Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a Consultant Psychiatrist to join our East Sussex CAMHS service based in Hailsham providing leadership to deliver high-quality, person-centred care to children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties including those with learning disabilities. This is an established post and became available due to the recent retirement of our substantive Consultant Psychiatrist.

This job attracts a Recruitment and Retention payment of £45,000 structured over a three-year period as follows:

• £15,000 payable upon successful recruitment
• £10,000 payable at 12 months' service
• £10,000 payable at 24 months' service
• £10,000 payable at 36 months' service

The RRP is pro rata for LTFT position. For full terms and conditions of the RRP, please contact spft.medicalhr@nhs.net

To find out more about we can offer you at SPFT, please follow the link to our careers website here

To find a list of our current Medical vacancies, please follow this link: https://ow.ly/EFnH50RZXyE

Main duties of the job
The service we provide is in line with NICE Evidenced Based Treatment for those children and young people. You will provide high quality specialist clinical assessments, including relevant psychiatric and physical investigation to children, young people and their families in a range of settings, and work collaboratively with other members of the team to plan and deliver appropriate individually tailored treatment plans.

You will work as part of a friendly and supportive multidisciplinary team which includes nurses, psychologists, systemic family therapists and child psychotherapists. This post will work alongside other Consultants and Specialty Doctors who work in Sussex CHYPS.

You will also be part of a Trust wide consultant network where there are opportunities to liaise with colleagues in other posts throughout the Trust and develop peer networks. You will also see consultant peers at regular division meetings in the locality and at clinical governance meetings.

About us
At Sussex Partnership we are committed to providing opportunities for flexible working. If you would like to work differently or different hours to as advertised, please get in touch to discuss this in more detail.

Also, if you haven't thought about living and working in East Sussex before then you should consider the following:

• Journey from the coast to the countryside in minutes
• Enjoy a lifestyle where there are renowned cycle routes and picturesque walks, including the famous South Downs Way
• Embrace taking time to discover all the miles of scenic coastline
• Easy access to airports
• London is also within easy reach

CAMHS services recognise that young people may be affected by challenges to their emotional wellbeing and mental health at all times. With this in mind our responses are required to be dynamic and needs led,. As part of our exciting transformation agenda colleagues may be required to work outside of the 9-5 working pattern .

This would be negotiated on an individual basis and as part of Sussex Partnership NHS trusts wider commitment high quality services, that are both flexible and accessible to all our users whilst supporting colleagues in pursuit of their own work life balance.

Job responsibilities
Sussex Partnership is committed to people participation, meaning that we involve patients and their carers and supporters, in service decision-making and planning. You will be expected to contribute to this shared value and to support the functioning of this service in the delivery of its participation strategy.

There is only so much we can say to you in an advert, so would love to speak to you about this role in more detail. For more information please see our contact details below!

Please note the Job Description is still with the Royal College for approval. If there are any small changes we will ensure all applicants receive the final version before interview.

Person Specification
Eligibility
Essential

• MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
• Fully registered with the GMC with a licence to practise at the time of appointment.
• Included on the GMC Specialist Register OR within six months.
• In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
• Approved clinician status OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment

Transport
Essential

• Holds and will use valid UK driving licence OR provides evidence of proposed alternative.

Clinical Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Excellent knowledge in specialty
• Excellent clinical skills using bio-psycho-social perspective and wide medical knowledge
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Desirable

• Wide range of specialist and sub-specialist experience relevant to post within NHS or comparable service

Academic Skills & Lifelong Learning
Essential

• Able to deliver undergraduate or postgraduate teaching and training
• Ability to work in and lead team
• Demonstrate commitment to shared leadership & collaborative working to deliver improvement.
• Participated in continuous professional development
• Participated in research or service evaluation.
• Able to use and appraise clinical evidence.
• Has actively participated in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes
• Ability to work in a participatory way so that shared decision making and conversations around formulation/diagnosis and ongoing care are a collaborative endeavour with the people who access our service.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Highmore
Western Road
Hailsham
BN27 3DY
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Divisional Clinical Director - Specialist Services
Dr Jane McCarthy
jane.mccarthy9@nhs.net

Details
Date posted
01 September 2026
Pay scheme
Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade
Consultant
Salary
£113,565 to £150,569 a year
per annum (pro rata for part time working)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time,
Flexible working
Reference number
354-CS-21950-A
Job locations
Highmore
Western Road
Hailsham
BN27 3DY
United Kingdom

Supporting documents
Privacy notice
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)