Job summaryWe are looking for a creative, forward thinking and motivated Senior CAMHS Practitioner to join our friendly and professional multi-disciplinary Community Access Service (CAS). The service is part of the exciting development of the CAMHS stepped model of care across Central Bedfordshire where the CAS team provide early intervention and community support for Young People with mild to moderate mental health concerns who would not meet the criteria of a clinic based CAMHS. The post holder will work with our community partners and be fully integrated in educational settings, GP practices and our Family partners in Central Bedfordshire Social Services. We also enjoy working with our excellent service user participation team and are committed to involving service users in all service development.
The wider CAS team comprises of 5 MHST (Mental Health Support Teams) but the post holder will have a specific and comprehensive focus of improving collaboration between the CBC Family Partners and CAMHS. Working alongside community partners the post holder will be working towards reducing the number of Young people at risk of developing severe emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Main duties of the jobWe are looking for confident CAMHS professionals with a demonstrable track record, within CAMHS, of providing good quality evidence-based interventions and improving service quality. You will be a Mental Health Nurse, Systemic Family Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Arts Psychotherapist, Social Worker, Child Psychotherapist, CBT Therapist, Counsellor or Occupational Therapist with the requisite professional registration. We welcome applicants who have experience of working or living in Central Bedfordshire.
There is a national focus on increasing the reach of Early Intervention for Children and Young People with the aim of improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in the community. In line with the recently published NHS 10 Year Plan we have an ambition to increase more access to early Intervention to all Young people in Central Bedfordshire and improve the general culture of emotional support to all Young people and their families. Working alongside community partners and our Mental Health Support Teams your team will be fully integrated with community CAMHS and educational settings.
About usOur 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.
DetailsDate posted: 14 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 363-SSLB8211841
Job locations: CB CAMHS, 67 High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1JF, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesFor further information regarding this post, please kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this advert.
For further details / informal visits contact: Laura Gill - CTL
laura.gill14@nhs.net
QualificationsEssential- A qualification of Mental Health Nurse, Systemic Family Psychotherapist, Clinical Psychologist, Art Psychotherapist, Social Work, Child Psychotherapist, Occupational Therapist, CBT Therapist & Registration, Councillor
- 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
ExperienceEssential- 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 - Webster-Stratton, Triple P, NVR etc.
- Previous experience working in a community role in mental health capacity.
- Experience of working with a culturally diverse population
SkillsEssential- 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
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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).
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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). 
