I have been working as a NHS Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Sunderland and South Tyneside for more than 10 years - since December 2008. I am Lead Consultant and Assistant Medical Director for the CYPS (Children and Young peoples' services) based in Monkwearmouth Hospital. I have thus developed a sound understanding of the challenges in this region and strong working relationships with the relevant agencies in paediatrics and education. I have also been managing a large clinical caseload very effectively and become highly experienced in diagnostics and management of a wide range of mental health issues in children and young people.

I specialise in assessment and management of ASD (Autism Spectrum disorders ), ADHD, tics and tourettes syndrome and associated difficulties. I also provide holistic assessment and treatments including medication and therapeutic input for a range of psychiatric conditions presenting in children and young people including depression, anxiety, OCD , eating disorders, bipolar disorder and psychoses, as well as emotional adjustment issues.

I have been practicing in the UK in the NHS since 2001, and over this period I have worked in general adult and old age community and inpatient services and in child and adolescent psychiatry for the last 15 years. On average I have 25 psychiatric appointments as well as 3-5 diagnostic case discussions a week through my NHS work. I also provide emergency psychiatry input on the on call rota and do mental health act assessments to organise psychiatric admissions when necessary. I also provide clinical supervision to my consultant and junior doctors as well as nurses in the team.

I am Assistant Medical Director for NHS Community Mental Services in NTW Trust in Sunderland and South Tyneside. I am also on the medicines optimisation committee, and the CYPS strategic clinical network. I am an appraiser for my medical colleagues in the NTW Trust.

I am the Educational and Clinical Supervisor for junior doctors in the team. In addition to my clinical work, I have been appointed Medical Staff Governor for NTW Board of Governors. I am also a Specialist Advisor for the CQC (Care Quality Commission).