Specialist ADHD ClinicianNHS

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced and motivated clinician to join DGS Health's growing Adult ADHD Service, delivering high-quality care through the NHS Right to Choose pathway.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a supportive multidisciplinary team, working alongside our Consultant Psychiatrist and experienced clinicians to provide timely, evidence-based care for adults with suspected or diagnosed ADHD. You will play a key role in supporting patients throughout their clinical journey while contributing to the ongoing development of an innovative and patient-centred service.

As part of our commitment to delivering outstanding care, you will help shape service improvement, maintain the highest standards of clinical governance and work in line with NICE guidance, NHS England standards and professional regulatory requirements.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will undertake comprehensive ADHD assessments, formulate diagnoses in line with NICE guidance, and provide high-quality, person-centred care throughout the patient's treatment journey. Depending on qualifications, you will initiate and manage ADHD medication, undertake medication titration and annual reviews, monitor physical health, and provide psychoeducation and ongoing support. You will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, contribute to clinical governance and quality improvement, maintain accurate clinical records, and build effective relationships with GPs and other healthcare professionals to support safe and effective shared care arrangements.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Assessment

Undertake comprehensive ADHD assessments including:

• Developmental history
• Psychiatric history
• Functional impairment assessment
• Mental State Examination
• Risk assessment
• Physical health assessment
• Differential diagnosis
• Assessment of co-existing mental health conditions

Use validated assessment tools including:

• DIVA-5
• ADHD Rating Scales
• Informant questionnaires
• Other evidence-based assessment tools adopted by the service

Produce comprehensive assessment reports for GP records.

Diagnosis

Work within agreed competency frameworks to:

• Formulate diagnoses using DSM-5 and NICE NG87 criteria.
• Present complex cases within MDT.
• Discuss diagnoses with the Consultant Psychiatrist where required.
• Provide structured diagnostic feedback to patients.
• Explain diagnostic conclusions and treatment options.

Complex cases, diagnostic uncertainty or significant co-morbidity must be discussed with the Consultant Psychiatrist.

Medication Management

Where appropriately qualified (Independent Prescriber):

• Initiate ADHD medication following Consultant-approved treatment plans.
• Prescribe within agreed clinical protocols.
• Monitor treatment response.
• Undertake medication titration.
• Review side effects.
• Adjust medication appropriately.
• Undertake annual medication reviews.
• Ensure safe prescribing of Controlled Drugs.

Where not an Independent Prescriber:

• Implement Consultant-approved treatment plans.
• Prepare recommendations for prescribing.
• Monitor treatment response.
• Escalate prescribing decisions appropriately.

Physical Health Monitoring

Undertake and interpret:

• Blood pressure
• Pulse
• Weight
• BMI
• Cardiovascular assessment
• Ongoing physical health monitoring during treatment

Escalate abnormalities in accordance with service protocols.

Risk Assessment

Assess and manage:

• Suicide risk
• Self-harm
• Safeguarding concerns
• Substance misuse
• Capacity and consent
• Risk associated with stimulant medication

Escalate safeguarding concerns in accordance with DGS Health Safeguarding policy.

Patient Education

Provide evidence-based education regarding:

• ADHD
• Medication
• Lifestyle management
• Sleep
• Occupational strategies
• Driving regulations where relevant
• Shared care arrangements
• Treatment expectations

Support patients to participate in shared decision-making.

Shared Care

Support transfer of prescribing to General Practice through:

• Preparation of shared care documentation.
• Communication with GPs.
• Clinical advice to Primary Care.
• Responding to GP queries.
• Ongoing specialist advice.

Annual Reviews

Undertake annual reviews including:

• Symptom review
• Functional assessment
• Physical monitoring
• Medication effectiveness
• Side effects
• Treatment optimisation

Provide written reports to General Practice.

Multidisciplinary Working

Participate in:

• MDT meetings
• Consultant supervision
• Case discussions
• Clinical governance meetings
• Peer review

Support integrated working across:

• Primary Care
• Mental Health Services
• Community Services
• Social Care

Clinical Governance

Participate in:

• Clinical audit
• Incident reporting
• Complaints investigation
• Quality improvement
• NICE compliance audits
• Service evaluation

Maintain accurate clinical documentation.

Information Governance

Ensure compliance with:

• UK GDPR
• Data Protection Act 2018
• NHS Records Management Code
• Confidentiality Code of Practice

Maintain high-quality clinical records.

Professional Responsibilities

Maintain registration with:

• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

or

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Maintain professional competence through:

• Continuing Professional Development
• Clinical supervision
• Reflective practice
• Mandatory training

Research and Quality Improvement

Participate in:

• Service audits
• Clinical research where appropriate
• Quality improvement initiatives
• Service redesign
• Outcome measurement

Leadership

Support junior clinicians by:

• Providing advice
• Sharing expertise
• Participating in supervision

General Responsibilities

The post holder will:

• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Comply with Health and Safety legislation.
• Support safeguarding.
• Promote patient-centred care.
• Act in accordance with professional codes of conduct.

About us

DGS Health is a GP Federation based in Gravesend, North Kent. We are comprised of 100% of local GP practices across Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley. We pride ourselves on being clinically led and managerially enabled and like to ensure we recruit people who share our ethos and culture. We are a small and friendly but growing organisation, employing over 33 people across a range of roles. Our services include urgent treatment services, paramedic home visiting, care home support and frailty nursing. We employ a diverse range of roles including Nurses, Administrators, Paramedics and GP's.