CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner - Developmental post
Job summary
37.5 hours per week Band 5 to 6 Progression Post Mental Health Practitioner
Are you looking for a new challenge and rewarding career in Children and Young peoples Mental Health Services within an evolving team? CAMHS Crisis and Home Treatment Pathway are looking for resilient, innovative, and motivated individuals who are passionate about improving the lives and mental health of our young people.
Our pathway provides crisis support and intensive home treatment to young people who are experiencing mental health crisis and emotional distress. The service can be fast paced, and the ideal applicant will be extremely organised and self-motivated to provide high quality assessment and formulation for the young people within the service. We provide evidence-based assessments and interventions for young people keeping with the principles of the iTHRIVE model. The team provide a creative, trauma informed and pro-active approach in engaging young people and their families. The individual will be able to work independently but also work well in a team.
Will need to be available 7 days a week including bank holidays
This post will involve competencies which will need to be completed within 2 years dependent on current experience and will be assessed through various methods including feedback, self-directed assessment, direct observation and throughout line management. If not achieved within the specified timeframe will not be able to progress onto the band 6.
Main duties of the job
Crisis Liaison
To respond to CYP presenting in mental health crisis at the local general hospital using a psychiatric liaison model to facilitate safe and timely discharge.
Crisis Community
To respond to CYP who present in crisis within the community that have been referred in. Clinicians will complete a psychosocial assessment, risk management and signpost.
Home Treatment
The team offer CYP an intense community approach to avoid hospital admission and provides step down support when discharged from a mental health inpatient unit.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Date posted
03 April 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£29,970 to £36,483 a year pa, pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number
B9832-2025-NM-9707
Job locations
200 Mount Gould Road
Mount Gould
Plymouth
Devon
PL4 7PY
Job description
Job responsibilities
1a
To improve children and young peoples mental health through the delivery of an integrated and coordinated system of community based mental health care to children, young people, and their families, providing safe, culturally competent, effective, cost efficient, timely and accessible services that are in accordance with national and local priorities and responsive to the needs and views of local children, young people and their families.
2a
To provide clinical input to the team, delivering practice within best evidence and to the highest possible standard. The post will rotate across teams within the CAMHS service.
3a
For non-medical prescribers the role will involve the use of an evidence-based approach to assess and make an informed prescribing decision for a defined caseload of children and young people. This will be based on a clear theoretical framework and will take full account of the child or young persons developmental needs, gender, ethnicity, religion, race, ability, and sexual orientation.
4a
The post holder will be responsible for engaging and demonstrating ongoing CPD in relation to prescribing practice, and to support other clinicians undergoing the training.
5a
To contribute to a positive working environment and open learning culture, which supports high morale and commitment within the Community Mental Health Team promoting wellbeing, personal development, and continuous improvement in the standards of business activities and professional practice.
6a
The post holder will demonstrate effective skills in the assessment and reassessment of risk and complex behaviour issues and communicate concerns accurately in a timely fashion. This is inclusive of priority assessments and requires multi-agency responses to risk assessment and risk management plans.
7a
The post holder will make an autonomous decision about the treatment, time of discharge, and agree with the child, young person, and family/carers as well as multi-agency key partners. Communicate a summary of the work undertaken and how to sustain improvements made and include correspondence to General Practitioner.
8a.
To work with children/young people/families and professionals working with them, to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and contribute to the embedding of a positive message about maintaining good mental health.
9a
The post holder will be expected to draw upon experience and knowledge gained through training and practice relating to child development, child and adolescent mental health and adult mental health.
10a
The post holder is required to maintain high effective standards in the recording of clinical observations and actions, risk and risk management including child protection in health records.
11a
All roles may involve work with families at their homes, education, and community settings and at base as appropriate/required by children/young people and their families.
12a
The post holder will strongly adhere to culturally competent and anti-discriminatory practice, promote equity of opportunity, and use their professional position to empower others and challenge power imbalances where they are found to exist.
13a
The post holder will contribute to the CAMHS Duty Rota which operates daily.
14a
All CAMHS clinicians are expected to promote the mental health and emotional well-being of children and young people
15a
The post holder will play a role in encouraging and co-coordinating collaboration between all agencies by attending multi-agency meetings such as multi-agency CAF meetings, child protection case conferences, education reviews etc, to provide a mental health perspective.
16a
The post holder will develop excellent and effective communication skills, applicable to working both with young people, their families, and professional systems. Acting as a point of liaison between specialist CAMHS and universal services to ensure improved communication and collaboration via a range of different interfaces, forums, and meetings e.g., presenting at meetings within Plymouth.
17a
Maintain good activity records and provide them in a timely manner for inputting onto the electronic system.
18a
Be available for and make use of clinical supervision, child protection supervision and operational line management supervision.
19a
The Post holder is responsible for attending clinical supervision a minimum requirement of an hour per month.
20a
The post holder will need to organize their own workload under the support and supervision of Clinical Team Manager
21a
Maintain health records to the standards required by LSW.
22a
Contribute to a strong team ethos of enquiry, development, and improvement.
23a
Contribute to the development of team protocols and clinical practice, proposing changes for discussion.
24a
Participate in team meetings, for example allocation, supervision, reflective practice, case discussions.
25a
The post holder will strongly adhere to anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice, promote equity of opportunity, and use their professional position to empower others and challenge power imbalances where they are found to exist.
26a
Keep up to date with CAMHS developments taking place nationally in line with service objectives.
27a
To participate in audit and quality and patient safety activity in line with service objectives.
28a
Input to the electronic system as appropriate e.g., child protection supervision coding.
29a
To be aware of and familiar with LSW policy and procedure and operate within that e.g., lone working policy.
30a
To maintain high standards of infection prevention and control in day-to-day delivery of practice.
31a
To measure and make available clinical outcome measures within an agreed system.
Job responsibilities
1a
To improve children and young peoples mental health through the delivery of an integrated and coordinated system of community based mental health care to children, young people, and their families, providing safe, culturally competent, effective, cost efficient, timely and accessible services that are in accordance with national and local priorities and responsive to the needs and views of local children, young people and their families.
2a
To provide clinical input to the team, delivering practice within best evidence and to the highest possible standard. The post will rotate across teams within the CAMHS service.
3a
For non-medical prescribers the role will involve the use of an evidence-based approach to assess and make an informed prescribing decision for a defined caseload of children and young people. This will be based on a clear theoretical framework and will take full account of the child or young persons developmental needs, gender, ethnicity, religion, race, ability, and sexual orientation.
4a
The post holder will be responsible for engaging and demonstrating ongoing CPD in relation to prescribing practice, and to support other clinicians undergoing the training.
5a
To contribute to a positive working environment and open learning culture, which supports high morale and commitment within the Community Mental Health Team promoting wellbeing, personal development, and continuous improvement in the standards of business activities and professional practice.
6a
The post holder will demonstrate effective skills in the assessment and reassessment of risk and complex behaviour issues and communicate concerns accurately in a timely fashion. This is inclusive of priority assessments and requires multi-agency responses to risk assessment and risk management plans.
7a
The post holder will make an autonomous decision about the treatment, time of discharge, and agree with the child, young person, and family/carers as well as multi-agency key partners. Communicate a summary of the work undertaken and how to sustain improvements made and include correspondence to General Practitioner.
8a.
To work with children/young people/families and professionals working with them, to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and contribute to the embedding of a positive message about maintaining good mental health.
9a
The post holder will be expected to draw upon experience and knowledge gained through training and practice relating to child development, child and adolescent mental health and adult mental health.
10a
The post holder is required to maintain high effective standards in the recording of clinical observations and actions, risk and risk management including child protection in health records.
11a
All roles may involve work with families at their homes, education, and community settings and at base as appropriate/required by children/young people and their families.
12a
The post holder will strongly adhere to culturally competent and anti-discriminatory practice, promote equity of opportunity, and use their professional position to empower others and challenge power imbalances where they are found to exist.
13a
The post holder will contribute to the CAMHS Duty Rota which operates daily.
14a
All CAMHS clinicians are expected to promote the mental health and emotional well-being of children and young people
15a
The post holder will play a role in encouraging and co-coordinating collaboration between all agencies by attending multi-agency meetings such as multi-agency CAF meetings, child protection case conferences, education reviews etc, to provide a mental health perspective.
16a
The post holder will develop excellent and effective communication skills, applicable to working both with young people, their families, and professional systems. Acting as a point of liaison between specialist CAMHS and universal services to ensure improved communication and collaboration via a range of different interfaces, forums, and meetings e.g., presenting at meetings within Plymouth.
17a
Maintain good activity records and provide them in a timely manner for inputting onto the electronic system.
18a
Be available for and make use of clinical supervision, child protection supervision and operational line management supervision.
19a
The Post holder is responsible for attending clinical supervision a minimum requirement of an hour per month.
20a
The post holder will need to organize their own workload under the support and supervision of Clinical Team Manager
21a
Maintain health records to the standards required by LSW.
22a
Contribute to a strong team ethos of enquiry, development, and improvement.
23a
Contribute to the development of team protocols and clinical practice, proposing changes for discussion.
24a
Participate in team meetings, for example allocation, supervision, reflective practice, case discussions.
25a
The post holder will strongly adhere to anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice, promote equity of opportunity, and use their professional position to empower others and challenge power imbalances where they are found to exist.
26a
Keep up to date with CAMHS developments taking place nationally in line with service objectives.
27a
To participate in audit and quality and patient safety activity in line with service objectives.
28a
Input to the electronic system as appropriate e.g., child protection supervision coding.
29a
To be aware of and familiar with LSW policy and procedure and operate within that e.g., lone working policy.
30a
To maintain high standards of infection prevention and control in day-to-day delivery of practice.
31a
To measure and make available clinical outcome measures within an agreed system.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Core qualification in any Mental health modality such as Nursing / Social Worker / Psychology
- Appropriate Registration relevant to professional qualification
Desirable
- Post graduate training qualification in methods of working with children with mental health problems, e.g., counselling, systemic practice or post grad diploma in child and adolescent mental health
- Evidence of Mentorship and sign off mentor qualifications
Circumstances
Essential
- Ability to travel across Plymouth
- Ability to work flexibly (hours of work and duties) both as an individual and with other colleagues in LSW and with partner agencies.
- Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments where required.
Desirable
- Car owner/driver or suitable alternative transport to enable you to undertake the job. It is unlikely that public transport will meet this requirement.
- Adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and documents pertaining
- to children, e.g., Children Act 2004, Child Protection, National Service Framework, Every Child Matters etc. Learning Disability specific legislation and documents, Aiming High for Disabled Children, Valuing People, Mansell report, Mental Capacity Act.
- Knowledge of a range of mental health problems and disorders affecting children and young people.
- Knowledge of theories of child development and their application to practice.
- An understanding of resilience and vulnerability
Desirable
- Knowledge of different models of therapy, e.g., Applied Behavior Analysis and at least one other therapeutic modality e.g. CBT, Psychodynamic psychotherapy, solution focussed therapy etc
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary context.
- Experience of post-registration working with children and young people who have experienced mental health and psychological well-being difficulties.
- Experience in assessment, inc risk, care planning, intervention, and evaluation.
- Maintaining own safety in Community settings by working within relevant policy and having completed or be willing to complete breakaway training or equivalent.
- Experience of effective working with families of different cultural backgrounds.
- Experience of working within multi-agency safeguarding systems e.g., child protection conferences, child in need meetings
- Experience of managing demanding and difficult professionals/young people/colleagues
- Experience of managing your own caseload and of working with a team approach
Desirable
- Experience of service evaluation
Skills
Essential
- Mental Health and Risk assessment, care planning, evaluation and intervention skills
- Well established case management skills and good organizational skills with ability to prioritize
- Well developed communication skills both oral and written
- Commitment to anti-oppressive practice
- Ability to work in partnership and in collaboration with others, both in and out of own agency/professional background.
- Commitment to own learning and professional development.
- Reflective Practitioner
Desirable
- Culturally competent assessment and intervention skills
- Specific therapeutic skills relevant to working with children and families
- Consultation skills.
- Training skills
- Self motivating and able to work on own initiative
Qualifications
Essential
- Core qualification in any Mental health modality such as Nursing / Social Worker / Psychology
- Appropriate Registration relevant to professional qualification
Desirable
- Post graduate training qualification in methods of working with children with mental health problems, e.g., counselling, systemic practice or post grad diploma in child and adolescent mental health
- Evidence of Mentorship and sign off mentor qualifications
Circumstances
Essential
- Ability to travel across Plymouth
- Ability to work flexibly (hours of work and duties) both as an individual and with other colleagues in LSW and with partner agencies.
- Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments where required.
Desirable
- Car owner/driver or suitable alternative transport to enable you to undertake the job. It is unlikely that public transport will meet this requirement.
- Adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and documents pertaining
- to children, e.g., Children Act 2004, Child Protection, National Service Framework, Every Child Matters etc. Learning Disability specific legislation and documents, Aiming High for Disabled Children, Valuing People, Mansell report, Mental Capacity Act.
- Knowledge of a range of mental health problems and disorders affecting children and young people.
- Knowledge of theories of child development and their application to practice.
- An understanding of resilience and vulnerability
Desirable
- Knowledge of different models of therapy, e.g., Applied Behavior Analysis and at least one other therapeutic modality e.g. CBT, Psychodynamic psychotherapy, solution focussed therapy etc
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary context.
- Experience of post-registration working with children and young people who have experienced mental health and psychological well-being difficulties.
- Experience in assessment, inc risk, care planning, intervention, and evaluation.
- Maintaining own safety in Community settings by working within relevant policy and having completed or be willing to complete breakaway training or equivalent.
- Experience of effective working with families of different cultural backgrounds.
- Experience of working within multi-agency safeguarding systems e.g., child protection conferences, child in need meetings
- Experience of managing demanding and difficult professionals/young people/colleagues
- Experience of managing your own caseload and of working with a team approach
Desirable
- Experience of service evaluation
Skills
Essential
- Mental Health and Risk assessment, care planning, evaluation and intervention skills
- Well established case management skills and good organizational skills with ability to prioritize
- Well developed communication skills both oral and written
- Commitment to anti-oppressive practice
- Ability to work in partnership and in collaboration with others, both in and out of own agency/professional background.
- Commitment to own learning and professional development.
- Reflective Practitioner
Desirable
- Culturally competent assessment and intervention skills
- Specific therapeutic skills relevant to working with children and families
- Consultation skills.
- Training skills
- Self motivating and able to work on own initiative
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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
Livewell Southwest
Address
200 Mount Gould Road
Mount Gould
Plymouth
Devon
PL4 7PY
Employer's website
https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Livewell Southwest
Address
200 Mount Gould Road
Mount Gould
Plymouth
Devon
PL4 7PY
Employer's website
https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
For questions about the job, contact:
Hayley Delacy
01752435125
Date posted
03 April 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£29,970 to £36,483 a year pa, pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number
B9832-2025-NM-9707
Job locations
200 Mount Gould Road
Mount Gould
Plymouth
Devon
PL4 7PY
Supporting documents
Please view the full job description on NHS Jobs for attached documents.
Supporting links (all open in new tabs)
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Livewell Southwest's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)
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