CAMHS SPA Practitioner

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in London is seeking a CAMHS SPA Practitioner. This role focuses on providing high-quality clinical expertise in child and adolescent mental health. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and experience in mental health settings. The organization offers a supportive environment with opportunities for professional development and career progression, along with competitive salaries between £46,419 and £55,046 annually.

Benefits

Generous relocation package

Continuous Professional Development support

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience in child and adolescent mental health.
• Significant experience of assessing complex mental health presentations.
• Excellent knowledge of mental health guidelines and practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality clinical care and oversight of care given to patients.
• Undertake clinical triaging of calls to determine correct care pathways.
• Ensure effective communication with other services and maintain confidentiality.

Skills

Communication skills

Assessment skills

Planning skills

Intervention delivery

Team collaboration

Education

UK Relevant professional qualification in mental health

Additional training in child and adolescent mental health

Job description

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

CAMHS SPA Practitioner

The closing date is 30 November 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our specialist CAMHS services to join the All-Age multi-disciplinary Single Point of Access Team (SPA) as a CAMHS Practitioner. The successful applicant will need a relevant qualification as an RMN/RCN/RNLD, MH Social Worker, OT; in addition to having experience working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

This is a varied role within a team who are moving towards an iThrive model of care for CAMHS across 5 commissioned London Boroughs. You will have the opportunity to collaborate in driving the service forward to achieve a model of care enhancing and improve patient experience. You will be part of a passionate team committed to service development and be in a thrilling position to collaborate in QI projects.

As a CAMHS SPA Practitioner you will work autonomously providing a high standard of clinical expertise in assessment, treatment planning, education and advice given to young people; their parents and carers. As well as education and health and social care professionals via telephone.

SPA CAMHS Practitioners are expected to work covering a 24-hour service with flexible shift patterns. In return we offer regular supervision, yearly appraisal and support with Continuous Professional Development and career progression. We also offer opportunities to network within the wider CNWL CAMHS and Adult Directorates and with third sector and education services across the five CNWL Boroughs.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will be part of providing a high quality service to young people and their families/carers referred to CNWL CAMHS SPA. To contribute to referral and triage pathways and processes within CAMHS To promote the reputation of CAMHS and provide triage and brief crisis management within professional guidelines and exercise systematic governance of practice within the CNWL SPA. To work in a manner demonstrating compassion and patient focused care. Applicants with young adult and transition experience are also welcomed.

To find out more about working in CAMHS please CLICK HERE for one of our CAMHS videos.

About us

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 7,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. See attached Staff Reward and Wellbeing Handbook detailing our benefits, discounts and wellbeing initiatives for staff.

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

Job responsibilities

• Being confident, autonomous practitioners who take responsibility for the care they give to patients but also take responsibility for overseeing the work of others in the team including less experienced and unqualified staff.
• Providing skilled, evidence based clinical care which adheres to agreed policies and procedures.
• Working with patients and families in all stages of the care planning process including assessing risks and needs.
• Answer all calls to the SPA in a patient and courteous manner, and to screen and prioritise these appropriately.
• Undertake clinical triaging of all calls to the SPA, deciding on the correct care pathway for that call.
• Signpost callers on as necessary into non-statutory, third sector services.
• Demonstrate good risk assessment and management skills, ensuring that decisions made regarding calls are in the interests of the individual patients needs and their safety.
• Ensure that there is effective liaison / communication pathways with other services.
• Ensure appropriate confidentiality at all times.
• Work within the Clinical Governance Framework.
• Working as autonomous practitioners and taking responsibility for the care they give to patients but also work as team members.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• UK Relevant professional qualification in either: a. a psychological or therapeutic field, Mental Health Nursing, Mental Health Social Worker
• Additional qualifications or training in child and adolescent mental health.

Experience / Knowledge

• Experience working in child and adolescent mental health.
• Significant experience of assessing complex mental health presentations.
• Experience either working as a member of a multidisciplinary team or multi-agency working.
• Excellent knowledge and experience in mental health guidelines/ best practice and the full range of mental health disorders/ illnesses.
• Experience of the Children Act and Safeguarding Children legislation and protocols.
• Good understanding of the range of child and adolescent mental health services.

Technical Job Related Skills

• Excellent communication, assessment, planning and recording skills.
• Ability to deliver interventions which address the assessed needs.
• Ability to work co-operatively with other disciplines.
• Ability to evaluate interventions and practice for service improvement.

Personal Job Related Skills

• Ability to relate to young people and families.
• Broad understanding of equal opportunities and an ability to work in an anti-discriminating way.
• Enthusiasm, flexibility and willingness to cope with the demands of what can be a stressful job.
• Ability to relate to professional staff from different agencies often at senior levels.

Other Requirements

• To work as part of a team and to be self‑motivated.
• To work under pressure and to achieve deadlines.
• Understanding of issues of confidentiality and information sharing.

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.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

£46,419 to £55,046 a yearper annum incl. HCAS (pro rata if P/T)