CAMHS Early Help Practitioner

NHS; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists for a Band 6 CAMHS Early Help Practitioner to support children's mental health in Plymouth. This role involves conducting assessments and delivering targeted interventions within a dynamic team. Candidates must have relevant mental health qualifications and experience working with young people. The position offers a hybrid working model and aims to promote early intervention strategies to improve mental health outcomes for children and families.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working options

Protected CPD time

Support for integration

Qualifications

• At least 1 year’s experience working with children and young people in mental health.
• Appropriate professional registration (e.g., NMC, HCPC).
• Post-registration experience with children and young people with mental health difficulties.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based, targeted interventions (individual and group).
• Provide timely assessments.
• Support multidisciplinary team activities and participate in multi-agency meetings.

Skills

Communication

Organisational skills

Time management

Knowledge of relevant legislation and policies

Understanding of the I-THRIVE model

Education

Core qualification in a mental health modality (e.g., Nursing, Social Work, OT)

Postgraduate training in working with children with mental health issues

Clinical supervisor and assessor training or willingness to undertake this

Job description

There is an exciting opportunity for a band 6 professional registered clinician to join an expanding team working within CAMHS Early Help Pathway, supporting children, young people, and families as a CAMHS Early Help Practitioner. This role involves working within an established CAMHS service to provide early intervention services, including assessments and targeted short-term interventions (up to 8 sessions) based on the I-THRIVE model, focusing on early intervention.

The postholder is responsible for supporting the emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing of children and young people, promoting early intervention and enabling cultural change in first contact services supporting children and young people's mental health. In line with the 2015 Future in Mind strategic vision, the post holder will actively promote resilience, prevention, and early intervention within the community.

This role includes consultation aspects and contributing to the CAMHS advice line to ensure continued mental health support for children, young people, and families.

The position offers a hybrid working model, with access to office/clinical space and remote working options.

Applicants must have a professional registration. Previous applicants need not apply.

Main duties of the job

• Work as part of the locality-facing early help pathway, supporting children and young people with emerging mental health difficulties.
• Deliver evidence-based, targeted interventions (individual and group) promptly, effectively implementing Routine Outcome Measures (ROMS).
• Provide timely assessments.
• Represent CAMHS in multi-agency meetings to oversee mental health aspects of multi-agency plans.
• Participate in delivering training programmes for schools and community services from available CAMHS training portfolios.
• Maintain high standards of care within available resources.
• Participate in line management with senior and junior staff.
• Liaise effectively across CAMHS pathways within the city.
• Develop and maintain relationships with statutory and non-statutory providers.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Communicate clearly with children, young people, families, and other health professionals about their health issues.
• This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.
• Note: The job advertisement may close early if high application numbers are received. Early application is recommended.
• All staff are expected to work across a 7-day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. We work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

Our values include kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services sustainably, empowering staff and those we serve, involving patients and families in care decisions, and prioritising individual needs to promote healthy, independent lives.

We offer professional development opportunities, including protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications. Our induction and preceptorship programs support new staff integration.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all community sections, including armed forces, those with lived mental health experience, neurodiverse conditions, and learning disabilities. Reasonable adjustments are available for applicants requiring support.

Job responsibilities

The postholder will support the emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing of children and young people, promoting early intervention and cultural change in initial contact services. Working with CAMHS liaison practitioners, the role involves supporting children and young people with emerging mental health issues, providing assessments, targeted interventions, and group work aligned with the I-THRIVE model.

You will deliver training to community services and schools, provide direct clinical work, and support multidisciplinary team activities. The caseload focuses on early intervention and prevention.

You will participate in multi-agency meetings, ensure interventions are effectively implemented and evaluated, and support person-centred planning. The role includes supervising students and contributing to clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives.

Effective communication with children, young people, families, and professionals is essential, along with maintaining confidentiality and adhering to legislation and policies related to children's mental health.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Core qualification in a mental health modality (e.g., Nursing, Social Work, OT) with at least 1 year’s experience working with children and young people in mental health.
• Appropriate professional registration (e.g., NMC, HCPC).
• Postgraduate training in working with children with mental health issues (e.g., counselling, systemic practice, or child and adolescent mental health diploma).
• Clinical supervisor and assessor training or willingness to undertake this.

Experience

• Post-registration experience with children and young people with mental health difficulties.
• Experience with mental health assessments, including risk management.
• Experience working with families from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience in multi-agency working and managing own caseload independently.
• Experience supporting students and supervising junior staff.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and time management skills.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and policies.
• Understanding of the I-THRIVE model and IT skills.

Circumstances

• Ability to travel across Plymouth.
• Flexible working hours and duties as required.

Full-time, part-time, job share, flexible working options available.