Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist ARFID Pathway

part-time (0.4 WTE) community post in child and adolescent eating disorder psychiatry, working within the ARFID Pathway of the East London Community Eating Disorder Service for Children and Young People (EL CEDS-CYP). The ARFID Pathway is a dedicated, community-based specialist pathway for children and young people aged 8-18 years with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) or suspected ARFID, delivering early, evidence-based, multidisciplinary assessment, consultation and brief intervention (6-8 structured sessions), supported by MDT formulation. The pathway addresses the gap between paediatric and mental health services, reduces fragmentation of care, and prevents avoidable escalation to acute hospital or Tier 4 services. The post holder will provide senior medical input to the ARFID Pathway, working closely with the ARFID Pathway Lead and the wider CEDS-CYP multidisciplinary team, including Psychology, Dietetics, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy and Paediatrics.

1. Provide consultant psychiatric leadership and support the continued development of the ARFID Pathway. 2. Ensure that children, young people and families consistently receive high-quality care that adheres to best practice guidelines (including NICE) and achieves high professional standards. 3. Undertake all work in the context of a recovery- and family-centred approach, placing the child, young person and their family at the centre of planning and decision-making. 4. Provide a key role as the senior medical clinician within the ARFID Pathway, supporting the wider work of the multidisciplinary team, working closely with and providing specialist psychiatric advice and support to non-medical members of the team. 5. Provide comprehensive psychiatric assessment of complex referrals, including consideration of ARFID and non-ARFID psychopathology, neurodevelopmental presentations and comorbid mental health difficulties.