CAMHS Practitioner CAS | East London NHS Foundation Trust

East London NHS Foundation Trust; Lower Caldecote; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

East London NHS Foundation Trust's Community Access Service is seeking a CAMHS Practitioner to support children and young people across schools and the community, delivering evidence-based interventions and promoting emotional wellbeing within the THRIVE framework.

You will assess, manage risk and deliver low-intensity CBT and guided self-help, working with schools, GP surgeries and community partners to improve access to mental health support for children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Assess and deliver outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions for children, young people and parents experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• Develop intervention plans with families to agree desired outcomes.
• Support and empower families to make informed choices about treatment and care.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion, respecting individual needs and differences.
• Undertake risk assessments relating to risk to self and others, where appropriate.
• Provide evidence-based psychological interventions, including low-intensity CBT and guided self-help, face-to-face, by telephone or other appropriate methods.
• Meet agreed activity targets for contacts and clinical sessions to improve access and reduce waiting times.
• Attend multidisciplinary meetings regarding referrals and children and young people receiving treatment, where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate, timely and coherent clinical records in line with service policies, using outcome measures to inform care.

Job description

Are you an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual passionate about improving young people’s mental health? Do you have excellent communication and organisational skills and a commitment to high-quality care?

The Community Access Service (CAS) is seeking an experienced CAMHS Practitioner to join our team, supporting children and young people across schools and the community.

You will deliver evidence-based interventions, improving early access to mental health support. Working with schools, GP surgeries and community partners, you will help promote emotional wellbeing across primary and secondary education settings.

Working within a dynamic CAMHS service, you will deliver care based on the needs-led THRIVE framework. Responsibilities include assessment, risk management, therapeutic interventions, consultation, whole-school projects and supervising junior colleagues. There may also be an opportunity to undertake supervisor training at Reading University.

Bedford CAS is part of ELFT (East London NHS Foundation Trust), working alongside specialist services including Crisis, Emotional and Behavioural, and Neurodevelopmental pathways.

We value equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome individuals who embrace collaborative working.

For further information, contact:

Janine McNally

[e-mail]

Operational Lead, Mental Health Support Team.

The Community Access Service (CAS) includes Mental Health Support Teams, Schools Team, Complex Needs, Early Years and PCAS, providing early mental health support to children and young people in schools and the community.

This North Bedfordshire CAMHS role delivers early intervention, assessment and evidence-based treatment for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs, working with families, schools, GP surgeries and community partners.

Responsibilities include delivering individual, group and whole-community interventions; supporting schools to develop mental health provision; providing advice to education staff; and liaising with specialist services to ensure young people receive appropriate support.

You will also contribute to psychoeducation, assemblies, transition support, staff consultations, EMHP training and community development. This includes working with SENCOs and safeguarding leads.

The role covers mainstream, special and alternative schools, colleges and community settings, including during school holidays.

You will have opportunities to use your clinical skills and interests to develop early intervention services and improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

You will build strong working relationships with CAMHS colleagues, families, schools, GP practices, health, education, social services, youth justice and voluntary organisations as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Assess and deliver outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions for children, young people and parents experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• Work collaboratively with children, young people and families to develop intervention plans and agree desired outcomes.
• Support and empower families to make informed choices about treatment and care.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion, respecting individual needs and differences.
• Undertake risk assessments relating to risk to self and others, where appropriate.
• Follow service referral protocols and signpost unsuitable referrals to appropriate services.
• Provide evidence-based psychological interventions, including low-intensity CBT and guided self-help, face-to-face, by telephone or other appropriate methods.
• Meet agreed activity targets for contacts and clinical sessions to improve access and reduce waiting times.
• Attend multidisciplinary meetings regarding referrals and children and young people receiving treatment, where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate, timely and coherent clinical records in line with service policies, using outcome measures to inform care.

Policy and Service Development

• Support the development and implementation of school-based projects in line with the Mental Health Support Team's service development plans.
• Provide advice and guidance to professionals supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• Contribute to developing evidence-based standards informed by research and clinical theory.

Clinical Supervision and Training

• Engage in regular personal development and clinical supervision to enhance professional competence and practice.
• Prepare and present caseload information to supervisors to ensure safe clinical practice and effective governance.
• Following appropriate training, provide clinical supervision in accordance with professional guidelines and policies.
• Attend relevant local and national training agreed with the line manager.
• Take responsibility for attending supervision, case management and line management meetings, contributing to objective setting and performance reviews.
• Provide supervision to Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) and Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs) across the CAMHS Access Service.

Human Resources

• Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships and communication channels with colleagues and partner professionals.

Clinical Governance

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of research and evidence relating to the assessment and treatment of children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• Participate in service audits and research projects.
• Work within relevant professional, ethical and clinical governance frameworks.

Performance Management

• Ensure clinical documentation and care plans are comprehensive, accurate and meet Trust standards and policies.
• Maintain records in accordance with Trust record-keeping requirements.
• Collate, monitor and report clinical information across designated areas of the service.
• Provide clinical information for local and Trust electronic reporting systems.
• Monitor, record and report clinical activity, communicating complex clinical information clearly and appropriately to service users, families, carers and professionals, both verbally and in writing.
• Provide relevant service information to senior managers and colleagues to support daily service management, performance monitoring and future service planning.

This advert closes on Sunday 22 Nov 2026