Meet Dr Sarah Michaels

I'm a GP with an extended role in neurodevelopmental conditions, so my work at Clinical Partners brings general practice holistic experience to specialist assessment. Day-to-day that means seeing adults and young people for ADHD and autism assessments, diagnostic formulation, and post-diagnostic support including ADHD medication. I contribute to the Medicines Management Committee and assist with other clinical advisory roles. I also bring my passion for education and service development to the role.

Neurodevelopmental assessment done well requires gathering history from multiple angles, sitting with complexity and being honest when the picture isn't straightforward. I also look for other clues for diagnosis and personalised support options, including the associated physical conditions, specific learning needs and other neurodevelopmental cognitive trait profiles.

I wanted to work somewhere that takes neurodevelopmental conditions seriously as a clinical specialism rather than a bolt-on. Clinical Partners has the infrastructure to support complex assessments and a large multidisciplinary team of colleagues who are happy to share advice and insight. Clinical Partners has led the way in recognising that neurodivergence is part of a whole-body constellation of conditions, hence realising that GPs are well-placed to diagnose and manage neurodivergent patients. 

There is genuine interest in doing things well and in sharing expertise across the team. The leadership team members are approachable and down-to-earth and clearly interested in the wellbeing of both staff and patients. 

I meet young people who have been told that they are naughty, and who seem to have lost trust in other adults. The moment you see that they feel heard and understood is really heart-warming.  There ia also variety and the opportunity to assist in wider operational roles, which makes me feel valued.

Patients' frustration at long NHS waits and meeting me with an expectation that I will say that the 'computer says no'. Sometimes we have to delay things whilst we gather more information, but we have a good support team who can help us keep patients updated.  I try to make sure every consultation has something actionable in it, even when I can't fix the wider picture. Having a strong peer network also helps; being able to think out loud with colleagues you respect makes complex cases more manageable.

Having the administrative and governance infrastructure handled well means I can focus on the clinical work itself. I also value working alongside psychiatrists and other specialists; it means patients get a genuinely multidisciplinary lens when they need it.

Join us. Working at Clinical Partners suits clinicians who take their specialism seriously and want to keep developing whilst feeling supported.