CAMHS Consultant Psychiatrist - COAST (Enhanced £45k RRP)

Job overview

COAST (Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team) is seeking a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist to help lead intensive home treatment and crisis outreach for young people across Mid Sussex. Based at Chalkhill, Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, you will support an active caseload of approximately 12–20 young people at any one time, working at the interface of inpatient and community CAMHS services.

This is an opportunity to influence clinical pathways, strengthen system relationships and shape the delivery of crisis care within a well-established multidisciplinary team including creative therapists, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, systemic therapy and social work. The service works closely with inpatient units, community CAMHS and the Southern Counties Provider Collaborative to reduce avoidable admissions and improve outcomes for young people in crisis.

Recruitment & Retention Package – up to £45,000 over three years (pro-rata for part-time): • £15,000 on appointment • £10,000 after 12 months • £10,000 after 24 months • £10,000 after 36 months

Haywards Heath offers direct rail links to London and the south coast, proximity to Gatwick Airport and easy access to the South Downs National Park. Free on-site parking is available, with additional local parking nearby.

Main duties of the job

The Consultant Psychiatrist will provide senior psychiatric leadership within COAST and across the wider CAMHS system. Key duties include: • Leading psychiatric assessment and management of complex clinical presentations, including medication management • Providing specialist psychiatric input to young people receiving intensive home treatment • Supporting access and gatekeeping assessments, advising and reviewing cases as required • Acting as Responsible Clinician for young people detained under the Mental Health Act where applicable • Ensuring high standards of clinical governance and statutory compliance • Providing clinical supervision and support to non-consultant medical staff • Participating in the CAMHS Consultant on-call rota (currently 1:9 with compensatory rest) • Contributing to service development, redesign and quality improvement work

You will offer visible clinical leadership across daily handovers, safety huddles, ward rounds and system escalation discussions, supporting coordinated decision-making across services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide senior psychiatric leadership within the COAST CAMHS Acute Service. The role is permanent, full-time (10 PAs) and based at Chalkhill, Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, with flexibility considered.

Responsibilities include: • Delivering specialist psychiatric assessment, formulation and treatment planning for young people presenting in mental health crisis • Supporting safe and effective intensive home treatment aimed at preventing unnecessary inpatient admission • Working collaboratively with inpatient services, community CAMHS teams, primary care and provider collaboratives to maintain clear and consistent care pathways • Acting as Responsible Clinician under the Mental Health Act where required and ensuring compliance with statutory and governance frameworks • Providing consultation and expert advice to multidisciplinary colleagues and partner agencies • Supervising junior medical staff and contributing to workforce development • Participating in leadership forums, contract meetings and strategic discussions relating to CAMHS delivery • Contributing to audit, quality improvement and research activity where appropriate