Job summary
- Main area
- Lewisham CAMHS
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 334-CLI-7366233
- Employer
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Lewisham CAMHS, Kaleidoscope Centre for children and young people
- Town
- Catford
- Salary
- £64,156 - £71,148 per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Senior CAMHS Clinical Specialist
NHS AfC: Band 8a
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
Band: Agenda for Change Band 8a
Location: Lewisham CAMHS
Hours: 37.5 hours/week (flexible, including term-time options)
Reports to: CAMHS Service Manager
Responsible for: CAMHS Virtual school and Outreach practitioners, CAMHS SEND offer including EHC Panel
This senior clinical role leads the interface between CAMHS and SEND services in Lewisham. The post holder provides expert mental health input to the SEN assessment process, supports schools and borough-wide SEND initiatives, and manages clinical teams delivering mental health support in educational settings.
Main duties of the job
-
Clinical Leadership:
- Provide assessments, interventions, and supervision within the Mental Health Support Team (MHST).
- Lead on CAMHS statutory responsibilities in SEND assessments.
- Offer clinical guidance on complex cases, including ADHD.
- Act as a point of contact for SENCOs and complex care services.
-
Team Management & Supervision:
- Supervise Band 6 and 7 practitioners.
- Support recruitment, appraisals, and professional development.
- Guide outreach teams and the CAMHS Virtual School.
-
Service Development & Partnership Working:
- Represent CAMHS in borough-wide SEND and education initiatives.
- Collaborate with commissioners, schools, and local authority partners.
- Contribute to service evaluation, audits, and research.
-
Training & Teaching:
- Deliver training to SENCos, EMHPs, and CWPs.
- Promote evidence-based practice and whole-school approaches.
-
Governance & Record-Keeping:
- Maintain high standards in clinical documentation and data entry.
- Ensure compliance with Trust policies and professional standards.
Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) is a leading provider of mental health services, known for its integration of care, research, and training. Staff benefit from professional development opportunities and collaboration with King’s College London and King’s Health Partners.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will lead the interface between CAMHS and SEND services in Lewisham, providing expert clinical input to the SEND assessment process and supporting borough-wide initiatives. They will manage and supervise outreach teams, contribute to service development, and ensure high-quality mental health support for children and young people in educational settings.
Main Responsibilities
1. Clinical and Client Care
- Conduct assessments, formulations, and interventions for MHST referrals.
- Provide clinical guidance and supervision to team members.
- Support children and families in managing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
- Offer specialist input to the SEND panel and statutory assessments.
- Liaise with specialist CAMHS teams to ensure coordinated care.
- Act as care coordinator when required and manage risk assessments and plans.
- Promote culturally appropriate psychological interventions.
2. Team and Service Functioning
- Contribute to a psychologically informed service framework.
- Promote accessibility and cultural competence in service delivery.
- Provide specialist advice to colleagues and liaise with external professionals.
- Use evidence-based practice and research to inform clinical work.
3. Policy and Service Development
- Implement and propose improvements to service policies.
- Lead or participate in projects related to SEND provision.
- Engage service users in planning and evaluating services.
4. Resource Management
- Manage Trust resources responsibly.
- Forecast and request necessary supplies and equipment.
5. Management and Supervision
- Supervise Band 6 and 7 practitioners.
- Support recruitment, appraisals, and professional development.
- Access and participate in clinical supervision.
6. Teaching and Training
- Deliver training to SENCos, EMHPs, and CWPs.
- Share knowledge and research findings with the team.
- Support the development of staff skills and awareness of current best practices.
7. Record-Keeping and Information Governance
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical records.
- Comply with Trust and professional standards for documentation and data protection.
8. Research and Development
- Lead and support service evaluations and audits.
- Develop and implement outcome measurement tools.
- Contribute to research in specialist areas relevant to MHST.
9. Professional Standards and Development
- Maintain professional registration and CPD.
- Adhere to ethical and professional guidelines.
- Stay informed on relevant legislation and clinical developments.
10. General Duties
- Travel across the Trust as needed.
- Manage challenging behaviour and emotionally distressing situations professionally.
- Support colleagues in managing risk and emotional impact.
SUMMARY:
This job description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the post and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to the pay band. The post may change over time to reflect the developing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as
the personal development of the post holder
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Qualifications and Professional Registration : Entry-level qualification: appropriately registered Clinical/Counselling psychologist, Systemic Family Therapist, Psychotherapist, Nurse, CBT Therapist
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by relevant Professional body e.g. HCPC/UKCP, RCN, BABCP
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in CAMHS.
- Experience of providing teaching and training to professional groups.
- Experienced in management and clinical supervision
- Experience of working with schools
Desirable criteria
- Experience of leadership within a CAMHS setting.
- Experience of previous working with CWP or EMHP workforce
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of evidence-based therapies for child and adolescents
- Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychosocial theories of mental health and the evidence base for the relevant treatment.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
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
- Kim de Haan
- Job title
- CAMHS general manager schools & wellbeing services
- Email address
- [email protected]
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