Community Child Health (CCH) offers a meaningful and varied career path, well suited to doctors seeking clinical continuity, team collaboration, and impact beyond the hospital. Whether you are already working in a CCH post or looking to become an SAS doctor within CCH, there are many ways to grow your skills, gain recognition, and shape your role.
Specialty and Specialist Doctors (SAS) play a vital role in delivering care for children with developmental needs, safeguarding concerns, long-term conditions, and social vulnerabilities.
Below we have provided information on:
- What does being an SAS doctor in community child health involve?
- How do I develop as an SAS doctor in community child health?
- Explore further
What does being an SAS doctor in community child health involve?
There are varied roles for SAS doctors within community child health. These could involve (but are not limited to) the following:
- Leading developmental, behavioural and neurodisability clinics
- Managing the health needs of care experienced children, including undertaking statutory processes such as Initial Health Assessments
- Conducting Child Protection Medical Examinations and taking part in regular peer review
- Liaising with schools, therapists, and social care teams
- Writing reports to support Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- Supporting families through long-term care and complex decisions
“I came to community paediatrics from an acute background. The ability to follow families over time, focus on holistic care, and work closely with education and safeguarding has been incredibly rewarding.” — SAS Doctor, West Midlands
How do I develop as an SAS doctor in Community Child Health?
If you’re already working in a Community post:
- Keep a portfolio of your clinical experience, safeguarding cases and feedback
- Identify areas of focus such as neurodisability, safeguarding or child public health
- Join local MDTs, safeguarding forums and CYP transformation programmes
- Lead or contribute to audit, QI or other service development projects
- Get involved in supervising trainees or delivering local teaching
If you are in another role and want to move to community paediatrics:
- Arrange clinical sessions or a secondment in community paediatrics
- Express your interest to your clinical lead or workforce planning team
- Join BACCH to access CPD events and a national network of community paediatricians
- Attend child development, safeguarding or SEND training courses
- Consider building a portfolio for CESR if pursuing a formal route to specialist registration
Explore further:
Contact your local BACCH representative for support or mentorship
Join BACCH study days or webinars tailored to CCH themes
Learn about CESR in Paediatrics from the RCPCH
Whether you’re growing within your current role or preparing for career progression, CCH offers a fulfilling and impactful clinical path with opportunities to shape services and support some of the most vulnerable children in society.
