Consultant Clinical Specialist – Children

NHS; Melksham; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Melksham is looking for a Strategic Consultant Clinical Lead for their CAMHS service. The role involves clinical leadership for trauma-informed services aiming to improve delivery for children and young people with care experience. Candidates should be senior clinicians like clinical psychologists with substantial experience in working with complex trauma cases. Competitive salary and various benefits are offered.

Benefits

27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays

NHS Discounts

Competitive pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Extensive experience working with looked after children and complex trauma.
• Confidence in leading service development at a strategic level.
• Solid understanding of therapeutic approaches related to trauma and child development.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical expertise through assessments, formulations, and consultations.
• Work in partnership with health and social care professionals.
• Lead service development in priority areas including care transitions.

Skills

Leadership skills

Clinical expertise

Collaboration skills

Education

Masters/Doctoral level or equivalent training

Current registration with the appropriate professional body

Job description

Job summary

This is a pivotal leadership role within our CAMHS service as the Strategic Consultant Clinical Lead for Children We Care For / Children Looked After (CWCF/CLA) across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW).

In this role, you will provide clinical leadership in the development and delivery of trauma-informed services for children and young people with care experience. Working across health and social care systems, you'll use your clinical expertise to influence service delivery and contribute to meaningful system-wide improvements.

We are seeking a senior clinician - such as a Clinical Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist, Family Therapist, or equivalent - with:

• Extensive experience working with looked after children and complex trauma
• Confidence in leading service development at a strategic level
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills across multi-agency systems
• A solid understanding of therapeutic approaches related to trauma, attachment, and child development

Main duties of the job

• Provide clinical expertise through assessments, formulations, and consultations for children and young people with care experience.
• Work in partnership with health, social care, and education professionals to support complex case planning and integrated decision-making.
• Lead service development in priority areas including care transitions, neurodevelopmental pathways, and provision for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
• Deliver supervision and training to CAMHS teams and external partners, promoting trauma-informed and evidence-based practice.
• Contribute to strategic oversight by supporting service evaluation, quality improvement, and representing CAMHS on regional panels and forums.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Details Date posted

01 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Reference number

267-OC7332963

Job locations

BSW CAMHS In Reach

Melksham CAMHS, Spa Road

Melksham

SN12 7NZ

Job description Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Job description Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Trained to Masters/Doctoral level or equivalent training and experience. Highly developed specialist knowledge according to professional background.
• Current registration with the appropriate professional body (RMN, OT, Social Work, Psychotherapy or Clinical Psychology). Training and experience in supervision of qualified staff.

Knowledge Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.

Desirable

• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised therapies in children who are looked after.)

Experience Essential

• Assessed substantial experience of working as a qualified clinician within CAMHS.
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care co-ordinator and within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.

Desirable

• Experience of professional leadership of qualified and pre-qualified staff

Personal Qualities Essential

• Enthusiasm for a broad range of phenomena, an interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical services within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health services.

Desirable

• A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for both multi-professional and uni-professional audit, and a wish to continue to develop expertise in the service area.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Trained to Masters/Doctoral level or equivalent training and experience. Highly developed specialist knowledge according to professional background.
• Current registration with the appropriate professional body (RMN, OT, Social Work, Psychotherapy or Clinical Psychology). Training and experience in supervision of qualified staff.

Knowledge Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.

Desirable

• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised therapies in children who are looked after.)

Experience Essential

• Assessed substantial experience of working as a qualified clinician within CAMHS.
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care co-ordinator and within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.

Desirable

• Experience of professional leadership of qualified and pre-qualified staff

Personal Qualities Essential

• Enthusiasm for a broad range of phenomena, an interest in models of service delivery, and an ability to articulate the value added by clinical services within the context of multi-disciplinary mental health services.

Desirable

• A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for both multi-professional and uni-professional audit, and a wish to continue to develop expertise in the service area.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

BSW CAMHS In Reach

Melksham CAMHS, Spa Road

Melksham

SN12 7NZ

Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

BSW CAMHS In Reach

Melksham CAMHS, Spa Road

Melksham

SN12 7NZ

Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)