CAMHS Early Help Practitioner (Maternity Cover)

Louder Than Words; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health service provider is seeking a Band 5 CAMHS Early Help Practitioner in Plymouth. The successful candidate will provide early intervention services, conduct assessments, and deliver targeted short-term interventions for children and families facing mental health challenges. This role offers a hybrid working model, combining office and remote work. Applicants must have a core mental health degree and current registration with NMC or HCPC.

Qualifications

• Current professional registration with NMC/HCPC.
• Experience in risk assessment and multi-agency working.
• Post-registration experience working with mental health issues in children.

Responsibilities

• Engage with children with emerging mental health difficulties.
• Implement targeted evidence-based interventions.
• Participate in multi-agency meetings.

Skills

Experience with children and young people in mental health

Autonomous caseload management

Evidence-based intervention delivery

Education

Core degree in a mental health discipline

Postgraduate training in working with children

Job description

Overview

Band 5 CAMHS Early Help Practitioner (22.5 hours per week). Working within the CAMHS Early Help Pathway to support children, young people and families. Role involves early intervention services, assessments and targeted short-term interventions (up to 8 sessions) within the I-THRIVE model, focusing on early intervention. The postholder will support the emotional, psychological and social wellbeing of children and young people and promote resilience, prevention and early intervention in line with the 2015 Future in Mind vision for CAMHS. There may be some consultation work and contribution to the CAMHS advice line. The role uses a hybrid model with access to office/clinical space and some remote working. Professional registration is required.

Main responsibilities

• Work as part of the locality early help pathway to engage with children and young people who may present with emerging mental health difficulties.
• Deliver evidence-based, targeted interventions (1:1 and group) in a timely manner and implement Routine Outcome Measures (ROMS).
• Provide assessments in a timely manner and represent CAMHS in multi-agency meetings to oversee mental health elements of multi-agency plans for children.
• Participate in delivering CAMHS training programmes for schools and community services from the CAMHS training portfolio.
• Maintain high standards of care within available resources and participate in line management with senior and junior staff.
• Liaise with CAMHS pathways across the city and develop relationships with statutory and non-statutory providers.
• Maintain confidentiality for young people and communicate clearly with children, young people, families and other health professionals about mental health concerns.
• Contribute to clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives and promote person-centred planning.
• Provide mentorship for students by acting as a supervisor/assessor where applicable.

Responsibilities (detailed)

• Direct clinical work with children, young people and families, including work in schools and community settings within a multi-disciplinary team, focusing on early intervention and prevention within the I-THRIVE model.
• Consultation with professionals, colleagues and parents/carers; contribute to early help assessments and ensure timely access to appropriate targeted interventions.
• Deliver group-based, needs-led sessions in school and community settings and support evidence-based parenting programmes for children and young people with mental health issues.
• Represent CAMHS in multi-agency meetings (e.g., EHAT, SEND, child protection) to coordinate mental health aspects of multi-agency plans.
• Ensure planned interventions are implemented and evaluated using ROMS and minimum data sets.
• Contribute to training programmes for schools and community services from the CAMHS training portfolio and participate in clinical governance activities.
• Encourage child and family participation in decision-making about help needed and access to interventions (person-centred planning).
• Provide mentorship for students and supervise/assess trainees where applicable.

Qualifications and experience

• Essential: Core degree in a mental health discipline (e.g., Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy) with relevant experience of working with children and young people in mental health; current professional registration (NMC/HCPC or equivalent).
• Desirable: Postgraduate training in working with children with mental health problems (e.g., counselling, systemic practice) and/or clinical supervision/assessor training.
• Essential: Post-registration experience with children and young people with mental health difficulties; experience of risk assessment and multi-agency working; ability to manage own caseload as an autonomous practitioner.
• Desirable: Experience of working within children’s mental health and line management of junior staff.

Circumstances

• Ability to travel across Plymouth and work flexibly, including hours across Livewell if required.

Other information

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks. Applicants may require UK Skilled Worker sponsorship where applicable. Current UK professional registration is required. Details about sponsorship and safeguarding guidance are provided in the full job description attached.