CAMHS Primary Practitioner

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust in Wakefield is seeking a CAMHS Primary Practitioner to join the Primary Intervention Team. You will support the Single Point of Access, triage referrals, and guide families to the right help at the right time.

The role involves delivering brief targeted interventions using a 2+1 approach, assessing risk, making safeguarding referrals when needed, and coordinating with Wakefield CAMHS and external services. You will work within a MDT.

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health settings.
• Strong communication and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Calm, empathetic approach in fast-paced situations.
• A passion for early intervention.

Responsibilities

• Be the first point of contact for SPA; triage calls and give informed clinical advice.
• Deliver 2+1 intervention through initial assessment and two focused sessions.
• Make onward referrals within Wakefield CAMHS or to external agencies; carry out safeguarding where required.
• Work within Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 and contribute to service improvements.

Skills

Strong communication

Decision making

Independence

Calm under pressure

Early intervention

Team working

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

CAMHS Primary Practitioner

The closing date is 09 November 2026

We are looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate andskilled CAMHS Primary Practitioner to join our Primary Intervention Team withinWakefield 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 an experienced and motivated professionalwith experience in mental health. 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 looking for a new challenge or embarking onyour first Band 5 role, we would love to hear from you!

We are based at DruryLane Health and Well-Being Centre in the centre of Wakefield, with a permanentmove planned to Fieldhead Hospital from September 2027.

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 would require you tosupport children, young people and families to get the right support, and makeonward referrals either internally within Wakefield CAMHS or to externalagencies. You would need to have excellent risk assessment and triage skills,along with making safeguarding referrals where required.

The service is openMonday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged tohave their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

At the time of advertising,this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration tosponsor candidates to work in the UK.

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.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

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.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

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

Special Knowledge/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

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

Qualifications

• Registered Mental Health Nurse / Social Worker / Occupational therapist


• Mentorship Qualification or equivalent


• Expected to work towards practice educator

Training

• Assessment and care planning skills and risk assessment and risk management.


• Relevant Post basic qualification and training

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