CAMHS Early Help Practitioner

Louder Than Words; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health services provider in Plymouth is seeking a CAMHS Early Help Practitioner to join their team. This role involves providing assessments and targeted interventions to support children, young people and families in the community. The ideal candidate will have experience in mental health assessments and a relevant professional qualification. This position offers a hybrid working model with various flexible working patterns.

Qualifications

• Post-registration experience working with children & young people who have mental health difficulties.
• Experience of multi-agency working and risk management.
• Knowledge of I-THRIVE model and relevant legislation.

Responsibilities

• Support emotional and psychological wellbeing of children and young people.
• Deliver targeted interventions and consultations.
• Participate in multi-agency meetings regarding child welfare.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Time management

Education

Core degree in any mental health modality

Job description

Overview

Job Summary: 37.5 hours per week. This is an exciting opportunity for a band 5 professionally registered clinician to work within the CAMHS Early Help Pathway working with Children, Young people and families as a CAMHS Early Help Practitioner. This role will be joining an already established team within the CAMHS service supporting provision of early intervention services within CAMHS early help working with Families and young people providing assessments and targeted short term interventions of up to 8 sessions within 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 with a drive for early intervention, enabling cultural change in the way first contact services can support children and young people with mental health problems. In line with 2015 Future in Mind strategic vision for CAMHS the post holder will actively promote resilience, prevention and early intervention to children and young people in the community. This role will include some consultation aspects to the role and contribute to the CAMHS advice line as part of the continued provision of Mental health services for Child, Young people and families. This role involves a hybrid model of working with access to office/clinical space as well as some ability to work remotely. This role will require a professional registration. Previous applicants need not apply.

Main duties

• Working as part of the early help pathway locality to work with children & young people who may present with emerging mental health difficulties.
• Deliver evidence based, targeted interventions (1-1 & group) in a timely manner implementing Routine Outcome Measures (ROMS) effectively.
• Provide assessments in a timely manner.
• Represent CAMHS in multi-agency meetings to have an oversight of mental health elements of a multi-agency plan around a child.
• Participate in the delivery of training programmes for schools & community services from a portfolio of available CAMHS training.
• Maintain standards of care to the highest level within available resources.
• Actively participate in line management with senior & junior members of staff.
• Liaise effectively with the CAMHS pathways across the city.
• Develop & maintain relationships with providers, both statutory & non-statutory.
• Maintain confidentiality in respect of the young people at all times.
• Communicate clearly with children & young people, their families & all other health professional groups about their mental health concerns.
• This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Job responsibilities / Role details

• The postholder is responsible for supporting the emotional, psychological and social wellbeing of children and young people with a drive for early intervention, enabling cultural change in the way first contact services can support children and young people with mental health problems.
• The post holder will work with the CAMHS liaison practitioners to support children and young people where there is concern about emerging mental health issues or behaviours.
• The post holder will support the consultation process to the network or directly to the child, young person and their family. The post holder will have an identified role as directed by the liaison practitioner, in further assessment, targeted intervention or group work that would meet the needs of the child or young person.
• The post holder will deliver training to community services and schools.
• Provide assessments, targeted interventions and advice & support for children & young people.
• Direct clinical work with children/young people and their families including work in schools and other community settings within a multi-disciplinary team. The post holders caseload is children and young people with the focus being on early intervention & prevention in line within the I-THRIVE model.
• Consultation with professionals, colleagues and parent/carers.
• To work as part of the locality facing early help pathway to work with children and young people who may present with emerging mental health difficulties.
• To deliver evidence based targeted interventions in a timely manner.
• To contribute to the early help assessment clinics to ensure that children and young people access timely assessments and the appropriate targeted interventions.
• Delivery of group based, needs let groups within the school and community setting. To support the delivery of evidence based parenting programmes for children and young people with mental health issues.
• Represent CAMHS in multi-agency meetings such as EHAT, SEND meetings or child protection meetings to co-ordinate and have oversight of mental health element of a multi-agency plan around a child.
• To function as a member of the locality facing CAMHS early help pathway taking appropriate responsibility for the implementation of decisions made by the team.
• Ensure planned interventions are implemented effectively and evaluated using Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROMS) and minimum data set.
• Participate in the delivery of training programmes for schools and community services from a portfolio of available CAMHS training.
• Maintain standards of care to highest level within available resources.
• To actively participate in line management with senior and junior members of staff.
• To liaise effectively with the CAMHS pathways across the city.
• To develop and maintain relationships with providers statutory and non-statutory.
• To maintain confidentiality in respect of the young people at all times.
• Communicate clearly with children and young people, their families and all other health professional groups about their health problems.
• Actively participate in clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives, e.g. clinical audit, essence of care or clinical policy development.
• Ensure that children and young people are encouraged to play a part in decision making about the help they need and how they can access specific interventions. This is to promote person-centred planning.
• Provide mentorship for students by being a supervisor/assessor.

Qualifications & Experience

• Essential knowledge & skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; good organisational skills and ability to prioritise; time management and meeting deadlines; experience in assessing mental health assessments including risk management; ability to work effectively under pressure; self-motivating; knowledge of legislation and policies relating to children\'s mental health; experience of multi-agency working; knowledge of I-THRIVE model.
• Desirable: IT skills and familiarity with various programmes.

Experience

• Essential: Post-registration experience working with children & young people who have mental health difficulties; experience and knowledge of mental health assessments including risk management; experience of working with families of different cultural backgrounds; experience of multi-agency working; experience of managing own caseload and being an autonomous practitioner.
• Desirable: Experience of working within children\'s mental health; experience of supporting students; line management of junior staff members.

Qualifications

• Essential: Core degree qualification in any mental health modality (e.g., Nursing / Social Worker / OT) with relevant experience of working with children & young people in mental health; appropriate professional registration (NMC, HCPC).
• Desirable: Post graduate training in methods of working with children with mental health problems; clinical supervisor & assessor training or willingness to undertake.

Circumstances

• Essential: Ability to travel across Plymouth; ability to work flexibly (hours and duties) both as an individual and across Livewell if required.

Additional information

• Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a disclosure check is required.
• Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship will be considered. See UK Visas and Immigration guidance.
• UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. See NHS Careers for details.

Details

• Date posted: 18 September 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for Change; Band 5
• Salary: £31,049 to £37,796 a year pa, pro-rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
• Job locations: Livewell South West, Mount Gould Road, Plymouth, PL4 7QD