CAMHS Liaison Mental Health Practitioner

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Edingley CP; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is seeking an experienced professional to join the CAMHS Liaison Team. This role involves providing mental health assessments and interventions for young people in crisis, working autonomously, and adhering to professional standards. Applicants should have experience in mental health care, and the ability to work shifts, ensuring high-quality care for patients under 18. Opportunities for professional development are also included.

Benefits

Ongoing professional supervision

Clinical audit and quality improvement

Equal opportunity employer

Qualifications

• Clinically effective and evidence-based therapeutic interventions required.
• Ability to work shifts covering the 24/7 service.
• Experience working with young people in crisis situations.

Responsibilities

• Complete specialist mental health assessments.
• Prevent avoidable admissions for mental health crises.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner delivering effective interventions.
• Participate in MDT case discussions.

Skills

Mental health assessments

Autonomous practitioner

Communication skills

Driving licence

Job description

Overview

This post is to work in the CAMHS Liaison Team based at the acute hospitals Emergency departments including the Queen's Medical Centre, King's Mill Hospital and Bassetlaw hospital. This service is a 24‑hour service offering assessments of children and young people presenting to the Emergency Department in crisis. The service also covers the crisis phone line from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

The post holder will ensure young people receive appropriate assessment, intervention and treatment with minimal avoidable delays, whilst improving the quality and experience of care.

The service is for young people under the age of 18 who are admitted to hospital due to self‑harm and for those experiencing a mental‑health crisis of such a degree that, without the intervention of the CAMHS Liaison service, inpatient psychiatric care would be required.

Clinicians with varied work experience are welcome to apply as we assess a diverse population.

Applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. The cost (£26.40 standard or £54.40 enhanced) will be deducted from salary over the first two months of employment. An annual DBS Update Service fee of £16 per year may be advised.

Responsibilities

• Complete specialist mental health assessments and develop treatment plans as an autonomous practitioner, monitor interventions using routine outcome measures, and participate in MDT case discussion in accordance with Trust policy.
• Prevent avoidable admission of young people experiencing mental health crisis or high levels of emotional distress.
• Maintain professional standards and adhere to all relevant policies and procedures to ensure the delivery of high‑quality care.
• Work shifts covering the 24/7 shift pattern of the team, and support other areas of the CAMHS service in line with the knowledge, skills and competencies of the post holder.
• Use a full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use, with reasonable adjustments made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.
• Provide comprehensive specialist assessments, including risk assessment and management of young people presenting in mental health crisis.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner accountable for your own professional activities, delivering clinically effective and evidence‑based therapeutic interventions.
• Undertake specialised initial assessments following acts of self‑harm and attempted suicide, gathering appropriate information from the child, family and relevant agencies.
• Undertake specialised risk assessments throughout assessment documentation and maintain appropriate case notes.
• Participate in the consultation/liaison work of the team with other agencies.
• Perform liaison psychiatry assessments for young people and their families attending acute hospitals/ A&E departments experiencing distress or harm to self or others.
• Provide liaison psychiatry assessment to support patients and families, ensuring evidence of timely accurate data input and high‑quality risk assessment and treatment via patient records and supervision.
• Work intensively with parents/carers/families to enable them to understand the young person’s difficulties and needs, supporting them as active participants in care planning and delivery.
• Facilitate family‑based interventions sensitively.
• Reflect on your own clinical practice and that of others in all aspects of care given to patients in crisis and their families/carers.
• Work effectively with colleagues from other disciplines throughout the assessment and treatment process.
• Provide highly developed report writing, documenting comprehensive and high‑standard care plans in line with Trust policy.
• Ensure documentation and care plans are of the highest standard and involve service users actively.
• Represent the CAMHS service with partner agencies as a highly specialist practitioner.
• Be aware of, and involved in, service development.
• Operate within professional and ethical frameworks established by national bodies such as the Department of Health and the NMC.
• Provide in‑reach to young people admitted into psychiatric inpatient beds, support facilitation of home leave and enable timely discharge.
• Liaise with and support staff on the Trust’s Section 136 suite if a young person is admitted for a Section 136 assessment, providing support to young people on Section 136 and families where team capacity allows.

Additional Information

All duties are performed in accordance with the Trust’s policies and guidelines and are subject to ongoing professional supervision, clinical audit, evidence‑based practice and continuous quality improvement.

Equal Opportunity

This is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.