Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic, flexible, and self-motivated individual who is passionate about making a meaningful difference to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. If you are committed to delivering high-quality care, value collaborative team working, and are looking for a rewarding new challenge, this could be an excellent opportunity for you. Strong communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills are essential, alongside a motivation to support positive outcomes for young people and their families.

The Community Access Service (CAS) is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for an experienced CAMHS Practitioner to join our established and dedicated team. CAS has a strong commitment to improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people within schools and the wider community. This role provides the opportunity to deliver evidence-based interventions across a range of educational settings, helping to increase early access to support and ensure timely mental health care for young people.

Main duties of the job
As part of a comprehensive and dynamic CAMHS service, you will contribute to the delivery of a substantial stepped-care model informed by the needs-led THRIVE framework. The role offers the opportunity to develop and deliver a wide range of interventions, projects, and service developments that support whole-school and whole-community approaches to mental health. Alongside direct clinical work, you will contribute to wider system change initiatives designed to improve emotional wellbeing and create supportive environments for children and young people. The role also includes participation in multi-agency meetings, consultation services, and drop-in sessions, offering advice and guidance to schools, families, and community partners to ensure joined-up, collaborative support for children and young people.

The successful candidate will provide consultation, assessment, risk management, and therapeutic interventions for young people experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties within educational settings. In addition, the post holder will provide supervision and support to junior colleagues, helping to develop their clinical practice and professional skills.

About us
The Community Access Service forms part of East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), which includes five CAMHS services across East London, Bedfordshire, and Luton. The Bedford CAS is a busy multidisciplinary team that works closely with all specialist pathways across the North Bedfordshire service, including Crisis, Emotional and Behavioural, and Neurodevelopmental services. We are proud of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion and actively value the unique perspectives and experiences that each team member brings.

For further information, please contact Janine McNally, Operational Lead, Community Access Service, at Janine.McNally@nhs.net

Job responsibilities
Please see attached Job Description and Personal Specification for further details of role requirements.

Person Specification
Education/Qualification/Training
Essential

• A qualification in Child Psychotherapy, Clinical or Counselling Psychology, Family Therapy, Social Work, Arts Psychotherapy or Nursing & Registration Please do not apply for this role if you do not have one of the qualifications listed above
• The candidate to have at least two year's post qualification experience.
• Understanding of current NHS/Social Care policies/practices relating to Mental Health and Services and understands the Child Protection Policy

Desirable

• Parenting qualification and parenting supervision qualification.
• Specific therapeutic modality training and qualification e.g. CBT, DBT, IPT And accreditation with BABCP etc.
• IAPT supervisors Page 8 of 9 course

Experience
Essential

• Previous experience of working in CAMHS
• Experience of working with a wide range of mental health problems commonly seen in CAMHS
• Experience of care planning
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary way

Desirable

• Delivery of parenting programmes - WebsterStratton, Triple P, NVR etc. Previous experience working with schools in mental health capacity.
• Supervision of clinicians delivering parenting and manualised CBT interventions
• Experience of working in a culturally diverse inner city area
• Experience in crisis work

Knowledge
Essential

• A high degree of self-awareness and an ability to reflect on personal and professional attitudes and accept feedback
• Awareness of current national guidelines and policies in the field of CAMHS
• Specific knowledge of pertinent issues for CAMHS
• In depth knowledge of CAMHS issues including assessment and interventions
• Knowledge of The Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007) and associated legislation
• Knowledge of specific inner city issues which impact of care delivery
• Knowledge of the Children's Act and other appropriate legislation
• Knowledge of standard setting and audit implementation
• An awareness of different research methods
• A working knowledge of Child Protection Guidelines

Desirable

• Knowledge of development in inter agency partnership

Skills
Essential

• Evidence of well developed clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS
• Specialist clinical skills within in specific therapeutic modalities
• 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
• Keyboard/computer skills

Other
Essential

• Commitment to equal opportunities
• Self motivated, assertive and flexible
• Proven qualities in sustaining the mental, emotional and physical demands of specialized therapeutic work with disturbed and distressed children, adolescents and their families/carer networks.
• Car driver essential
• Freedom to act: Physical effort: Confined sitting position(therapy); travelling within community; keyboard skills
• Mental effort: writing reports; planning teaching; concentrating for therapy sessions /clinical supervision; managing psychiatric emergencies
• Emotional effort: Dealing with families in breakdown; experiencing trauma and abuse; occasional patient complaints; conveying of unwelcome news
• Working conditions: Occasional abusive behaviour; unpredictable clinical scenarios eg emergency home visits; travel in community in all weathers.

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).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).