Early Intervention in Psychosis Practitioner (CAMHS)

NHS; Lewisham; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in Lewisham is seeking an Early Intervention in Psychosis Practitioner to provide specialist care for young people with severe mental health challenges. The role involves high-quality assessments, evidence-based therapies, and leadership within the Adolescent Treatment Team. Applicants should have a relevant professional qualification and experience in mental health settings, particularly with children and adolescents. Competitive salary offered between £56,276 and £63,176 annually.

Qualifications

• Experience as a specialist practitioner with children and young people with complex mental health problems.
• Experience in mental health assessments for young people.
• Experience of providing interventions in multidisciplinary work.
• Evidence of clinical governance and audit experience.
• Experience with families in a multicultural environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Early Intervention Service in Psychosis for young people.
• Provide high-quality assessment and evidence-based therapy.
• Consult to support the team and the wider CAMHS service.
• Hold a small number of care coordination cases.
• Contribute to team risk management and service improvement.

Skills

Clinical judgement/competency in risk assessment

Engaging therapeutically with clients

Good written and verbal presentation skills

Teaching, training, and supervising

Education

First level professional qualification (Nursing, social work, psychology)

Professional registration with a statutory body

Training in clinical supervision

Job description

Go back South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Early Intervention in Psychosis Practitioner (CAMHS)

The closing date is 16 October 2025

We are seeking to recruit an experienced practitioner to join the Adolescent Treatment Team (ATT), a well-established arm of Lewisham CAMHS that offer stabilisation, formulation, and treatment of young people with mental health problems that are severe, complex, and/or associated with high levels of risk. The role provides the early intervention in service for young people with psychosis and bipolar disorder in the borough. We are a multi-disciplinary, dynamic, resourceful, caring and supportive team with a small, protected caseload of young people with the highest level of need, including severe depression and anxiety disorders, complex trauma, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and emotional instability. Many have previously had or are at risk of a psychiatric admission, and we work closely with inpatient services to enable continuity of care and successful step-down to the community post-discharge.The role involves working closely with the adult EIS services and facilitating transitions.

ATT use teamwork to offer the most effective service provision in a supportive and respectful environment whilst still being a fun base.

Main duties of the job

Provide specialist care coordination service for young people with severe mental health problems, including assessment, formulation, treatment, consultation, planning, and monitoring of outcomes

To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist for young people with severe mental health problems.

To undertake service evaluation, audit, and research.

To provide support to the MDT as a senior clinician and some other senior management duties, as appropriate.

To work autonomously within professional guidelines and within the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.

About us

SLAM is the largest mental health trust in the UK and offers a wide range of National Specialists and local provisions in South London. Working for Lewisham CAMHS gives access to many of the dynamic and innovative opportunities linked to the Trust.

Lewisham is an inner-city borough in South London serving a population of almost 300,000 people, 23 % falling in the 0-19 age group. Lewisham is highly diverse and proudly represents many different cultures, needs and backgrounds.

Lewisham CAMHS has several teams providing services to specific need; the ATT team has been established over 20 years serving the most complex and high-risk children in Lewisham. There is close liaison with other CAMHS teams and the wider specialist services. Working within ATT can be challenging and demanding but there are resources in place such as supervision, case discussion, the MDT, joint work, training, clear referral criteria, systems management and workable caseloads to support functioning. There is a strong team identity and ethos, we strive to do our best for our young people.

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will lead the Early Intervention Service in Psychosis for young people presenting with mental health problems that are severe, complex, and associated with high levels of risk. This will include high-quality assessment, formulation, and evidence-based therapy to young people and families. The role will also include consultation to support the team and the wider Lewisham CAMHS service in the identification and treatment of psychosis.

The candidate will also hold a small number of care coordination cases to support with stabilisation, risk management, and multi-agency care planning. The job involves contributing to the effective working of the team supporting team members in managing risk. There will be opportunity to supervise lower banded staff and students. The post-holder will be part of the leadership in the team that oversees clinical activities and processes, working together to drive service improvement and create a psychological safe environment in which team members can flourish. Engagement in research will be actively encouraged, and the candidate would be supported to undertake training and professional development in line with their appraisal.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• First level professional qualification (Nursing, social work, psychology etc). (A)
• Applicants will require professional registration with a statutory body. (A)
• Training in clinical supervision. (A/I)

Experience

• Experience and ability to function as a specialist practitioner with children and young people, including those with complex mental health problems such as psychosis. (A/I)
• Experience of good practice in young people's mental health assessments. (A/I)
• Evidence of providing interventions in group, individual and family work, multidisciplinary work. (A/I)
• Evidence of experience of clinical governance and audit and the process of clinical supervision. (A/I)
• Experience of working with families in a multi-cultural urban environment (A/I)
• Experience of working with young people with intellectual disability or neurodevelopmental disorders. (A/I)

Knowledge

• Knowledge of mental health disorders in children, adolescents and young adults. (A/I)
• Knowledge of clinical assessment, formulation and risk assessment in complex presentations. (A/I)
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, policy and guidance in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I)
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and CAMHS practice. (A/I)

Skills

• Skills in clinical judgement/competency in risk assessment. (A/I)
• Skills in engaging therapeutically with the client group, using a range of therapeutic interventions. (A/I)
• Good written and verbal presentation skills and the ability to work under pressure. (A/I)
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues including those with sensory, and emotional difficulties and cultural differences. (A/I)
• Skills in teaching, training and supervising others. (A/I)

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 London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

£56,276 to £63,176 a yearper annum inclusive of HCAs