FCAMHS Senior Mental Health Practitioner

NHS; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider is seeking a specialist for their Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (FCAMHS) in Peterborough. The role involves direct assessment and consultation for children with mental health concerns, requiring a relevant professional qualification and significant mental health experience. The position offers a salary range of £47,810 to £54,710 per annum, with flexible working hours. Successful candidates will need to travel across the East of England region and will require a full UK driving licence.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in mental health service at Band 6 or equivalent.
• Management or clinical leadership experience with independent decision-making.
• Experience in child and adolescent mental health services.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice and consultation to professionals working with children.
• Conduct mental health and risk assessments for children and young people.
• Produce detailed comprehensive written reports following assessments.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to build relationships

Clinical supervision skills

Knowledge of safeguarding and trauma

Education

Relevant professional qualification (e.g. Dip OT, Dip SW, RMN)

Job description

Job Summary

An exciting opportunity to join the Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (FCAMHS) community. Applicants may work full‑time or part‑time. The service is regional, covering Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, with bases in Peterborough and Cambridge.

The role involves advice, consultation, and direct assessment of children and young people with complex presentations, high risk behaviours and suspected mental health or neurodevelopmental concerns. It will include service development projects and research in collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice and consultation to professionals working with children/young people with diagnosed or suspected mental health, neurodevelopmental or learning issues.
• Conduct highly skilled mental health and risk assessments and, on occasion, interventions to children/young people with diagnosed or suspected issues.
• Perform specialist structured forensic and neurodevelopmental assessments as per training and skill base.
• Produce detailed comprehensive written reports following assessments.
• Advise and contribute to decisions and plans for high‑risk children/young people vulnerable to or at risk of neglect, physical, sexual or emotional harm.
• Support safe and effective transitions for children/young people between community and custodial/welfare secure settings, ensuring appropriate services are available and coordinated.
• Make clinical judgements satisfying role expectations and support colleagues to do so (seeking senior support when needed).
• Make and receive referrals.
• Regularly undertake clinical supervision for specialist practice area.
• Deliver and develop specialised training regarding adolescent forensic mental health to other mental health professionals, probation, youth offending teams, education and social services working with young children who are a risk to others.
• Travel independently around the county, holding a full UK driving licence and a vehicle; public transport is not acceptable for this role.

Qualifications

• Education / Qualifications – Relevant professional qualification (e.g. Dip OT, Dip SW, RMN or equivalent) and up‑to‑date registration with a relevant professional body. Evidence of continuing professional development required.
• Experience – Significant experience at Band 6 or equivalent in a mental health service, including liaising with other professionals; significant management or clinical leadership component; experience of completing mental health assessment, managing own caseload and making independent decisions; risk assessment and risk management experience. Experience working within child and adolescent mental health services, forensic mental health settings and secure settings is desirable.
• Skills & Abilities – Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders; receptive to and able to use clinical supervision appropriately; ability to assimilate new information and apply theory to practice. Knowledge of safeguarding and impact of trauma and neglect is desirable.
• Knowledge & Understanding – Understanding of mental health legislation, child and adolescent mental health issues, evidence‑based practice, research methods/audit relevant to the job. Knowledge of safeguarding, trauma and neglect is desirable.

Additional Information

Disclosures: This post requires Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and must be subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. Employment is subject to the UK Disclosure and Barring Service requirements.

Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are invited. A current UK professional registration is required. For further information, visits are available to the UK Visas and Immigration website and NHS Careers website.

Benefits

Band 7, £47,810 to £54,710 per annum, pro rata for part‑time. Permanent contract, full‑time or part‑time working pattern. City Care Centre, Thorpe Road, Peterborough – PE3 6DB. The role includes travel across the East of England region.