expertise to ADHD and autism diagnostic pathways. The role requires substantial experience in paediatrics, child development, ADHD assessment, and autism assessment, together with the ability to make sound, evidence-based clinical decisions within an agreed scope of practice.
The successful candidate will work closely with the Clinical Lead, Consultant Paediatrician and wider multidisciplinary team to support safe, timely and person-centred care. Responsibilities include gathering and interpreting information from children, young people, families, educational settings and partner agencies; contributing to multidisciplinary diagnostic formulation; identifying co-occurring conditions and clinical complexity; preparing clinical reports; and communicating outcomes sensitively and effectively.
As a senior member of the medical team, the postholder will also contribute to clinical triage, service resilience, governance activities, quality improvement initiatives and the development of clinical pathways. They will provide appropriate deputy support during periods of absence of senior medical colleagues and help ensure continuity across the service.
A key aspect of the role is supporting workforce development through mentoring, teaching and professional support for colleagues developing their skills in neurodevelopmental assessment. The postholder will contribute to a culture of learning, reflective practice and continuous improvement.
The post is available on a full-time or part-time basis and offers the opportunity to help shape an innovative and developing service focused on improving outcomes for children, young people and their families.
For further information, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Primary medical qualification recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC). Full GMC registration with a licence to practise. Eligibility and capability for appointment to an NHS Specialist Grade doctor post. Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD), appraisal and revalidation. Appropriate medical indemnity or professional cover as required.
Desirable
Additional training or qualifications relevant to neurodevelopmental assessment, ADHD, autism or child development.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Substantial knowledge of paediatrics and child development. Strong knowledge and practical experience of ADHD assessment. Appropriate knowledge and practical experience of autism assessment. Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities relating to children and young people. Knowledge of clinical governance, reflective practice and continuous improvement. Understanding of evidence-based clinical practice and decision-making. Knowledge of Specialist Grade eligibility requirements and professional standards. Ability to work autonomously within an agreed scope of practice. Ability to recognise clinical complexity and escalate concerns appropriately. Ability to make balanced, evidence-based clinical decisions. Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate clearly, compassionately and professionally with children, young people, families and colleagues. Ability to support, supervise and mentor less experienced colleagues. Ability to meet all applicable occupational health, pre-employment and disclosure requirements.
Experience Essential
Substantial postgraduate medical experience in paediatrics. Significant experience in assessing children and young people for ADHD. Significant experience in autism assessment and wider neurodevelopmental practice. Experience of multidisciplinary clinical working and diagnostic formulation. Experience of working with children, young people and families within paediatric, child development and/or neurodevelopmental services. Ability to undertake autonomous assessment and clinical decision-making within an agreed scope of practice. Meets NHS Specialist Grade eligibility requirements, including a minimum of 12 years' post-qualification medical experience, at least 6 years' relevant specialty experience, and evidence of the required generic and role-specific capabilities.
Desirable
Previous senior or lead experience within an ADHD or neurodevelopmental pathway. Experience of developing clinical pathways or services. Experience of clinical triage. Experience of chairing or facilitating multidisciplinary clinical meetings. Experience of providing senior or deputy clinical cover. Experience of mentoring, teaching or developing clinicians. Experience of providing clinical or prescribing supervision. Involvement in clinical audit or quality improvement initiatives. Experience of developing clinical guidance, procedures or standard operating procedures. Experience of working across organisational or professional boundaries.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Vertis Health
Address 38 Kenilworth Close
Crabbs Cross
Redditch
B97 5JX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.vertishealth.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)