Principal Specialist CAMHS Practitioner

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust seeks a Principal Specialist CAMHS Practitioner to deliver trauma-informed care and therapeutic interventions for children and families. The role involves working in a multi-disciplinary team, managing a clinical caseload, and supporting service development. Applicants should have doctoral-level training and relevant registration in clinical psychology or equivalent. Opportunities for professional development and supervision included. Competitive salary of £64,156 to £71,148 per annum, pro rata.

Benefits

Clinical supervision provided

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology or equivalent.
• Specialist training in Child & Adolescent Mental Health.
• Registration with relevant Professional body.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist assessment and therapeutic interventions.
• Manage clinical caseload and develop safety plans.
• Contribute to service development and quality improvement.

Skills

Advanced theoretical knowledge

Ability to assess and plan care

Leadership skills in clinical practice

Good interpersonal skills

Education

Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology or equivalent

Relevant NMC/HCPC registration

Job description

Principal Specialist CAMHS Practitioner

The closing date is 05 January 2026

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, Nursing and Occupational Therapy.

This post is fixed-term until 31st March 2027, 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. There will be opportunities for the post to support and co-lead the development and delivery of participation work and research within the service.

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

• Deliver specialist assessment and evidence-based therapeutic interventions for children, young people and families referred to The Lighthouse, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Hold and manage a defined clinical caseload, providing individual and group-based interventions, conducting risk assessments, and developing collaborative safety plans.
• Offer clinical consultation and advice to professionals across social care, education and CAMHS, supporting high-quality, trauma-informed practice across the wider system.
• Lead and contribute to multi-agency meetings, including MDTs and professional network discussions, ensuring coordinated and effective care planning.
• Deliver supervision to trainees, contribute to staff development, and support training for internal and external partners.
• Work closely with Lighthouse colleagues including Social Workers, Paediatricians, Police and Advocates, promoting integrated safeguarding practice.
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement and clinical governance activity within The Lighthouse, supporting the ongoing enhancement of trauma-informed care.
• Promote the mental health and wellbeing of young people and families through therapeutic engagement, psychoeducation and effective multi-agency collaboration.

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; or Family Therapy training (masters level) and UKCP registration; or equivalent psychological therapies qualification and professional registration.
• Specialist training in subject/skills relevant to Child & Adolescent Mental Health (0-18 years).
• For Nurse/OT and Social worker colleagues: Relevant NMC/HCPC registration; CYP IAPT Dip in CBT/SFP/IPT‑A and/or relevant post‑graduate study 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.

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.
• For 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.
• Experience on developing co-production and participation projects with service users.

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 to standards for quality and Lighthouse policies and procedures.
• 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.
• Knowledge of theory and practice of clinical supervision.
• Willingness and ability to develop specialist knowledge of clinical aspects of child & adolescent mental health.
• Leadership skills in clinical practice and contributing to service development.
• Culturally competent practice knowledge and skills.
• 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 etc.
• 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 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.

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.

£64,156 to £71,148 a year Per annum inclusive of HCAS pro rata