Parent Ambassador

West London NHS Trust; Norwood Green; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Parent / Carer Ambassador. This role involves supporting parents and carers in navigating their young person's mental health journey, ensuring they feel welcomed and informed. The ideal candidate will possess empathy and confidence to foster positive relationships between families and clinicians, contributing to quality improvement strategies. With recognition as a diverse healthcare provider, this organization is committed to empowering families throughout their engagement with services.

Qualifications

• Empathy towards parents/carers regarding mental health issues.
• Ability to engage with families and provide emotional support.
• Confidence in facilitating relationships between families and clinicians.

Responsibilities

• Support parents and carers in navigating outpatient services.
• Contribute to quality improvement initiatives.
• Empower families with knowledge about mental health care.

Job description

About West London NHS Trust

Thank you for your interest in the CAMHS Parent / Carer Ambassador role. This pack provides you with all the information you may need to apply for this vacancy. West London NHS Trust has grown significantly in the last two years with investment in mental health services and this growth is set to continue over the next five years. In 2019, the Trust expanded its portfolio to include community services in Ealing and beyond, through our integrated care services. We are incredibly proud that more staff than ever would recommend us a place to work and we have seen a 28% increase in staff engagement in the national staff survey over the last 5 years. We are on a significant journey of transformation in the quality of services provided, through greater co‑production with service users and carers, and addressing long‑standing inequalities. Increasingly, we are leading and collaborating closely with integrated care partnerships including working towards giving a stronger voice to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Role Overview

The Parent Ambassador role at West London CAMHS has been developed in response to reports highlighting that the voices of parents and carers are often underrepresented in their young person’s mental health journey. This role ensures that parents and carers are seen as active partners in their child or young person’s care, with the young person at the centre of all decision‑making.

Responsibilities

As a Parent / Carer Ambassador in this community outpatient setting, you will support parents and carers to feel welcomed, heard, and informed throughout their engagement with CAMHS. You will help families understand how outpatient services operate, facilitate positive relationships between families and clinicians, and work to strengthen family involvement at all stages of care, from assessment through treatment to discharge. You will also contribute to quality improvement initiatives and co‑production opportunities that aim to enhance the experience of families accessing West London CAMHS. You will need to be empathetic, approachable, and confident – able to engage with families who may be feeling overwhelmed, confused, or uncertain about the mental health system. Your goal will be to empower them with knowledge, offer emotional support, and help embed a culture of partnership between parents, young people, and the service.

Trust Information

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation. Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023‑24 is £426m. The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’. The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.