Job summary
To work within the Nottinghamshire multi-disciplinary Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team (CAMHS) to improve outcomes for children and young people experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties.

This predominantly non-patient-facing role sits within the CAMHS Single Point of Access (SPA) and is responsible for the clinical triage of referrals. The post holder screens referrals, gathers information from multiple sources, and applies clinical judgement to assess the nature, severity, urgency, and risk of presenting concerns.

The role includes identifying safeguarding issues, providing consultation, psychoeducation, risk management advice, and signposting children, young people, families, carers, and professionals to appropriate services.

Working within a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency framework, the post holder ensures referrals are directed to the most appropriate internal or external service based on clinical need, risk, safeguarding considerations, and service criteria, supporting timely access to the right care at the right time.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will work within the SPA team, providing specialist mental health expertise in the screening, triage, referral processing, delivering psychoeducation, risk management, safety advice to CYP, families & professionals.

The role requires an experienced practitioner to triage & formulate a broad range of emotional, mental health, behavioural, and neurodevelopmental presentations. Using clinical expertise via telephone & virtual interventions, they triage risk, respond to safeguarding concerns, & identify urgent mental health needs. Working within a formulation-informed, needs-led model, they support timely decision-making, triage, and pathway allocation, guided by the THRIVE Framework to ensure CYP receive the right support at the right time.

Working within a multi-agency framework, collaboration with Social Care, Education, Health Services, hospitals, community & voluntary organisations, & Adult Mental Health Services to facilitate holistic triage & timely access to appropriate support, assessment & intervention.

Knowledge of CAMHS pathways, NICE guidance, research, and evidence-based practice to support clinical decision-making, consultation, and signposting. Promote integrated working, challenge mental health stigma & advocates for compassionate, accessible, child-centred care, while maintaining a strong commitment to safeguarding, professional accountability, service development, continuous improvement & positive outcomes for CYP & families.

Job responsibilities
The CAMHS Specialist Practitioner will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary Single Point of Access (SPA) Team, providing specialist mental health expertise in the screening, triage, and processing of referrals into Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The post holder will deliver timely and effective consultation, psychoeducation, safety advice, risk management support, and emotional containment to children, young people, their families/carers, and professionals, ensuring that individuals are directed to the most appropriate service based on clinical need and evidence-based decision making.

The role requires a skilled and experienced practitioner with the ability to identify, triage, and formulate a wide range of emotional, mental health, behavioural, and neurodevelopmental presentations. The post holder will utilise clinical expertise to provide brief evidence-based interventions and advice, predominantly via telephone and virtual communication methods, while identifying and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns, risk presentations, and urgent mental health needs.

Working within a multi-agency framework, the practitioner will collaborate closely with a range of partner agencies, including Social Care, Educational Settings, Health Services, Acute Hospitals, Community Providers, Voluntary Sector Organisations, and Adult Mental Health Services. Through effective partnership working, the post holder will ensure that referrals are triaged holistically and that children and young people receive timely access to the most appropriate support, intervention, or assessment.

The CAMHS SPA Specialist Practitioner will play a key role in enhancing access to mental health provision for children and young people where there is a clinical indication for CAMHS involvement. Using a formulation-informed and needs-led approach, the post holder will contribute to timely assessment, decision making, and care pathway allocation, ensuring that interventions are delivered within a collaborative, child-centred, and multi-agency framework. Clinical decision making will be informed by the THRIVE Framework, supporting the delivery of the right care, at the right time, by the right service.

The post holder will maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of CAMHS treatment pathways, NICE guidance, research, and evidence-based interventions. They will apply this knowledge to support high-quality clinical decision making, consultation, and signposting, ensuring that children, young people, and families receive appropriate support and guidance at the earliest opportunity.

Developing and maintaining positive, collaborative relationships with partner agencies is an essential aspect of the role. The practitioner will actively promote integrated working practices, challenge stigma associated with mental health services, and advocate for a compassionate, inclusive, and accessible approach to care. They will support children, young people, and families to exercise choice and flexibility wherever possible, ensuring that service delivery aligns with individual needs, strengths, and preferences.

The post holder will consistently promote the safety, welfare, and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families, demonstrating professional accountability, sound clinical judgement, and a commitment to safeguarding. They will act as a professional representative of the wider CAMHS service, contributing positively to team functioning, service development, and the continuous improvement of clinical practice across the organisation.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £20.00 (standard) or £41.00 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £15 per year applies.

A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Relevant Professional qualification e.g. RMN, RN, HV, OT, clinical psychology, Social Worker at degree level or higher.
• Current Registration with relevant professional body

Desirable

• Educated to Degree level
• Qualification in therapeutic approaches with children and families e.g. CBT systemic, solution focused, play therapy Proven post qualification experience

Experience
Essential

• Experience of Multi-Agency working
• Experience of Mental Health triage
• Providing psychoeducation around a wide range of differing emotional and mental health needs
• Proven ability to undertake accurate risk screening and provide harm reduction advice
• Significant proven post education experience

Desirable

• Evidence of the ability to use and provide clinical supervision
• Community experience

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of relevant legislation and documents pertaining to children (e.g. Children's Act, Mental Health Act, NSF, Every Child Matters, Future In Mind, THRIVE)
• Ability to maintain accurate case records in line with Trust policies and procedure
• Knowledge and experience of provision of a holistic emotional/mental health assessment
• Knowledge and experience of the provision of different models of therapy and interventions
• Ability to be an autonomous practitioner whilst being able to work as an integral part of a multi-agency team
• Be committed to anti discriminatory/anti oppressive practice and equal opportunity

Desirable

• Ability to use electronic data recording systems
• Knowledge of currently available universal services and their offers of support

Skills
Essential

• Skills and experience of working with children, young people and families around a range of emotional/mental health, behavioural and additional health or developmental needs
• Ability to triage presentation and acuity of emotional and mental health concerns and identify appropriate treatment pathways

Desirable

• Providing clinical supervision and mentorship to staff

Contractual Requirements
Essential

• To work flexibly with regard location and hours as core SPA hours are 08:00-18:00 and work outside this may at times be needed
• A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Safeguarding
Essential

• Be able to take reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children and vulnerable adults are minimised.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of the Trust Values

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details
Employer name: Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Duncan MacMillan House, Porchester Road, Mapperley, Notts, NG3 6AA, United Kingdom

Contact: CAMHS SPA Team Lead, Amanda Selby, amanda.selby@nottshc.nhs.uk, 01158542299

Closing date: 18 November 2026

Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum (pro rata for part time). Band 6, Agenda for Change. Permanent, full-time.

Reference number: 186-1000-26-MH

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