Kindy Mahal

My role

I have been in post as a Learning Disability CAMHS consultant in Swindon for 13 years.  I work as part of a Multi Disciplinary Team offering assessment and interventions to children and young people , their families and the networks around them.

What I do

The young people I mainly work with present with moderate-severe learning disabilities and mental health difficulties/disorders.

A typical week for me involves joining weekly MDT team meetings, joint assessment with members of  the team to formulate complex cases, offering psychoeducation , therapeutic interventions and medication interventions when indicated.

I am also part of the Neurodevelopmental Conditions team which is involved in assessment and diagnosing neurodevelopmental conditions.

This involves joint clinic appointments with multidisciplinary team colleagues, diagnostic discussions and liaison with multiagency colleagues including paediatric health and education.

Training opportunities

I have been lucky enough to both complete part of my specialist training and to work in Swindon as a consultant.

There have been excellent training and learning opportunities both formally through being able to attend training courses and informally also through working closely with colleagues and the informal chats in the kitchen and corridors!

Excellent team culture

We have an excellent team culture and genuine warmth for each other as colleagues.

I feel really supported by everyone on the team including consultant colleagues, therapy and nursing colleagues and especially administrative colleagues.

Swindon is good

Swindon is a good place to work – it has excellent rail links and it’s really useful having the District General Hospital nearby.

I am fortunate enough to be able to work part time and changed my hours to support child care, which means I now work 3 days across 4.

Leadership

I am also joint Associate Clinical Director for BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire CAMHS.

This is a role that I felt able to apply to because of the experience, skills and passion I felt and gained as part of the Swindon leadership team.

I was able to access training that the wider SMT offer to senior members of the team to develop skills which supported my successful application to the post.