South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Primary Mental Health Specialist

The closing date is 13 March 2026

Job summary

In an exciting new development, we are delighted to be in a position of expanding our workforce and are looking to appoint a children and young peoples mental health specialist to be part of a PCN (Primary Care Network) mental health service in Sunderland.

This includes looking for an individual who has the ability to support the delivery of evidence-based interventions for children, young people and their families who present with a wide range of mental health difficulties.

In a new and innovative service model, the team is comprised of high and low intensity Children and Young People's Mental Health (CYPMH) practitioners and will work closely with our well-established Sunderland Community Children and Young People's mental Health Service ( SCCYPMHS).

This multi-disciplinary team will deliver a range of interventions that identify mental health difficulties at the earliest stage, and facilitate the provision of services that promote resilience, and enable positive mental health.

If you are a skilled, experienced, enthusiastic and highly motivated CYPMH practitioner and are seeking an opportunity to play an instrumental role developing innovative services for children, young people and their families, this could be the post for you.

Main duties of the job

We expect the post holder to have sound children and young peoples mental health knowledge and skills. You will have the aptitude, motivation and enthusiasm for working within a groundbreaking service. Candidates will need:

An appropriate professional qualification and registration in nursing, teaching (with QTS Qualified Teacher Status), social work or allied health professions e.g. RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed, PGCE or equivalent.

Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.

Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.

Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.

Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work.

Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals and work co-operatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Lesley Gammell, CYPMHS Clinical Lead on 0191 5244000

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Details

Date posted

27 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year £49,387 - £56,515 (26/27 pay award pending)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9155-CMAHP-0226-43

Job locations

Pennywell Mental Health Community Hub

Petersfield Road

Sunderland

SR4 9BD


Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as a member of the PCN (Primary Care Network) Mental Health Team in Sunderland providing first-line Mental Health interventions to Children and Young People aged 0-25 years.

To work alongside GPs in PCN areas in providing initial contacts to children, young people and families who present with mental health difficulties.

This includes the direct provision of evidence based, outcome focused standards of care to children, young people and families and the delivery of high quality training, consultation and support to other Primary Care Network providers.

The service will be delivered from community bases as an integral part of an agreed model of multi-agency CYPMH provision.

To lead, motivate and support the team through the provision of supervision and clinical expertise.

To work alongside the Clinical Lead and Clinical Team Manager as part of the leadership team.

The post holder will ensure they uphold our Trust vision, values and behaviours.

To promote at all times a positive image of children and young people with mental health conditions.

To promote at all times a positive image of the specialist service area and the wider Trust.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as a member of the PCN (Primary Care Network) Mental Health Team in Sunderland providing first-line Mental Health interventions to Children and Young People aged 0-25 years.

To work alongside GPs in PCN areas in providing initial contacts to children, young people and families who present with mental health difficulties.

This includes the direct provision of evidence based, outcome focused standards of care to children, young people and families and the delivery of high quality training, consultation and support to other Primary Care Network providers.

The service will be delivered from community bases as an integral part of an agreed model of multi-agency CYPMH provision.

To lead, motivate and support the team through the provision of supervision and clinical expertise.

To work alongside the Clinical Lead and Clinical Team Manager as part of the leadership team.

The post holder will ensure they uphold our Trust vision, values and behaviours.

To promote at all times a positive image of children and young people with mental health conditions.

To promote at all times a positive image of the specialist service area and the wider Trust.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
  • Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work.
  • Ability to be a role model in terms of values, attitudes and behaviours, in line with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust organisational framework.
  • Skilled in the delivery of clinical and caseload supervision.
  • Proven ability to design and deliver training to a broad range of professionals.
  • Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals and work cooperatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.
  • Ability to engage vulnerable and hard to reach groups.
  • Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
  • Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist children's service provision.
  • Ability to work autonomously and as part of a Multidisciplinary team
  • Excellent time and caseload management.

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
  • Experience of working within a community context.
  • Proven record in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training with own specialism.
  • Experience of leading in the development of specific aspects of service delivery.
  • Extensive experience of working collaboratively within a multi-agency context.

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
  • Experience in supervising professional colleagues from non-specialist backgrounds.
  • Experience of working in the area of research or audit.
  • Experience of working with an adult mental health/perinatal service.
  • Experience of working within Primary Care Settings
  • Experience of leadership of teams

Qualifications

Essential

  • Appropriate professional qualification e.g. RGN,RMN,OT, DipSW, B.Ed/ PGCE (with Qualified Teacher Status), or equivalent.
  • Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.

Desirable

  • Accreditation with relevant therapeutic body.
  • Post-graduate leadership qualification in relevant area
  • Post-graduate qualification in low-intensity psychological interventions

Physical skills

Essential

  • Good IT skills
  • Car driver

Desirable

  • IT Qualification
Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
  • Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work.
  • Ability to be a role model in terms of values, attitudes and behaviours, in line with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust organisational framework.
  • Skilled in the delivery of clinical and caseload supervision.
  • Proven ability to design and deliver training to a broad range of professionals.
  • Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals and work cooperatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.
  • Ability to engage vulnerable and hard to reach groups.
  • Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
  • Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist children's service provision.
  • Ability to work autonomously and as part of a Multidisciplinary team
  • Excellent time and caseload management.

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
  • Experience of working within a community context.
  • Proven record in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training with own specialism.
  • Experience of leading in the development of specific aspects of service delivery.
  • Extensive experience of working collaboratively within a multi-agency context.

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
  • Experience in supervising professional colleagues from non-specialist backgrounds.
  • Experience of working in the area of research or audit.
  • Experience of working with an adult mental health/perinatal service.
  • Experience of working within Primary Care Settings
  • Experience of leadership of teams

Qualifications

Essential

  • Appropriate professional qualification e.g. RGN,RMN,OT, DipSW, B.Ed/ PGCE (with Qualified Teacher Status), or equivalent.
  • Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.

Desirable

  • Accreditation with relevant therapeutic body.
  • Post-graduate leadership qualification in relevant area
  • Post-graduate qualification in low-intensity psychological interventions

Physical skills

Essential

  • Good IT skills
  • Car driver

Desirable

  • IT Qualification

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Pennywell Mental Health Community Hub

Petersfield Road

Sunderland

SR4 9BD


Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Pennywell Mental Health Community Hub

Petersfield Road

Sunderland

SR4 9BD


Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

CYPMHS Clinical Lead

Lesley Gammell

lesley.gammell@nhs.net

01915244000

Details

Date posted

27 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year £49,387 - £56,515 (26/27 pay award pending)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9155-CMAHP-0226-43

Job locations

Pennywell Mental Health Community Hub

Petersfield Road

Sunderland

SR4 9BD


Supporting documents

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