Dr Susannah Fairweather

Dr Fairweather has been practicing as a Consultant Psychiatrist since 2011. Her NHS Consultant practice began in a generic community CAMHS with a particular focus on emotional disorders, looked after children’s (LAC) mental health and early intervention psychosis. From this, she moved to work in specialist CAMHS teams at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, where she continues as a Consultant Psychiatrist in the Integrated service for Children and Young People with Disability (MOSAIC CAMHS) and in the Camden LAC Refugee CAMHS.

Dr Fairweather has extensive experience in the assessment and management of a wide range of emotional disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders and complex mental illness presentations in children and young people, many of whom have been severely traumatised and abused. She has a careful approach, using her medical and therapeutic skills to formulate an understanding of a young person’s presentation with them and their families/carers, including consideration of psychiatric diagnosis. From this, a treatment plan can be developed together using evidence based interventions, which may include medication. She has experience in a wide range of therapeutic modalities and working alongside multi-disciplinary colleagues to support young people and their families.

Dr Fairweather attended the University of Cambridge for her pre-clinical medical degree, which included studying History of Art Part II for her final year. She completed her clinical training at Barts and the London Medical School, University of London. She completed her core training in Psychiatry on the University College London and Royal Free Hospital training rotations, gaining membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2008. She undertook specialist training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on the Great Ormond Street Hospital and Royal London Higher Training scheme. Over time, she has further examined other aspects of medicine and healthcare through Postgraduate Diplomas in the History of Medicine and the Ethics and Philosophy of Healthcare at the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries.

Dr Fairweather has published in the area of psychiatric assessment and prepared an Invited paper for the International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, on the mental health of young refugee and asylum seekers in the Calais Jungle.

Dr Fairweather is a Clinical and Educational Supervisor in psychiatry for Health Education England. She is a member of the working party for asylum seeker and refugee mental health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. She has presented at national conferences on the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers.

Dr Fairweather is regularly instructed as an expert witness in the civil courts and Immigration and Asylum Tribunals. She is particularly passionate about helping decision makers understand the mental health presentations and needs of unaccompanied asylum seeking children, most of whom have suffered severe human rights abuses. She has undertaken expert witness assessments in the UK and internationally.

Dr Fairweather is on the Specialist GMC Register for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.