CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Castleford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An NHS Foundation Trust in Castleford is seeking a motivated CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner. This role involves triaging calls, delivering brief interventions, and supporting children and families in navigating mental health services. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and be passionate about early intervention. A background as a Registered Mental Health Nurse or in a related field is required. The position offers a supportive environment with a focus on professional development.

Benefits

Supportive team environment

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse or equivalent required.
• Experience in mental health settings is essential.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Act as first point of contact for children and young people.
• Conduct triage calls and make informed clinical decisions.
• Deliver brief, targeted support through the 2+1 approach.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Decision-making skills

Empathetic approach

Confidence in working independently

Passion for early intervention

Education

Registered Mental Health Nurse / Social Worker / Occupational therapist

Mentorship Qualification or equivalent

Job description

Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 19 September 2025

We are looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate andskilled CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner to join our Primary Intervention Teamwithin Wakefield CAMHS.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in the heart of ourSingle Point of Access (SPA), where youll play a key role in the triage andearly intervention pathway helping young people and families to get the righthelp, at the right time.

You would be joining the team at a really exciting time,where we are working collaboratively to review our front door into theservice

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic . Youll bring:

-Strong communication and decision-making skills

-Confidence in working independently as well aspart of a team

-A calm and empathetic approach in fast pacedsituations

-A passion for early intervention

We are a supportive and friendly team that values yourskills and well-being.

Whether youre newly qualified or a more experiencedprofessional, we would love to hear from you!

Calls are encouraged.

We are currentlybased at Flemming Court, Castleford until December 2025. The team willtemporarily be based at Drury Lane Health and Well-Being Centre in the centreof Wakefield until September 2026 and then permanently moved to FieldheadHospital from September 2026.

Main duties of the job

Single Point of Access (SPA)Youll be the first point of contact for children, young people, families andprofessionals. Youll take triage calls, make informed clinical decisions, andoffer supportive advice and signposting, helping to support people to navigatewhat can feel like a daunting system.

2+1 Intervention Youlldeliver brief, targeted support through our 2+1 approach. One initialassessment and two focused intervention sessions.

The role wouldrequire you to support children, young people and families to get the rightsupport, and make onward referrals either internally within Wakefield CAMHS orto external agencies.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to befully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants areusing AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We stronglydiscourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selectingcandidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance yourapplication, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet theminimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates towork in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

About us

Weare a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental healthand learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale,Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and arethe lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission isto help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do thisby providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employstaff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make adifference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourageand welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Beinga foundation Trust means were accountable to ourmembers, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people(including staff) are members of our Trust.

Joinus and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improvingthe mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet andhelp each year.

Weare committedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people andvulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share thiscommitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE: The post holder will be responsible and accountable for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of skilled interventions to address identified needs and risk for allocated clients on a defined caseload. Works within a multi-disciplinary team as a member of Specialist CAMHS.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

• To work as a member of an integrated multi-disciplinary team providing comprehensive assessment of children, young people and their carers, planning, implementing and evaluating skilled interventions to address identified needs.
• To have knowledge of current issues and research relevant to the legislative framework and systems in which childrens mental health care is delivered e.g. Children Act, Mental Health Act and Care Programme Approach.
• To contribute to service development within the clinical governance structure and policies and procedures of the Trust. Adhering to NHS guidance outlined by the relevant statutory registration bodies.
• Promote the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people.

Professional

• Assesses needs and identifies problems relevant to the care of children and young people referred. Devises a plan of care in partnership with the person and carers. Implements the planned programme of care to ensure a high standard is achieved. Reviews the effectiveness of the care provided and where appropriate initiates any action.
• To be competent in all aspects of care and risk management as defined within appropriate frameworks such as the care programme approach.
• To work collaboratively with clients, carers and multiple other agencies to provide effective care to optimise and maintain the holistic needs of children and young people with a range of emotional and mental health needs.
• Management of enquiries and direct referrals of children and young people in accordance with the service Operational Policy and participates in the in hours Single point of Access rota.
• Maintain professional registration and demonstrate commitment to statutory codes of practice and continued professional development requirements.
• To be responsible for the safe custody, transportation and administration of any medicines including I.M. preparations.(if appropriate to qualification and / or role )

Education

• Provide peer supervision and support to other team members and to take personal responsibility and supervise junior staff in the maintenance of written and electronic client and Trust records including inputting data related to own work activity. To identify any areas of concern to a senior member of staff.
• To have an understanding of and participate in the clinical audit process.
• To have an awareness of evidence based practice relevant to the specialist area and participate in the education of individuals and target group.
• To participate in the Trusts values based appraisal system, understanding appropriate training and participating in personal development opportunities.

Trust Values:

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respectat all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

Honest, open, transparent

Respectful

Person first and in the centre

Improve and be outstanding

Relevant today, ready for tomorrow

Families and carers matter

Safeguarding:

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, , members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:

All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;

maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;

understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and Trust Data Protection policy;

comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;

receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;

understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;

recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;

ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participatingin relevanttraining;

comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);

demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;

abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;

work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.

adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;

being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;

Person Specification

Special Knowledge and Skills

• Working knowledge of recent government legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Health & Safety, Care Programme Approach, Care Act & Safeguarding
• Able to work incorporating principles of Clinical Governance
• Knowledge of working collaboratively with people and their carers to ensure their involvement in the assessment and care planning process
• Shows awareness of cultural diversity and is able to incorporate this into care planning and the delivery of care
• Knowledge and evidence of using IT systems
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of audit processes
• Knowledge of carer services/ issues/ assessment
• Knowledge of audit processes
• Knowledge of carers services / issues / assessment
• Skills and Knowledge working
• holistically with children and young people

Training

• Assessment and care planning skills and risk assessment and risk management.
• Relevant Post basic qualification and training

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse / Social Worker / Occupational therapist
• Mentorship Qualification or equivalent
• Expected to work towards practice educator

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work on as part of MDT.
• Good communication skills. Ability to work on own initiative, with reference to policies and procedures.
• Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role
• A willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of services users and the team including extended hours
• Reliable and enthusiastic
• Motivated and resourceful
• Professional attitude

Experience

• Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing people / children and young people experiencing mental health problems
• Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing risk in a variety of settings
• Proven ability in assessing the needs and strengths of people and their carers
• Ability to deliver a range of therapeutic techniques which can be incorporated into one to one and / or group interventions
• Working within an integrated multi-disciplinary environment and co-working with other teams within team meetings, case conferences and professional meetings
• Ability to support colleagues and supervise students/trainees
• Experience of working holistically with children and young people with an emphasis on a holistic assessment of emotional and mental health needs alongside coexisting physical and environmental factors that impacts on wellbeing

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust