Neurodevelopment
Assessment and management of autism, ADHD, developmental delay and neurodisability in children and young people.
MEDICINE WITH A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE
Dr Sid Kaithakkoden FRCPCH
Understanding
the child.
Seeing the
whole picture.
Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician
Autism, ADHD & community child health.
Neurodevelopment✦Whole-child care✦Clinical leadership✦Medical education
01 / A LITTLE ABOUT ME
A clinical life.
A wider perspective.
Good care begins with understanding a child’s world.
I am a Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician specialising in autism, ADHD and developmental differences. My work brings together clinical assessment, clear communication and coordinated support for children and families.
At Wye Valley NHS Trust, my work includes preschool neurodevelopmental assessment, clinical supervision and teaching. Across community paediatrics and neurodisability, I have worked with health, education and therapy teams to help connect care around the whole child.
I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, with a professional background spanning the UK, Oman and the UAE.
NHS professional profile ↗MBBS · DCH · DNB · MD · MRCPCH · FCPS · FRCPCH
02 / CLINICAL FOCUS
Expertise, with
the child at its heart.
Connected care
Multidisciplinary assessment, ADHD medication review, preschool development, special school clinics and looked after children’s health.
Leadership & teaching
Experience as Autism Service Lead, educational supervisor, medical appraiser and clinical academy tutor, with a focus on improving services.
03 / EXPERIENCE
A career shaped by
children’s needs.
Community practice, specialist care and clinical leadership.
Feb 2026–present
Wye Valley NHS Trust
Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician
Herefordshire
Lead preschool neurodevelopmental assessment clinics for suspected autism, ADHD and developmental delay. Clinical supervision of trainees and medical students, with departmental teaching.
Sep 2021–Jul 2024
Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
Paediatric Neurodisability Consultant
Russells Hall Hospital
Autism Service Lead and interim Named Doctor for Child Protection, with safeguarding on-call responsibilities. Neurodevelopmental assessment, complex care and MDT coordination. Educational and Clinical Supervisor, Medical Appraiser and Clinical Academy Tutor at the Ron Grimsley Undergraduate Centre.
Other recent appointments · 2024–2025
2025
Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Locum Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician
United Kingdom
Outpatient diagnostic assessments for ADHD/ASD and medication management; multidisciplinary preschool developmental delay clinic; Young DIVA-5, QbTest and Conners-4 assessments for ADHD; ADOS assessment and interpretation with psychology/SLT colleagues for autism; special school clinics and looked after children's health assessments; MDT leadership and clinical governance.
Feb–May 2025
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician
Kettering
Neurodevelopmental diagnostic assessments and ADHD medication management; preschool multidisciplinary assessments, looked after children’s health assessments and special school clinics. MDT leadership, clinical governance, guideline development and service planning.
Jul–Oct 2024
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics
United Kingdom
Specialist neurodevelopmental and community child health practice, including complex care, preschool assessment, looked after children and special school clinics. Multidisciplinary leadership, clinical governance, policy and service development.
Earlier consultant & specialist roles · 2014–2021
Nov 2020–Oct 2021
Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS Trust
Consultant
Worcestershire
Mar–Oct 2020
Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend
Consultant Paediatrician
May 2019–Mar 2020
Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust
Consultant Paediatrician
Gem Centre, Wolverhampton
Jan–May 2019
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Consultant Paediatrics and Child Health
West Bromwich
Nov–Dec 2018
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant
Bolton
Short-term locum post.
Jan–Nov 2018
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust
Consultant Paediatrician
Coventry
Locum consultant paediatrician.
Dec 2017–Jan 2018
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant
Chertsey, Surrey
Developmental paediatrics.
Apr–Nov 2017
Weston Area Health NHS Trust
Locum Consultant
Weston-super-Mare
Community and developmental paediatrics.
Nov 2016–Mar 2017
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Paediatrician
Swindon
Aug–Nov 2016
Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust
Locum Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist
Worthing Hospital
Mar–Aug 2016
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Locum Consultant Paediatrician
Plymouth
Senior middle grade responsibility in paediatrics and child health, as described in the profile.
Sep 2015–Mar 2016
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
Senior Registrar — Cardiology
Liverpool
Full-time post with a 1:8 on-call rota, ward rounds, clinics, ECG, echocardiography and exercise testing, ICU cardiology and cardiac surgery rounds, weekly JCC/MDT meetings and junior teaching.
Nov 2014–Apr 2015
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
Associate Specialist
Liverpool
Three independent paediatric clinics and three days of independent ward rounds per week, with acute second on-call A&E duty one day per week.
Sep–Nov 2014
Burnley General Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Neonatology
Conventional neonatal ventilation, cranial ultrasound, echocardiography, peripheral long and arterial lines, umbilical arterial and venous catheter insertion, and total parenteral nutrition.
Training & international experience · 1994–2014
Jun–Aug 2014
Royal Preston Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Paediatrics
Preston
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Oct 2013–Jun 2014
Leeds General Infirmary
Specialist Registrar — Acute Paediatrics
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Sep–Oct 2013
Lincoln County Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Paediatrics
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Apr–Aug 2013
Derriford Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Paediatrics
Plymouth
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Mar–Apr 2013
Manchester Children’s Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Paediatric Nephrology
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Dec 2012–Feb 2013
Derriford Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Paediatrics
Plymouth
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Mar–Nov 2012
Frenchay Hospital
Clinical Fellow / Senior Registrar — Paediatric Neurology
Bristol
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Sep 2011–Feb 2012
University Hospital Cardiff
Specialist Registrar — Neonatology
Wales
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Sep 2010–Sep 2011
Gloucester Hospital
Specialist Registrar — General Paediatrics
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Sep 2009–Sep 2010
Gloucester Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Neonatology
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Mar–Sep 2009
Bristol Children’s Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Respiratory Medicine
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Sep 2008–Mar 2009
Bristol Children’s Hospital
Specialist Registrar — PICU
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Mar–Sep 2008
Bristol Children’s Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Paediatric Cardiology
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Mar 2007–Mar 2008
Southmead Hospital, North Bristol Trust
Specialist Registrar — Neonatology
Full-time training with an on-call rota.
Sep 2006–Mar 2007
Derriford Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Community Paediatrics
Plymouth
Full-time post with an on-call rota.
Sep 2005–Sep 2006
North Devon District Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Paediatrics
Full-time post with an on-call rota.
Mar–Sep 2005
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Neonatology
Full-time post with resident on-call duties.
Sep 2004–Mar 2005
Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Specialist Registrar — Paediatric Cardiology
Full-time post with a resident on-call rota.
Jan 1997–Jun 2004
Saqr Hospital, Ministry of Health, UAE
Paediatrician
Paediatric specialist.
Dec 1994–Dec 1996
Rustaq Hospital, Ministry of Health, Oman
Paediatrician
Paediatric specialist.
04 / PERSPECTIVES
Ideas from
the frontline.
Reflections on neurodevelopment, connected services and clinical practice.
Follow on LinkedIn ↗05 / QUALIFICATIONS
A strong foundation.
Always learning.
FRCPCH
Fellow of the Royal College of
Paediatrics and Child Health
Medical qualifications
- MRCPCHRoyal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- FCPS · DCHCollege of Physicians and Surgeons
- MD · PaediatricsUniversity of Bombay
- DNBNational Board of Examinations
- MBBSUniversity of Calicut
Continued professional development
- ADHD Specialist CertificationADHD LLC · 2025
- Train the TrainerMIAD workshop · 2025
Level 3 CPD diploma · 2023 - Education & appraisalNew Appraiser Training · 2023
Educational & Clinical Supervision · 2022
Training dates describe completed courses and do not imply current certification.
Further professional development
Advanced Resuscitation of the Newborn Infant (2023) · European Paediatric Advanced Life Support (2022) · Neonatal Life Support (2021) · Compassionate Leadership (2022) · Supporting trainees requiring additional support (2022) · Diploma in Health and Social Care (2020).
06 / TEACHING & INQUIRY
Sharing knowledge.
Improving practice.
Supporting the next generation
Clinical Academy Tutor at the Ron Grimsley Undergraduate Centre, OSCE examining at the University of Birmingham, and medical student teaching at the University of Liverpool.
Teaching interests include ADHD, developmental delay, sleep in neurodevelopmental conditions, childhood epilepsy and adverse childhood experiences.
Research & improvement
My work has included childhood deafness research, paediatric case reports and clinical audits across community and neonatal care.
Selected audit & research projects
Transition planning to adult services · 2025
Review of transition documentation and timing for young people aged 14 and over.
Developmental coordination disorder · 2025
Improving identification and management within community paediatric services.
Sleep outcomes and melatonin · 2024
Quality improvement work on sleep intervention in children aged three to six.
ADHD service audit
Review of diagnostic and medical assessment practice against guideline standards.
Neonatal care and screening
Audits of infant feeding, surfactant use and neonatal hearing screening.
Childhood deafness · 1991–1995
MD dissertation on the aetiology of childhood deafness and fellowship research into deafness in children with craniofacial malformations.
Selected publications
Schinzel-Geidion syndrome
31:1111–1114
Cohen syndrome
30:678–680
Proteus syndrome
39(4):219–221
07 / BEYOND THE CLINIC
Curiosity doesn’t stop
at the clinic door.
Gardening, painting, photography.
Cycling. Making things by hand.
Space for creativity, time outdoors and a different perspective.
Languages
MalayalamNative or bilingual
English · HindiFull professional proficiency
Arabic · Marathi · UrduProfessional working proficiency
TamilLimited working proficiency
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Let’s connect.
↗I welcome conversations with clinicians, educators and healthcare leaders working to improve services for children and young people.