Principal CAMHS Practitioner (NHS AfC: Band 8a) - Paediatric Community Child Health - Universit[...]

UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust); London; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity arises for a Mental Health Clinician at UCLH, focusing on trauma and multi-agency work within a dedicated team. The role offers leadership in clinical practice, assessments, and multi-disciplinary care for children and adolescents affected by trauma, with ample professional development support.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Season ticket loans

Access to staff discounts and wellbeing programs

Qualifications

• Qualified Mental Health Clinician with appropriate registration.
• Specialist knowledge in trauma and therapeutic modalities.
• Experience with children and adolescents in mental health settings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct multi-disciplinary assessments of children and families.
• Provide individual and group-based therapeutic interventions.
• Supervise clinical trainees and contribute to clinical consultations.

Skills

Teamwork

Leadership

Clinical Assessment

Therapeutic Interventions

Education

Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology

Relevant HCPC registration

Post-graduate training in specialist therapeutic modality

Job description

Current vacancies

Site UCLH Town London Salary £61,927 - £68,676 per annum inclusive of HCAS, pro-rata Salary period Yearly Closing 13/07/2025 23:59

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Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a mental health clinician with specialist training and experience, and an interest in trauma and multi-agency working, to join the CAMHS Team at The Lighthouse.
The post is open to qualified and professionally registered clinicians from a range of professional backgrounds; including (but not limited to) Clinical Psychology, Child Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Art Therapy and Occupational Therapy. This post is fixed-term until 31st March 2026, due to current funding, and could be an ideal secondment opportunity. It will focus on supporting the delivery of multi-disciplinary assessments, individual and group therapeutic interventions for children and carers, and wider network engagement through consultations and training to professionals. The post holder will be supported throughout their induction and professional development. Regular clinical supervision in your discipline will be provided, as well as reflective group practice. There will be opportunities to make professional links with the UCLH Department of Child and Adolescent Psychological Medicine and local CAMHS teams. The Lighthouse is also part of the PROMISE network of Barnahus services, with unique opportunities for national and international engagements with peer services.

Main duties of the job

The post holder must be a good team worker and be able to lead in areas of clinical practice and development; will be responsible for working independently and managing a caseload of clients, ensuring safe and effective clinical practices.
The post holder will provide community-based care for children and adolescents through the provision of multi-disciplinary assessments of need, individual therapeutic interventions, parent work and group-based interventions.
In addition to direct therapeutic work, the post-holder will be expected to take a lead on wider service developments; such as the development and delivery of group programmes, training packages and multi-disciplinary consultations to young people’s caring networks. The post holder will also contribute to audits, policy, service development and research within the area served by the Lighthouse and related services nationally and internationally, supporting children who have experienced sexual abuse. The post holder may also provide clinical supervision to clinical trainees and qualified staff as needed.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within the service.

In line with an increase in funding we are recruiting to these positions on a fixed-term basis. Contracts are currently ending on 31st March 2026

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicin e

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

• To contribute to multi-disciplinary assessments of children, young people and families referred to The Lighthouse.
• To co-ordinate and deliver individual and group-based specialist therapeutic intervention care packages for children, adolescents and their carers and evaluate these, ensuring high standards of practice in accordance with national guidelines and trust policy.
• To manage a defined caseload of young people and their families and carers.
• To provide clinical consultation to children and young people’s professional networks, enhancing the quality of care provided to young people by the whole system, and providing specialist expertise, both to colleagues in the Lighthouse and to partners across North Central London; typically within social care, education and CAMHS services.
• To support the development and delivery of training packages and information for professionals within the Lighthouse and to outside agencies to promote effective practice in the specialist area.
• To undertake Video Recorded Interviews with children and young people, in collaboration with police officers, in order to achieve best evidence and improve children’s experience of the criminal justice system. Training and support will be provided to the successful candidate.
• To supervise trainee clinicians and offer clinical supervision and line management to other staff at the Lighthouse

The Lighthouse Model

The Lighthouse is the first UK Child House, a multi-professional, child-centred and trauma-informed service for CYP who have experienced child sexual abuse and a national leader in the field. The Lighthouse provides a holistic assessment and medical support, therapeutic interventions, social work and ChISVA. This child-centred concept has had proven success abroad, in particular Iceland, where there is evidence of increased convictions and improved health and well-being of the child/young person.

After a successful pilot, funded by the Home Office, NHS England, Mayor’s office for Police and crime (MOPAC) and Department for Education from 2018 - 2022, the Lighthouse secured statutory funding from April 2022. NHS England commission the service which is provided by UCLH in partnership with NSPCC and Metropolitan Police Service. CYP who live in the five boroughs in North Central London: Camden, Islington, Enfield, Haringey and Barnet can be referred or can self-refer to the service.

The Lighthouse Team

The service is jointly managed by the Lighthouse Operational Manager and the Clinical Lead. The Lighthouse service includes a CAMHS team of therapists (including Clinical Psychologists, Child Psychotherapists, Psychiatrist, CAMHS practitioners), Lived Experience Consultant, Paediatricians, Clinical Nurse Specialist for sexual health, Play Specialist, Child and Family Practitioners, and access to ‘Letting the Future In’ practitioners (NSPCC) in the Lighthouse.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity, weparticularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within the service.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the second year in a row.

UCLH top trust to work at in England – for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualifications- For Psychological Therapies colleagues:

• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS.
• Relevant HCPC registration Or Child psychotherapy training and BACP registration o Or Family Therapy training (masters level) and UKCP registration or equivalent psychological therapies qualification and professional registration.
• Further post-graduate training in specialist therapeutic modality/approach relevant to supporting children therapeutically with trauma or following sexual abuse.

Knowledge and Qualifications- For Nurse/OT and Social worker colleagues :

• Relevant NMC/HCPC professional registration Relevant NMC/HCPC registration o CYP IAPT Dip in CBT/SFP/IPT-A and/or relevant post-graduate study X X X x x x 12 in child and adolescent mental health and/or training in specialist therapy relevant to supporting children therapeutically following sexual abuse.
• Registration with relevant Professional body
• Further post-graduate training in specialist therapeutic modality/approach relevant to supporting children therapeutically with trauma or following sexual abuse.
• Further post-graduate training in specialist therapeutic modality/approach relevant to supporting children therapeutically with trauma or following sexual abuse.

Experience For Psychological Therapist colleagues

• Significant post-qualifying experience in a setting where children’s mental health is the primary focus, or equivalent development of competencies via relevant experience gained
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings. Some experience of working with clients with severe and enduring mental health problems.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of working with children and young people with mental health difficulties.

Skills and Abilities

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of work procedures and practices, and specialist knowledge over more than one discipline/function acquired over a significant period
• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care plans to meet the needs of clients, based on clinical assessment and formulation.
• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and demonstrate awareness of MDT functioning.
• Ability to maintain and manage own caseload and work autonomously within the specialist area.
• Knowledge of relevant psychological theory and evidence-based practice.
• Leadership skills in clinical practice and contributing to service development
• Ability to recognise own limits & seek support re supervision as appropriate.
• To have developed computer skills to enable input of relevant data and typing of summaries and reports
• The ability to supervise, teach and develop the skills of clinical trainees and junior staff as appropriate
• Ability to analyse risk and respond appropriately, seeking support as necessary.

Values

• Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving

Communication

• Good interpersonal skills & demonstrable ability to work with others.
• Experience with delivering training and presentations to a range of audiences

Personal and People Development

• Experience in managing or supervising trainees or qualified staff.

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Demonstratable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties.

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

• Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control
• Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control.
• Including infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal
• Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.

ExpierenceFor Nurse/OT and Social worker colleagues

• Significant post registration experience in a setting where children’s mental health is the primary focus, or equivalent development of competencies via experience gained.
• Experience of working with children and young people who have experienced abuse and neglect.
• Experience of supporting parents, carers and families through individual, family and/or group-based interventions.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of providing clinical consultation and clinical supervision.
• Experience of delivering training and teaching.

At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor’s contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.

You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Dr Christina Trigeorgis Job title CAMHS Team Lead / Consultant Clinical Psychologist Email address [e-mail] Additional information

For an informal conversation about the role please contact: Dr Christina Trigeorgis (CAMHS Team Lead / Consultant Clinical Psychologist) on 0203 049 0010