Senior Clinical Practitioner

Dorset Healthcare University Nhs Foundation Trust; Southmoor; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Clinical Practitioner for CAMHS, delivering high-quality, person-centred care within the i-Thrive framework. The role includes clinical leadership, risk assessment, and a specialist CAMHS caseload across Weymouth, Portland, and the Dorset locality.

The post is full-time with part-time and job-share possibilities; applications emphasize a proactive, collaborative approach to transforming CYPMH services in line with Thrive

Qualifications

• Post graduate degree level study or equivalent in relevant profession.
• Current registration with appropriate professional body (NMC/HCPC/UKCP).
• Core professional qualifications as Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Applied Psychologist, or Occupational Therapist.
• Experience of working at Band 6 with young people and families.
• Ability to provide clinical and/or management supervision.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly in difficult and highly complex situations.
• Experience of working within CAMHS and multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Undertake advanced clinical assessments, develop formulations, and deliver evidence-based interventions for children and young people with complex mental health needs.
• Provide clinical leadership and oversight of the patient journey, supporting timely access to services and effective care planning.
• Hold specialist caseload, delivering individual, group, and family interventions, and undertaking comprehensive risk assessment and management.
• Provide consultation, supervision, and professional support to multidisciplinary colleagues, working with partner agencies.
• Contribute to service development, audit, quality improvement, and transformation activity in line with Thrive principles.

Skills

Postgraduate degree

Professional registration

Clinical leadership

Communication in complex situations

CAMHS experience

Care planning and risk assessment

Supervision experience

Education

Postgraduate degree in relevant profession

Job description

Job summary

CYPMH Dorset is entering an exciting period of growth, with new investments enabling us to enhance our services in line with Thrive principles. This role will evolve as we develop, beginning with supporting existing teams from a temporary base during the transition. Positions are available in our Weymouth and Portland and BCP localities, and the future service will include extended operational hours as we expand.

This is a fantastic opportunity to build skills, influence new initiatives, and grow professionally. We are looking for adaptable, positive individuals who are eager to help shape our future and thrive in a dynamic, evolving environment.

We are recruiting Senior Clinical Practitioners across the Getting Help, Getting More Help and Getting Risk Support quadrants of our i-Thrive service model, offering opportunities to work across a range of pathways supporting children, young people, and their families.

As a Senior Clinical Practitioner, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based and person-centred care, while supporting the transformation and development of CYPMH services across Dorset.

This is a full-time post and we welcome part-time hours of minimum 22.5 hours and we would consider a job share. This can be discussed further at interview stage.

Main duties of the job

You will undertake advanced clinical assessments, develop formulations, and deliver evidence-based interventions for children and young people with complex mental health needs. Working within the i-Thrive framework, they will ensure care is responsive, person-centred, and aligned to the needs of children, young people, and their families.

A key aspect of the role is providing clinical leadership and oversight of the patient journey, supporting timely access to services, effective care planning, and monitoring patient flow to identify and address barriers to care. The post holder will help ensure children and young people receive the right support at the right time.

The Senior Clinical Practitioner will hold a specialist caseload, delivering individual, group, and family interventions, and undertaking comprehensive risk assessment and management to support safe, effective clinical decision-making.

The role includes providing consultation, supervision, and professional support to multidisciplinary colleagues, working collaboratively with partner agencies to deliver coordinated care. The post holder will also contribute to service development, audit, quality improvement, and transformation activity in line with Thrive principles.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Details

Date posted: 27 August 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year p.a., pro rata for part time

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Reference number: 152-M088.26A

Job locations: Forston Clinic, Herrison Rd, Charlton Down, Dorchester, DT2 9TB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Skills & Training

Essential

• Post graduate degree level study or equivalent in relevant profession.
• Current registration with appropriate professional body, eg NMC / HCPC / UKCP
• Core professional qualifications as Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Applied Psychologist, Occupational Therapist or equivalent.
• Demonstrable experience of working at Band 6 with young people their families and carers.
• The experience and ability to provide clinical and/or management supervision.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly in difficult and highly complex situations.
• Experience of assessing, planning and implementing programmes of care, for young people

Desirable

• Ability to supervise clinically at an advanced level
• Clinical Supervisor Training

Job Specific Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working as part of a CAMHS Team
• Experience of effective working with multidisciplinary teams and other agencies.
• Experience of making judgements in complex operational or clinical matters
• Experience of working with safeguarding issues and contributing to training within a safeguarding environment.

Managerial / supervisory experience

Essential

• Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively with all staff to ensure programmes of care are implemented.
• Ability to carry out clinical supervision effectively.

Desirable

• Evidence of effective staff management, including management of individual and team performance
• Demonstrable experience of leading/managing a multi professional team

Personal qualities / attributes

Essential

• Able to influence and work with local partners in health and social care developing new services.
• Evidence of resilience in a range of complex and demanding situations
• Willingness to explore new ways of working with services and delivery and encourage staff to do so.
• Ability to manage time and conflicting demands, and prioritise workload of self and that of others accordingly.

Business travel

Essential

• Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, able travel using own vehicle on Trust business.
• Able to travel between sites

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Forston Clinic, Herrison Rd, Charlton Down, Dorchester, DT2 9TB, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

CAMHS Senior Service Manager
Kathryn Amos
[e-mail]

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.