Primary Mental Health Specialist

NHS; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider is seeking a Primary Mental Health Specialist in Gateshead to deliver mental health interventions for children aged 4 to 18. The role involves working within a multidisciplinary team to ensure evidence-based care is provided, alongside delivering training and consultation to other practitioners. Successful candidates will have relevant qualifications and experience in child and adolescent mental health, with strong skills in assessment and therapeutic intervention.

Benefits

Flexible working policy

Access to fitness center

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience supporting mental health needs of children and young people.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Proven delivery of therapeutic interventions.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health interventions to children and young people aged 4–18.
• Ensure evidence-based standards of care are delivered.
• Lead and motivate the team through supervision and guidance.

Skills

Mental health assessments

Therapeutic interventions

Collaboration

Consultation skills

Training delivery

Education

RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed./PGCE

Postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Job description

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Primary Mental Health Specialist

The closing date is 23 January 2026

Are you an experienced child and adolescent mental health practitioner looking for an exciting opportunity to make a positive difference to the mental health of children and young people aged four to eighteen years? Do you have the ability to both deliver high quality interventions and develop the skills and knowledge of universal child practitioners in child and adolescent mental health?

If so, we are looking for a Primary Mental Health Specialist to support the delivery of Gatesheads innovative and creative targeted Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service (Getting Help).

This multi‑disciplinary team delivers evidence‑based interventions for children, young people and their families who present with a wide range of mental health difficulties.

Main duties of the job

The main purpose of the role is to work as a member of the Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service in Gateshead, providing Getting Help Mental Health interventions to Children and Young People.

This includes direct provision of evidence‑based, outcome‑focused standards of care to children, young people and families and the delivery of high‑quality training, consultation and support to other children’s service providers.

We expect the post holder to have sound knowledge and skills in children and young people’s mental health. You will have the aptitude, motivation and enthusiasm for working within a ground‑breaking service.

• An appropriate professional qualification and registration in nursing, teaching (with QTS Qualified Teacher Status), social work or allied health professions e.g. RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed., PGCE or equivalent.
• Additional postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
• Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist children’s service provision.

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Carl Sketchley, CYPMHS Clinical Lead or Fiona Scott, Clinical Team Manager on 0191 2834560.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust – There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award‑winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture and working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforce’s health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high‑quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

• To work as a member of the Gateshead CYPMHS Getting Help Service providing mental health interventions to Children and Young People aged 4‑18 years.
• Direct provision of evidence‑based, outcome‑focused standards of care to children, young people and families and the delivery of high‑quality training, consultation and support to other universal children practitioners.
• The service is delivered from community bases as an integral part of an agreed model of multi‑agency CYPMH provision.
• To lead, motivate and support the team through the provision of supervision and clinical expertise.
• To work alongside the Clinical Lead and Clinical Team Manager as part of the leadership team.
• The post holder will ensure they uphold our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
• To promote at all times a positive image of children and young people with mental health conditions.
• To promote at all times a positive image of the specialist service area and the wider Trust.

Person Specification

Skills / Attributes / Knowledge

• Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
• Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work.
• Ability to be a role model in terms of values, attitudes and behaviours, in line with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust organisational framework.
• Skilled in the delivery of clinical and caseload supervision.
• Proven ability to design and deliver training to a broad range of professionals.
• Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals.
• Work cooperatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.
• Ability to engage vulnerable and hard‑to‑reach groups.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
• Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist children’s service provision.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent time and caseload management.

Experience

• Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Experience of working within a community context.
• Proven record in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training with own specialism.
• Experience of leading in the development of specific aspects of service delivery.
• Extensive experience of working collaboratively within a multi‑agency context.
• Experience of working in a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
• Experience in supervising professional colleagues from non‑specialist backgrounds.
• Experience of working in the area of research or audit.
• Experience of working with an adult mental health/perinatal service.
• Experience of working within Primary Care settings.
• Experience of leadership of teams.

Qualifications

• RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed./PGCE (with Qualified Teacher Status) or equivalent.
• Additional postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
• Accreditation with a relevant therapeutic body.
• Post‑graduate leadership qualification in a relevant area.
• Post‑graduate qualification in low‑intensity psychological interventions.

Physical Requirements

• IT Qualification.

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 Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust