Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 363-SSLB8406226
- Employer
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bedford CAMHS
- Town
- Bedford
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
CAMHS Practitioner CAS
NHS AfC: Band 6
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 to people's lives by improving 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.
Job overview
Are you an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual passionate about improving young people’s mental health? Do you have excellent communication and organisational skills and a commitment to high-quality care?
The Community Access Service (CAS) is seeking an experienced CAMHS Practitioner to join our team, supporting children and young people across schools and the community.
You will deliver evidence-based interventions, improving early access to mental health support. Working with schools, GP surgeries and community partners, you will help promote emotional wellbeing across primary and secondary education settings.
Working within a dynamic CAMHS service, you will deliver care based on the needs-led THRIVE framework. Responsibilities include assessment, risk management, therapeutic interventions, consultation, whole-school projects and supervising junior colleagues. There may also be an opportunity to undertake supervisor training at Reading University.
Bedford CAS is part of ELFT (East London NHS Foundation Trust), working alongside specialist services including Crisis, Emotional and Behavioural, and Neurodevelopmental pathways.
We value equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome individuals who embrace collaborative working.
For further information, contact:
Janine McNally
[email protected]
Operational Lead, Mental Health Support Team.
Main duties of the job
The Community Access Service (CAS) includes Mental Health Support Teams, Schools Team, Complex Needs, Early Years and PCAS, providing early mental health support to children and young people in schools and the community.
This North Bedfordshire CAMHS role delivers early intervention, assessment and evidence-based treatment for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs, working with families, schools, GP surgeries and community partners.
Responsibilities include delivering individual, group and whole-community interventions; supporting schools to develop mental health provision; providing advice to education staff; and liaising with specialist services to ensure young people receive appropriate support.
You will also contribute to psychoeducation, assemblies, transition support, staff consultations, EMHP training and community development. This includes working with SENCOs and safeguarding leads.
The role covers mainstream, special and alternative schools, colleges and community settings, including during school holidays.
You will have opportunities to use your clinical skills and interests to develop early intervention services and improve outcomes for children, young people and families.
You will build strong working relationships with CAMHS colleagues, families, schools, GP practices, health, education, social services, youth justice and voluntary organisations as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Working for our organisation
Our mission is to make a positive difference to 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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
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Assess and deliver outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions for children, young people and parents experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
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Work collaboratively with children, young people and families to develop intervention plans and agree desired outcomes.
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Support and empower families to make informed choices about treatment and care.
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Promote equality, diversity and inclusion, respecting individual needs and differences.
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Undertake risk assessments relating to risk to self and others, where appropriate.
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Follow service referral protocols and signpost unsuitable referrals to appropriate services.
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Provide evidence-based psychological interventions, including low-intensity CBT and guided self-help, face-to-face, by telephone or other appropriate methods.
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Meet agreed activity targets for contacts and clinical sessions to improve access and reduce waiting times.
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Attend multidisciplinary meetings regarding referrals and children and young people receiving treatment, where appropriate.
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Maintain accurate, timely and coherent clinical records in line with service policies, using outcome measures to inform care.
Policy and Service Development
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Support the development and implementation of school-based projects in line with the Mental Health Support Team's service development plans.
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Provide advice and guidance to professionals supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
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Contribute to developing evidence-based standards informed by research and clinical theory.
Clinical Supervision and Training
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Engage in regular personal development and clinical supervision to enhance professional competence and practice.
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Prepare and present caseload information to supervisors to ensure safe clinical practice and effective governance.
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Following appropriate training, provide clinical supervision in accordance with professional guidelines and policies.
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Attend relevant local and national training agreed with the line manager.
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Take responsibility for attending supervision, case management and line management meetings, contributing to objective setting and performance reviews.
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Provide supervision to Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) and Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs) across the CAMHS Access Service.
Human Resources
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Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships and communication channels with colleagues and partner professionals.
Clinical Governance
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Maintain up-to-date knowledge of research and evidence relating to the assessment and treatment of children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
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Participate in service audits and research projects.
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Work within relevant professional, ethical and clinical governance frameworks.
Performance Management
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Ensure clinical documentation and care plans are comprehensive, accurate and meet Trust standards and policies.
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Maintain records in accordance with Trust record-keeping requirements.
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Collate, monitor and report clinical information across designated areas of the service.
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Provide clinical information for local and Trust electronic reporting systems.
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Monitor, record and report clinical activity, communicating complex clinical information clearly and appropriately to service users, families, carers and professionals, both verbally and in writing.
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Provide relevant service information to senior managers and colleagues to support daily service management, performance monitoring and future service planning.
Person specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential criteria
- Qualification in appropriate mental health/social welfare profession such: (Family & Systemic Psychotherapist / Clinical Psychologist / Counselling Psychologist / Educational Psychologist /Occupational Therapist / Clinical Nurse Specialist (Mental Health) / Social Worker/ Senior CWP or EMHP) / Art therapist Senior EMHPs/CWPs with advanced post qualification experience.
- All applicants must be BABCP accredited or eligible to apply for accreditation within 6 months.
- Appropriate level of qualification for your profession e.g. PG Diploma, BSc, Masters.
- Evidence of continuous and relevant professional training and development (CPD), as appropriate with qualification period Registration with your appropriate body (e.g. UKCP, NMC, HCP etc.) once available.
- Successful completion of the 2 year ‘Senior Wellbeing Practitioner’ course
Desirable criteria
- Post Grad training or experience to support the needs of different children, young people and their families
- Mentor/Practice educator qualification
- Clinical supervision and training
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with CYP across the full age-range (5-18)
- Experience of working with parents/caregivers
- Experience of delivering low-intensity interventions for social anxiety
- Experience of delivering low-intensity interventions for mild-moderate low selfesteem and/or emerging body image concerns
- Experience of risk formulation, monitoring, and management for mild-moderate selfharm
- Experience in delivering low-intensity emotion regulation interventions Experience of working with CYP with increased complexity (e.g. physical, social care, educational needs), within the remit of low-intensity mild-moderate services and the evidence-base, and adapting interventions accordingly - With and/or under the guidance of appropriately experienced supervisor
- Experience of engaging and delivering interventions to CYP with protected characteristics Experience of delivering psychoeducation workshops remotely
- Experience of delivering psychoeducation workshops in person Experience of leading elements of Whole School Approach or Systemic Change Experience of working directly with senior leadership teams in service context (e.g. education, health, VCSE) to support design and delivery of programmes, policy, pathways, support offers etc.
- Experience of negotiating, problem solving and relationship management where there are disagreements or resistance within systems
- Experience of offering consultation (under guidance of supervisor) to schools/other professionals within bounds of knowledge and competence
- Experience of mentoring/coaching other trainees.
Desirable criteria
- Recognising when core interventions are appropriate for neurodiverse CYP and being able to make necessary adaptations
- Experience of delivering low intensity interventions for OCD
- Experience of trauma-informed practice
- Experience in identifying when CYP with increased complexity (e.g. physical, social care, educational needs) are beyond a low intensity or early intervention service remit/competence, and of making appropriate onward referrals in line with local pathways and protocols
- Experience of providing interventions for emotionally based school non attendance
- Experience of delivering aspects of in-house training events in service context (team, school etc.) Previous experience of working in CAMHS
- Experience of working in a culturally diverse inner city area
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria
- Experience and skills of giving appropriate constructive feedback to professional colleagues at a range of levels in the system, and of following necessary procedures when required
- Able to manage own time and caseload
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries
- Keyboard/computer skills
- Understanding of an overarching, multicomponent Whole School Approach, and how elements of this interact with one another
- Knowledge, experience, and competence in applying and following Safeguarding legislation and pathways (including contextual safeguarding)
- A high degree of self-awareness and an ability to reflect on personal and professional attitudes and accept feedback
- Awareness of current national guidelines and policies in the field of CAMHS such as Long Term Plan and Thrive.
- Specific knowledge of pertinent issues for CAMHS A knowledge of CAMHS issues including assessment and interventions
Desirable criteria
- Skilled in emergency and crisis assessments
- Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres
- Knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health and Mental Capacity Acts
- Knowledge of development in inter agency partnership
Other
Essential criteria
- To offer supervision to junior staff Commitment to equal opportunities
- Self-motivated, assertive and flexible
- Must be able to attend numerous educational settings in Bedford borough.
- Freedom to act: Physical effort: Confined sitting position(therapy); travelling within community; keyboard skills Mental effort: writing reports; planning training; concentrating for therapy sessions /clinical supervision;
- Emotional effort: Dealing with families in breakdown; experiencing trauma and abuse; occasional patient complaints;
- Working conditions: Occasional abusive behaviour; unpredictable clinical scenarios
- Car driver essential
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Janine McNally
- Job title
- Operational Lead - CAS Team
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01234 893300
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