CAMHS Acute Transitions Team Leader- Harbour Unit

Transformation Unit; Haywards Heath; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 7 CAMHS Acute Transitions Team Leader for the Harbour Unit in Haywards Heath. The fixed-term role runs until 30 March 2028, offering 37.5 hours per week and full-time commitment within a dynamic CAMHS transformation project.

You will lead an innovative transitions team, drive discharge planning, and work across inpatient and community services to ensure safe, effective care and timely supported discharge for young people and families.

Qualifications

• Registered professional with current registration.
• Experience in acute CAMHS or mental health settings preferred.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and operational leadership to a transitions team.
• Lead discharge planning and community integration pathways.
• Ensure safe, high-quality care with robust risk management.
• Collaborate across inpatient, community services and multi-agency partners.
• Develop and embed an innovative pilot model with measurable outcomes.
• Support families through recovery-focused interventions and least restrictive care.

Skills

Nurse

Social Worker

Occupational Therapist

Psychologist

Job description

Main area Mental Health Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract 15 months (Fixed Term until 30th March 2028) Hours

• Full time
• Compressed hours

37.5 hours per week Job ref 354-CS-22001

Employer Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site The Harbour Unit Town Haywards Heath Salary £49,387 - £56,515 PA Salary period Yearly Closing 19/11/2026 23:59

CAMHS Acute Transitions Team Leader- Harbour Unit

NHS AfC: Band 7

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.

Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page .

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

A bout the Role

We are excited to offer a unique Fixed Term/ Secondment opportunity to join Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust as a CAMHS Acute Transitions Team Leader, leading an innovative new Transitions Team pilot within CAMHS Acute in the Harbour Unit until 30 th March 2028 .

This role sits at the forefront of acute CAMHS transformation, supporting young people at one of the most critical points in their journey — transitioning from inpatient care back into the community. The team plays a vital role in ensuring safe, effective discharge planning and sustained recovery, particularly for:

Young people in the Sussex T4 Inpatient Unit

Those aged 17+ with complex needs

You will lead a dedicated team delivering time-limited, targeted interventions (up to 8 weeks post-discharge), working closely with inpatient units, community services, education, and local authorities .

Main duties of the job

As the Transitions Team Leader, you will:

Provide clinical and operational leadership to a specialist transitions team

Lead on discharge planning and community integration pathways for young people in acute care

Ensure safe, high-quality care delivery, including robust risk management

Work collaboratively across the system, including inpatient services, COAST, and multi-agency partners

Shape and embed an innovative pilot model, ensuring clear pathways and measurable outcomes

Support young people and families through systemic, relational, and recovery-focused interventions

Promote least restrictive care and reduce reliance on inpatient admissions

Working for our organisation

SPFT provides mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex. The Trust is rated 'Good' overall and 'Outstanding' for Caring by the CQC.

SPFT encourages flexible working because we know that a positive work-life balance benefits both our staff and the care we provide. If it works for you and the service, we'll do our best to make it happen.

You will receive regular professional and clinical supervision from the CAMHS Leadership, and opportunities for development and CDP.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As the Transitions Team Leader, you will:

Provide clinical and operational leadership to a specialist transitions team

Lead on discharge planning and community integration pathways for young people in acute care

Ensure safe, high-quality care delivery, including robust risk management

Work collaboratively across the system, including inpatient services, COAST, and multi-agency partners

Shape and embed an innovative pilot model, ensuring clear pathways and measurable outcomes

Support young people and families through systemic, relational, and recovery-focused interventions

Promote least restrictive care and reduce reliance on inpatient admissions

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or Psychologist.
• Current professional registration
• Highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience, further specialist training to masters equivalent level
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Knowledge/Experience

• Post-registration experience with acute/seriously mentally ill young people
• Experience of team management and group facilitation
• Knowledge of risk assessment, safeguarding and Mental Health Act
• Ability to assess, plan and evaluate complex treatment programmes

SPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented.

Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.

SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously. We expect all staff and bank workers to share this commitment and complete the relevant safeguarding training for their role.

If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. However, we’ll always do our best to keep you informed as we know how much time and care goes into applying for a role.

In the event of a high number of applications, we may close this vacancy early.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.