Job Overview

Following a significant redesign, and a new model of care which will support all children and young people to thrive, Jersey CAMHS we are looking to recruit two consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists to join our multi-disciplinary team. The successful applicants will join the two existing consultants. This is an exciting time to join CAMHS with the launch of the service redesign and significant investment into the service.

The Government of Jersey is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (to include children) and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As this position will work with vulnerable people, the selection process will involve safeguarding measures and include an enhanced DBS check.

For an informal discussion please contact Dr Catherine Keep (Consultant and Clinical Lead) on 01534 445030 or email c.keep@health.gov.je or Dr Darren Bowring (Associate Director for Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing on 01534 445030 or email d.bowring@health.gov.je 

Job Purpose

The post holders will be expected to take on the full range of duties including the routine and emergency diagnosis and management of children and young people with significant mental health problems (up to the age of 18), the support of other team members and providing consultation and advice to other agencies.  Successful applicants will be encourage to develop a special interest and take a clinical lead in one of the following areas

• Eating Disorders
• Crisis Intervention
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Transition

The service has expanded and continues to develop its service delivery to meet the needs of the community.  As a senior clinician you will have opportunity to shape the service and influence child mental health more widely on the island.

The CAMHS clinics are based at Liberte House, St Helier which is in the main town.  It is co-located with Children’s Social Care and the Children and Families Hub. The post-holder may also be required to see Children and Young People who have been admitted to Jersey General Hospital or Orchard House (adult mental health in-patient facility).

In-patient Provision

There is no designated inpatient provision but the team provide flexible intensive packages of care for children and young people with severe or complex mental health difficulties.  The packages of care can be provided both for assessment and treatment.  The programmes are set up jointly with other services including Paediatrics, Adult Mental Health and Children’s Services (Social Care).

The Paediatric and Adult Mental Health teams are supportive in providing in-patient facilities and both the paediatric ward (Robin Ward) and acute adult mental health ward (Orchard House) are used for young people who require admission. Robin Ward will admit young people up to their 17th birthday. The postholder will be clinically responsible for young people  admitted to Robin Ward  and Orchard House under their care and will be expected to undertake reviews of these patients.

All those under 16, and most under 18 admitted to Orchard House are cared for separately to the other in-patients if possible or are under continuous observation for safeguarding reasons.   There is a new provision currently being built which will provide facilities for young people to be admitted to an area separate from the main ward. It is anticipated that this may become available from December 2023.

When necessary young people can be transferred to the UK for inpatient treatment.

Responsibilities and Expectations of the Postholders

The post holder will be expected to

Work with children and young people with acute mental health presentations including self-harm, suicidal ideation, low mood and psychotic symptoms and providing support to other members of the team in managing this group during periods of crisis.

Diagnose and manage common psychiatric disorders using both psychological and pharmacological therapies.

Work with young people with mental health problems who have a history of alcohol and substance misuse.

Provide consultation and liaison to other medical specialities, Education, Social Services and other agencies.

Develop and deliver training programmes for a variety of disciplines aimed at improving the level of expertise and the standard of care within the mental health services.

Responsibilities and Expectations of the Postholders cont:

Participate and contribute to the psychiatry teaching programme.

Provide supervision for mental health and other professionals, and receive clinical supervision

Liaise and work effectively with others who provide services to children and young people as appropriate.

Comply with Health and Community Services agreed policies and procedures.

Work with managers and professional colleagues to ensure the efficient running of the services and to share with consultant colleagues the medical contribution to the management of the service.

Participate in clinical governance activities and Quality Improvement including audit

There is no requirement for Section 12(2) status and/or Approved Clinician status and/or DOL assessment. However the postholder will be required to attend training to become an Approved Practitioner under the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016.

Population and CAMHS Caseload

The population of Jersey at the end of 2019 was estimated to be 107,800 with approximately 22,910 under the age of 19.

The current number of cases open to CAMHS is 1867

The total number of new referrals received in 2023 was 1351 (6030 new referrals in by June 2023)

The current postholder’s (locum) caseload is approximately 90. Most of the cases on the caseload will have an allocated care co-ordinator but there may be some exceptions to this. Most new assessments are undertaken by other members of the MDT, but some will require initial medical assessment. There are no fixed requirements for new assessments and follow up appointments. On average there maybe 1-2 new assessments per week and 15-20 follow up appointments, depending on the complexity of the cases and other commitments.

The postholder will be required to participate in the daytime (9am – 5pm) medical on call rota for 1-2 days per week. The initial duty response (including hospital liaison assessments) is made by the duty worker who will contact the doctor on call if required. With an expansion of our duty service to 8am – 8pm there may be a requirement to provide medical cover for this in the future.

Annual leave, Study leave and Job Plan

Consultants are entitled to 30 days of annual leave increasing to 32 days after 7 years’ service (at Consultant level) plus bank holidays.

Study leave for the purpose of professional development should be applied for through the Clinical Lead and is approved by the Director of Medical Education. There is a generous study leave budget and there is an entitlement of 30 days every 3 years.

All consultants have a 10 PA contract for public work, which is non-negotiable. The final job plan will vary according to the successful appointees and be agreed by the Clinical Lead and Chief of Service and ratified by the Group Medical Director. The post holder’s job plan will be reviewed annually, and will be appraised according to the current guidance. 

All timetables will adhere to current Royal College Guidelines, namely:-

7.5 clinical programmed activities (PAs)

2.5 supporting professional activities (SPAs) consisting of:

- 1 SPA for clinical learning and preparation for appraisal (including audit, weekly teaching sessions, case presentations, mortality reviews etc)

            - 1 SPA for managerial activities, service development and quality improvement

            - 0.5 SPA for other SPA activities tba

Some SPAs will be annualised rather than represented in the weekly timetable.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Recognised Primary Medical Degree

Full GMC Registration & License to Practice

Registered on  the GMC Specialist Register or CCT in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (or within 6 months of this at the time of interview) or equivalent (which must be confirmed by GMC)

Higher speciality training or equivalent experience

Eligibility for Section 12 approval (Mental Health Law Approval)

Desirable

MRCPsych or equivalent

Relevant higher degree, e.g. MD. PhD, MSc or other additional clinical qualifications

Section 12 approval or equivalent

Dual accreditation e.g.  Forensic, Learning Disability

Experience

Essential Criteria

Experience of assessing and treating children and young people  in acute and community psychiatric settings

Specialty experience CAMHS

Experience in crisis work

Desirable Criteria

Wide range of specialist experience relevant to the post

Experience of working with young people at risk of offending or who have offended

Experience of working young people who misuse alcohol or substances

Experience of working with young people with Eating Disorders

Experience of working with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Skills/Personal Qualities

Essential Criteria

Ability to take a leadership role in a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring high-quality care and staff morale

Ability to manage own time, workload and prioritise clinical work

Ability to appraise own performance

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Desirable Criteria

Evidence of specific achievements that demonstrate leadership skills

Knowledge

Essential Criteria

Understanding of the management skills required to function successfully as a consultant

Ability to use IT, including email and the internet

Knowledge of risk management

Knowledge of recent developments and drug advances in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

General skills / attributes

Essential Criteria

Evidence of leadership attributes

Commitment to service development

Ability to deal effectively with pressure

Thoroughness and attention to detail

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to community effectively with service users, carers and all grades of staff

Reliability and honesty

Flexible approach to working practice

Positive approach to the job planning and appraisal process

Demonstrates core values by treating children, young people and their families with respect, consideration, dignity and courtesy.

Demonstrates core values by communicating with colleagues within the service and other professionals in a professional and courteous manner.

Seeks feedback from service users and treats criticism as an opportunity for service improvements.

Desirable Criteria

Current UK drivers license or equivalent

Teaching and Management

Essential Criteria

Commitment to and experience of undergraduate and postgraduate learning and teaching

Understand principles of teaching

Knowledge of the management and structure of mental health services and the wider health economy

Desirable Criteria

Teaching qualification or previous experience as teaching lead

Formal management qualification

Evidence of management training

Experience in a management role