CAMHS Practitioner

Transformation Unit; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in London is seeking a CAMHS Specialist Practitioner to improve patient flow, reduce delays, and support smooth transitions across services. You will combine clinical expertise with coordination and system-navigation skills to ensure timely access to care and effective discharge planning.

This role offers a chance to influence CAMHS pathways across partner agencies, balance service development with direct clinical work, and work within a

Qualifications

• Qualified in mental health nursing with appropriate registration.
• Experience in multidisciplinary teams in mental health.
• Experience with crisis mental health assessments.
• Knowledge of Children Act 1989, Mental Health Act 1983, Mental capacity Act 2005 and safeguarding legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the coordination of patient flow across CAMHS pathways and discharge planning.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to identify barriers to discharge and implement solutions.
• Provide guidance on recording care pathways and monitor reporting.
• Monitor caseloads, length of stay, and service capacity to reduce waiting times.
• Liaise with external agencies to facilitate smooth transitions and continuity of care.
• Provide clinical oversight and support to practitioners managing complex discharge cases.
• Evaluate therapeutic outcomes and ensure quality standards of care.
• Establish evidence-based practice for assessment and treatment of youth in crisis.

Education

Nursing qualification RMN/RSCN/HV

Art/Play/Drama therapy

Job description

Employer South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site PEARS Town London Salary £58,133 - £65,261 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Inner) Salary period Yearly Closing 23/11/2026 23:59

NHS AfC: Band 7

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

This exciting and innovative role sits at the heart of CAMHS, helping to ensure children, young people and families receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

As a CAMHS Specialist Practitioner , you will play a pivotal role in enhancing patient flow, reducing delays in care, and supporting smooth transitions across services. Combining specialist clinical expertise with strong coordination and system-navigation skills, you will work collaboratively with children, young people, families, multidisciplinary colleagues and partner agencies to ensure timely access to care, effective discharge planning and positive clinical outcomes.

The role offers a unique opportunity to influence pathways across CAMHS, driving efficient, high-quality and person-centred care while maintaining a strong clinical focus.

Why this role is exciting

· Key role in shaping patient flow and reducing waiting times.

· Opportunity to influence system-wide pathways across CAMHS and partner agencies.

· Balance of service development and direct clinical work.

· Collaborative multidisciplinary environment with strong professional support.

· Chance to improve access, experience and outcomes for children, young people and families.

Main duties of the job

1. Lead on the coordination of patient flow across the CAMHS community pathways, ensuring timely access and discharge planning.

2. Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to identify barriers to discharge and implement solutions.

3. Support and advice teams on recording care pathways effectively on epjs and monitor recording reports.

4. Monitor caseloads, length of stay, last contacts and service capacity to support effective resource allocation and reduce waiting times.

5. Liaise with external agencies and services to facilitate smooth transitions and continuity of care.

6. Provide clinical oversight and support to practitioners managing complex discharge cases.

7. With senior colleagues, evaluate and review the therapeutic strategic outcomes for the team and set aims and objectives and the monitor practice to assure quality standards of care.

8. Establish and maintain evidence-based practice in the assessment and treatment of young people in crisis or needing intensive and/or crisis intervention.

Working for our organisation

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Assume responsibility for own case list and case management of children, adolescents and families who are determined to be at high risk.

2. Provide primary CAMHS assessments, other specialist assessments and risk assessments to identify and diagnose the cause of emotional and behavioural problems in children and young people.

3. Formulate care plans, based on the primary CAMHS assessment. Design, write and share a copy of the care plan with children, young people and their carers.

4. Carry out the care plan using evidence-based models of psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions.

5. Participate and lead in joint complex assessments with other disciplines and other agencies and provide reports for referrers, families and other agencies as required, including 'witness of fact' court reports where appropriate.

6. Assess safeguarding issues for each case and refer concerns to Child Protection teams.

7. Maintain good relationships and clear lines of communication with other professional agencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.

Person specification

• First level nursing qualification/registration RMN or RSCN or HV
• First level qualification in art, play, or drama therapy with related experience in the psychological aspects of caring for children and adolescent with mental health problems/needs, developmental/ learning disability problems
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team as a specialist practitioner in a mental health setting.
• Experience of undertaking crisis mental health assessments.
• Evidence of experience of clinical governance and audit and the process of clinical supervision

Experience

• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team as a specialist practitioner in a mental health setting.
• Experience of undertaking crisis mental health assessments.
• Evidence of experience of clinical governance and audit and the process of clinical supervision
• Working with families in a multi-racial urban environment
• Experience of working as a case manager in child and adolescent mental health
• Evidence of providing CAMHS interventions ie group, individual or family work and multidisciplinary work.

Knowledge and skill

• A good working knowledge of the following: Mental health disorders in children and adolescents
• The Children Act 1989, Mental Health Act 1983, Mental capacity Act 2005 and safeguarding children legislation.
• Assessment of risk and management of risk factors
• Excellent time-management and organisational skills to deliver targets and meet deadlines
• Experience of working as a case manager in child and adolescent mental health

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:

• Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
• Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
• We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity.

Welcome to your candidate journey
Our Candidate Recruitment Information Pack is designed to help you learn more about our Trust, understand the recruitment process, and prepare a strong application. We encourage you to explore the pack and use the guidance, tips and resources available to help you feel informed, confident, and ready to showcase your best self: Recruitment Toolkit - Customer Success Test

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information.
AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

That requests for Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered on a case-by-case basis, where applicable, subject to the role and meeting the relevant eligibility requirements and the Trust’s policy. Applying for a role does not guarantee that sponsorship will be available or approved.

• That we are a smoke-free Trust

SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe’.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.