Head of CAMHS

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

Job summary

A leading health service provider in London is seeking an experienced Head of CAMHS to oversee the operational management and strategic development of services. This role demands strong leadership, innovative service development, and the ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure high-quality care for children and families. Ideal candidates will hold a Master's degree in health or social care and have proven experience in the mental health sector. This position offers a permanent contract with competitive salary based on Band 8C.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Continuous professional development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Significant clinical, operational, and management experience in mental health services.
• A registered healthcare professional is desirable.
• Track record of successful leadership and service development.
• Strong understanding of mental health policy and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership for CAMHS.
• Lead clinical transformation and service development strategies.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with governance and budget delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Communication

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Change management

Education

Master's degree in health or social care

Senior management qualification

Job description

Job Summary

Band 8C Head of CAMHS based in London CAMHS services

Location: London (on-site/ in person) Hours: 37.5 per week (some unsociable hours and on-call manager duties) Salary: Band 8C Contract: Permanent

Are you an experienced operational or clinical leader with experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services with a passion for transforming services? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your operational expertise and strategic vision can make a real difference for young people and their families?

Interview will be taking place on 15th December at 350 Euston Road, CNWL Trust HQ.

Main duties of the job

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Head of CAMHS . This is a pivotal role, responsible for the effective operational management and strategic development of our CAMHS provision, ensuring high-quality, safe, and responsive care for children, young people, and their families.

You will work closely with the Service Director, Clinical Director, and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders—including service users, parents, commissioners, local authorities, schools, and voluntary sector partners—to deliver service improvements, drive quality, and champion co-production.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership for CAMHS, ensuring services meet performance, quality, workforce, and financial targets.
• Lead the clinical transformation agenda, implementing innovative service development strategies and quality improvement initiatives.
• Foster a positive, inclusive culture that prioritises staff wellbeing and models compassionate leadership.
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with stakeholders to ensure services meet the needs of the local community.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, supporting tender processes and the implementation of the CAMHS Long Term Plan.
• Ensure robust governance, compliance with statutory frameworks, and delivery within budget.
• Champion co-production, establishing forums for parent/carer and service user involvement.

About You

• Educated to Masters level in a health or social care discipline (or equivalent senior-level experience), with a relevant professional qualification.
• Significant clinical, operational and management experience in mental health services, ideally within CAMHS or a similar setting.
• A registered healthcare professional (Desirable).
• Proven track record of successful leadership, service development, and change management.
• Strong understanding of the policy and regulatory landscape for mental health and social care.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and partnership-building skills.
• Demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Analytical, resilient, and able to inspire and motivate multidisciplinary teams.

Person Specification – Qualifications Essential

• Educated to Master's level in a health or social care discipline, or equivalent senior-level work experience.
• Recognised senior management qualification in leadership, policy, strategy, business management, or other relevant field.
• Evidence of ongoing personal and professional development.

Person Specification – Qualifications Desirable

• Relevant professional clinical qualification/registration.

Person Specification – Experience Essential

• Current and extensive operational (including budget/financial) and management experience of mental health services, at a middle management level, in a health or social care organisation.
• Proven experience of managing a sector or borough multidisciplinary team (including senior managers and clinicians) across multiple sites.
• Record of successful leadership in an operational capacity.
• Experience of successful interagency partnership working.
• Experience of working within statutory and regulatory frameworks for mental health and social care services, and translating these at an operational level.
• Experience in leading/coaching successful quality improvement projects.
• Experience of policy development and strategic planning resulting in change management projects/programmes.
• Ability to negotiate complex contracts with the approval of senior management.
• Experience of managing a diverse workforce.
• Experience of organising and chairing of small and large steering groups.

Person Specification – Leadership Competencies Essential

• Sensitive to complex political and organisational issues; applies sound and timely judgement; decisive in times of change and ambiguity.
• Builds rapport through confident, open communication; energises, convinces, and persuades; encourages honesty.
• Works collaboratively with key decision makers; promotes partnership and collaborative working; seeks and harnesses the views of others.
• Champions measurable achievement of outcomes; makes best use of diverse talent and resources; negotiates work targets and resources.
• Commitment to inclusion for staff and inclusive services for patients from all population groups.

Person Specification – Leadership Competencies Desirable

• Detailed knowledge of policy agenda in Mental Health services.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer Details

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

7a Woodfield Road

London

W9 2NW

Website: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work