Job summary
CAMHS Practitioner - Band 6
The Mental Health Support Teams are part of an exciting trailblazer project funded by NHS England, Health Education England and partners, with the aim of improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in the community.
There is a specific focus on developing more access to helping and improving the general culture of emotional support within all primary and secondary schools. Working alongside community partners the Mental Health Support Teams will be fully integrated with community CAMHS and educational settings.
You would be joining a comprehensive and dynamic CAMHS service, delivering a substantial stepped model of care following the needs-led i-Thrive framework.
Your role will help to develop and deliver a wide range of interventions, projects and system change with the aim of whole school and whole community approaches to supporting young people's mental health. In addition to providing comprehensive consultation, assessment, risk management and interventions for young people experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties in schools, the postholder will supervise more junior colleagues. There may be an option of supervisor training at Reading University in the future.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a confident CAMHS professional with experience of providing evidence-based interventions. You will be a CYP mental health practitioner (Family & Systemic Psychotherapist / Clinical Psychologist / Counselling Psychologist / Educational Psychologist /Occupational Therapist / Registered Nurse / Social Worker/ Senior CWP or EMHP).The MHST focuses on early interventions, working closely with schools and our partners to improve access to services for children and young people to mental health services. The team will focus on the needs of the community to help reduce health inequalities whilst delivering our whole school approach.
The community served is multi-ethnic and culturally diverse and we welcome applicants who are skilled at working with the richness and complexity of this multicultural context.
About us
We offer an exciting and dynamic environment where your ideas and career development will be valued. You will be supported directly by senior colleagues, and we will develop the service together. You will be supported by regular, separate clinical and management supervision sessions, access to a variety of CPD sessions, and annual performance appraisal. You will also participate in weekly clinical discussions with the team. East London NHS Trust prioritizes staff wellbeing, and we are introducing a range of staff wellbeing initiatives to support this.
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and person specification please see attached JD & PS.
For contact details please see below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and person specification please see attached JD & PS.
For contact details please see below.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Qualification in appropriate mental health/social welfare profession such: (Family & Systemic Psychotherapist / Clinical Psychologist / Counselling Psychologist / Educational Psychologist /Occupational Therapist / Clinical Nurse Specialist (Mental Health) / Social Worker/ CWP or EMHP)
- (CWPs/EMHPs should have 2 years post qualification experience)
- Appropriate level of qualification for your profession e.g. PG Diploma, BSc, Masters
- Evidence of continuous and relevant professional training and development (CPD), as appropriate with qualification period
- Clinical supervision training and skills
Desirable
- Post Grad training or experience to support the needs of different children, young people and their families
- Mentor/Practice educator qualification
- Registration with your appropriate body (e.g. UKCP, NMC, HCP etc.)
Experience
Essential
- Experience in working with children and young people with mild to moderate emotional and behavioural needs.
- Previous experience of working in CAMHS, education or community organisation with a focus on social emotional and mental health needs
- Experience of working with a wide range of social, emotional, behavioural and mental health needs.
- Experience of working with families, school and other partner organisation to support young people who may be displaying behaviours that challenge.
- Experience of delivering evidence based Parent groups and psychoeducation groups.
- Experience of working with children, young people and families in emotional crisis.
- Experience of risk assessment and risk management
- Experience in working in a multi-disciplinary context
- Experience, skills and flexibility to contribute to and facilitate effective working within a multi-disciplinary team setting
- Experience of care planning
- Experience of working in a culturally diverse Inner city area
- Have implemented additional CPD into practice with CYP
- Responsibility for specific pathways / cohorts of YP E.g. LGBTQ, SEND etc.
Desirable
- Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters and awareness of the impact of race and ethnicity on a CYP experience.
- Experience of working in a specialist or alternative school or education setting
- Experience of supporting schools to develop a whole school approach to resilience or through trauma informed practices
- Experience in participation and co-production
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Evidence of well-developed clinical skills and knowledge in children, young people and family mental health
- Specialist clinical skills within specific therapeutic modalities
- Confidence to work autonomously in the community and use own initiative, and make decisions in complex situations.
- Experience of delivering group interventions and psychoeducation in person and virtually.
- Able to manage own time and Caseload
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Evidence of ability to lead, support and influence others
- Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries
- Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres
- Basic computer skills: Outlook, word, excel, powerpoint, MSTeams, Zoom and patient records
- Good interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with others.
- Ability to recognise own limits and seek support re supervision as appropriate.
- The ability to empathise in a complex sensitive or emotional environment.
- Sensitivity to deal with distress, and aggression.
Desirable
- An interest of developing some area of expertise
- Keyboard skills Presentation/teaching skills
- Able to work with younger children as well as pupils year 5 and older
- Experience of therapy modalities suited to children, young people and their families
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge, understanding and experience with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and families with a high level of deprivation
- A broad appreciation of the contribution of other therapeutic disciplines to a multi-agency service
- Experience, skills and ability to liaise effectively with other agencies and professionals
- A working knowledge of Child Protection Guidelines
Desirable
- Knowledge of current development in children and young people's mental health and emotional wellbeing.
- Knowledge of the impact of Covid-19 in relation to isolation, loss of structure, routine and bereavement.
Other
Essential
- Commitment to equal opportunities Self-motivated, assertive and flexible.
- Freedom to act: Physical effort: Confined sitting position (therapy); travelling within community.
- Mental effort: writing reports; planning teaching; concentrating for therapy sessions /clinical Supervision; managing pupil distress. Balancing the demands of being a clinician in a schools environment.
- Emotional effort: Dealing with families in breakdown; experiencing trauma and abuse; occasional patient complaints; conveying of unwelcome news
- Working conditions: Occasional verbal and physical abuse; unpredictable clinical scenarios eg. Distressed young people and their families; travel in community all weathers; based on different sites on different days.
Desirable
- Ability and willingness to work outside office hours when required by the role.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Qualification in appropriate mental health/social welfare profession such: (Family & Systemic Psychotherapist / Clinical Psychologist / Counselling Psychologist / Educational Psychologist /Occupational Therapist / Clinical Nurse Specialist (Mental Health) / Social Worker/ CWP or EMHP)
- (CWPs/EMHPs should have 2 years post qualification experience)
- Appropriate level of qualification for your profession e.g. PG Diploma, BSc, Masters
- Evidence of continuous and relevant professional training and development (CPD), as appropriate with qualification period
- Clinical supervision training and skills
Desirable
- Post Grad training or experience to support the needs of different children, young people and their families
- Mentor/Practice educator qualification
- Registration with your appropriate body (e.g. UKCP, NMC, HCP etc.)
Experience
Essential
- Experience in working with children and young people with mild to moderate emotional and behavioural needs.
- Previous experience of working in CAMHS, education or community organisation with a focus on social emotional and mental health needs
- Experience of working with a wide range of social, emotional, behavioural and mental health needs.
- Experience of working with families, school and other partner organisation to support young people who may be displaying behaviours that challenge.
- Experience of delivering evidence based Parent groups and psychoeducation groups.
- Experience of working with children, young people and families in emotional crisis.
- Experience of risk assessment and risk management
- Experience in working in a multi-disciplinary context
- Experience, skills and flexibility to contribute to and facilitate effective working within a multi-disciplinary team setting
- Experience of care planning
- Experience of working in a culturally diverse Inner city area
- Have implemented additional CPD into practice with CYP
- Responsibility for specific pathways / cohorts of YP E.g. LGBTQ, SEND etc.
Desirable
- Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters and awareness of the impact of race and ethnicity on a CYP experience.
- Experience of working in a specialist or alternative school or education setting
- Experience of supporting schools to develop a whole school approach to resilience or through trauma informed practices
- Experience in participation and co-production
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Evidence of well-developed clinical skills and knowledge in children, young people and family mental health
- Specialist clinical skills within specific therapeutic modalities
- Confidence to work autonomously in the community and use own initiative, and make decisions in complex situations.
- Experience of delivering group interventions and psychoeducation in person and virtually.
- Able to manage own time and Caseload
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Evidence of ability to lead, support and influence others
- Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries
- Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres
- Basic computer skills: Outlook, word, excel, powerpoint, MSTeams, Zoom and patient records
- Good interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with others.
- Ability to recognise own limits and seek support re supervision as appropriate.
- The ability to empathise in a complex sensitive or emotional environment.
- Sensitivity to deal with distress, and aggression.
Desirable
- An interest of developing some area of expertise
- Keyboard skills Presentation/teaching skills
- Able to work with younger children as well as pupils year 5 and older
- Experience of therapy modalities suited to children, young people and their families
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge, understanding and experience with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and families with a high level of deprivation
- A broad appreciation of the contribution of other therapeutic disciplines to a multi-agency service
- Experience, skills and ability to liaise effectively with other agencies and professionals
- A working knowledge of Child Protection Guidelines
Desirable
- Knowledge of current development in children and young people's mental health and emotional wellbeing.
- Knowledge of the impact of Covid-19 in relation to isolation, loss of structure, routine and bereavement.
Other
Essential
- Commitment to equal opportunities Self-motivated, assertive and flexible.
- Freedom to act: Physical effort: Confined sitting position (therapy); travelling within community.
- Mental effort: writing reports; planning teaching; concentrating for therapy sessions /clinical Supervision; managing pupil distress. Balancing the demands of being a clinician in a schools environment.
- Emotional effort: Dealing with families in breakdown; experiencing trauma and abuse; occasional patient complaints; conveying of unwelcome news
- Working conditions: Occasional verbal and physical abuse; unpredictable clinical scenarios eg. Distressed young people and their families; travel in community all weathers; based on different sites on different days.
Desirable
- Ability and willingness to work outside office hours when required by the role.
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.
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
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).
