ELFT has long been recognised as a centre of excellence for mental and health care, innovation and improvement. So it is a very exciting time for you to come and work for us. Our mission is to make a positive difference in people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

South Bedfordshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner

South Bedfordshire CAMHS Crisis A&E Liaison Team

Band 7

37.5 hours per week permanent shift pattern will vary between the hours of 09.00 midnight including some weekends

If you are looking to develop your therapeutic skills and knowledge within a supportive and exciting environment and an award-winning team, this is the role for you.

Main duties of the job

Due to the ongoing success with the expansion of the South Bedfordshire CAMHS Crisis pathway, we continue to rapidly develop and grow.

The South Bedfordshire CAMHS Crisis Team are a multi-disciplinary team, who work with partner agencies to provide a high-quality service to children and their families presenting in a mental health crisis. The team provides rapid assessment and short term evidence-based crisis and when necessary intensive interventions for children and young people aged up to 18. We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and experienced mental health practitioner to join our friendly and professional team. The post-holder will require a high degree of professional autonomy, self-management and drive with the ability to work well in a team and within the multi-agency environment.

Though previous CAMHS experience is desirable, we are very happy to consider applications from candidates able to demonstrate experience in working with younger adults in crisis settings/situations and who exhibit transferable skills, evidencing the ability to engage therapeutically with young people experiencing mental health crisis.

Our clinically-led service is strongly committed to continuously improving the experience and quality of care we offer our families. The successful candidate will receive a robust induction program, regular clinical and management supervision to support this role.

About us

The Senior Management Team within South Beds CAMHS is committed to staff development: there are regular opportunities for staff to apply for appropriate training courses and to get involved in quality improvement initiatives and new developments in the service, some associated with a higher banding during the time of the project. We also have a significant number of positions in the trust for clinicians up to band 8D, opening up paths for promotion for ambitious members of staff. The East London NHS Trust prioritizes staff wellbeing and we are introducing a range of staff wellbeing initiatives to support this.

This post is based in South Bedfordshire (including Luton and Dunstable), close to the M1 and easily reached by rail and car from North London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. The clinic also has the added benefit of free parking and all clinicians are supported by very dedicated and efficient administrative staff. Whilst some of the work is based in the clinic, access to a car is essential as some travel will be required to respond to presentations at Luton and Dunstable General Hospital and to undertake outreach support at home or other camhs/ multi-agency sites.

Job description Job responsibilities

If you would like the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people, are passionate about delivering high quality care and are committed to personal and professional development we are extremely happy to hear from you.

If you would like more information about this opportunity, or to arrange an informal visit please contact Jenny Sookraj Clinical Team Lead or Katie Lodder Professional Lead on 01525 698613..

Person Specification Education/ Qualification/ Training Essential

• Recognized professional qualification/registration (eg Degree/ Diploma or equivalent in Social Work, RMHN, BACP or BABCP accredited, Systemic Practitioner with two years post graduate training, Counsellor.
• Relevant post graduate qualification.

Desirable

• Mentoring qualification or equivalent teaching qualification/experience.
• CBT training.
• Masters Degree or working towards postgraduate qualification in related CAMHS or specific treatment modality.

Experience Essential

• At least 18 months of working in CAMHS or with young people experiencing mental health difficulties.
• Experience of working in the community and working with a multi agency network
• Experience of managing and supervising junior staff.
• Experience of service development.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary setting.
• Experience of working in a culturally diverse iarea.
• Experience of working in or liaising closely with multi agency teams working with adolescents eg Youth Services, YOT etc
• Experience of working with vulnerable young people who present with high risk behaviours.

Desirable

• Experience of using CBT.
• Speciality CAMHS experience (eg YOT/Eating Disorders/ Adolescent Inpatient ward/ work in substance abuse).

Skills Essential

• Evidence of well developed clinical skills and knowledge, including mental health assessments and therapeutic interventions
• Able to assess, hypothesize and prescribe interventions.
• Advanced skills in particular therapeutic approaches.
• Proven ability to work with children and young people in distress or through psychiatric emergency.
• Experience of working sensitively with distressing material that may have serious implications to young people and their families.
• Able to work effectively in a multi-agency team.
• Proven ability in standard setting and audit implementation.
• Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychiatric phenomena, an interest in models of service delivery and an ability to articulate the value added by nursing services within the context of multi disciplinary mental health services.
• The ability to maintain and represent a CAMHS identity within a multi- agency setting, including managing the dynamics of a team within a team, i.e. The Specialist Workers in that context.
• Ability to work autonomously within the community setting.
• Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to hold stress of others.
• The ability to participate in training within a multi agency professional setting. (for example children's social care, youth services, YOT).
• Able to manage own time and caseload, prioritising assessments and treatment in non mental health settings.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Evidence of ability to lead, support and influence others.
• Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries.
• A high degree of self-awareness and an ability to reflect on personal and professional attitudes and accept feedback.

Desirable

• Computer skills
• Establishing and running groups.
• Training to others.

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge of potential barriers and resources within a multi agency setting that affect mental health and are relevant to children, young people and their families.
• Knowledge of Systemic family work.
• Knowledge of CBT and group work
• Knowledge of the, Mental Health Act and associated legislation including Child Protection Procedures
• Understanding of best practice in staff supervision and development.

Desirable

• Issues which impact on care delivery.
• Knowledge of audit and research.
• Knowledge of outcome measures.
• Awareness of current national guidelines and polices in the field of CAMHS.
• Knowledge of the Children Act

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

363-LUT9582-G