Operational Lead - MHST | East London NHS Foundation Trust

East London NHS Foundation Trust; Dunstable; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A public healthcare organization in Bedfordshire is seeking a Clinical Lead for Mental Health Support Teams. The role involves clinical operational management, developing interventions in schools, and providing mental health assessments. Candidates should have professional registration as a required healthcare provider and experience working with children. Benefits include regular supervision and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Wellbeing initiatives

CPD sessions

Annual performance appraisal

Qualifications

• Track record of providing high-quality evidence-based interventions.
• Experience in offering clinical supervision and improving service quality.
• Experience of working with children and families is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Clinical operational management of the MHST.
• Develop and implement interventions within local schools.
• Provide mental health assessments and brief therapeutic support.

Skills

Communication skills

Clinical supervision

Evidence-based interventions

IT proficiency

Education

Professional registration as a Nurse, Social Worker, Psychotherapist, or Psychologist

Job description

Overview

Operational Lead – MHST Clinical (or Family of) Psychology, Systemic Family Psychotherapy, Child Psychotherapy, Community Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Art Psychotherapist or other core CAMHS profession registered with a governing body.

Bedfordshire CAMHS are excited to be recruiting into 5 posts for Band 8a Clinical Lead post (0.5 WTE) in each of our Mental Health Support Teams (MHST). The MHSTs are part of an exciting project funded by NHS England, Health Education England and partners with the aim of improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in the community in response to the government’s Green Paper for Young People’s Mental Health. Bedfordshire & Luton have been successful in having several MHST sites benefiting from significant investment in this area. This post is an opportunity to work with school staff and school cultures in developing school environments that are more conducive to supporting sustainably better emotional health and wellbeing. The main day to day focus of the role will be the clinical operational management of the MHST, whilst working alongside the Operational lead to develop and implement a wide range of interventions and projects within local schools and provisions.

Locations

The posts are in Luton (based at Charter House) x 3, Houghton Regis (based in Dunstable) x 1, Leighton Buzzard (based at Whicello Wharf) x 1.

Responsibilities

• Clinical operational management of the MHST.
• Work alongside the Operational lead to develop and implement a wide range of interventions and projects within local schools and provisions.
• Provide triage, mental health assessments, effective brief therapeutic support, group work and workshops to prevent moderate to severe mental health problems developing, using the Thrive model.
• Operate in a community embedded role with an attached base in Bedfordshire CAMHS and be an integrated part of the CAMH Access Services multi-disciplinary services and the wider CAMH Specialist Service.
• Be flexible and travel across Bedfordshire.
• Provide clinical supervision and contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience

• Confident CAMHS professional with a track record of providing high quality evidence-based interventions.
• Experience in offering clinical supervision and improving service quality with a strong interest in service development.
• Professional registration as a Nurse, Social Worker, Art Psychotherapist, Psychotherapist, or Psychologist.
• Experience of working with children and families, preferably in a primary care setting.
• Ability to operate confidently in an IT-driven environment for record keeping, communication and program management.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.

Team and Support

You will be supported by regular, separate clinical and management supervision sessions, access to CPD sessions, and annual performance appraisal. You will participate in weekly clinical discussions with the team. The trust prioritises staff wellbeing and offers a range of staff wellbeing initiatives and opportunities for training, quality improvement, and research.

Diversity and Inclusion

We welcome applicants who are bi-lingual and applicants from BME communities, including the South Asian community, and those local to the Bedfordshire area.

Contact for Further Information

For further information regarding this post, please contact:

• Laura Gill, Central Bedfordshire Integrated Schools Lead / Systemic Family Psychotherapist — [e-mail]
• Amanda Wallace, Operational Lead / Accredited CBT therapist — [e-mail]

This advert closes on Sunday 12 Oct 2025.