Senior Mental Health Practitioner/ Team LeadinBloxwichinBloxwichPUBLISHED FRI 21 FEB 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified mental health practitioner with experience in child and adolescent mental health under the support of our Division Children in Care Lead to lead our Children in Care Team at Walsall CAMHS. We are seeking a suitable candidate with a professional qualification in a mental health related subject (e.g. Registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupation Therapist, Social Worker, Creative Therapist, Child Psychotherapist, Applied Psychologist or equivalent) who can bring skills, experience and enthusiasm to meet the needs of children/ young people with complex developmental trauma, attachment difficulties and other mental health needs.

The candidates needs to be appropriately qualified and registered a professional body such as RCN, HCPC, BAAT etc. and be adhering to the relevant code of ethics and practice.

The candidate needs to be able to develop leadership skills to lead a small team under the management of the CAMHS service manager.

This is an exciting time to join Walsall CAMHS as we are in the early stages of developing our Child in Care team and so the successful candidate will be joining a new venture as part of the wider established CAMHS service.

To provide specialist team leadership to the CAMHS Children in Care team (CIC) under the leadership of the Division CIC Lead and management of the Service Manager. They will ensure the implementation and delivery of the CIC team within Specialist CAMHS in Walsall is delivered to a high standard in accordance to the CIC Service Specification.

To provide management and leadership for staff within the service.

To take a lead role within the service taking a strategic view of service development and identify new opportunities.

To lead the team with enthusiasm and success, having in-depth knowledge and training on appropriate therapeutic modalities for working with children and young people in care and supervision and an ability to manage and encourage the team in future development and plans.

To work in partnership with the Child & Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) Service Manager/Clinical Lead and Divisional Lead for Children in Care to further develop partnership working.

About us

• To manage a high clinical profile, being highly visible, accessible and approachable to staff, children and young people or service users and the public to ensure that open and honest communication channels are created and sustained.
• To ensure the provision of highly specialised Children in Care Team in CAMHS is being delivered. This includes minimisation of risk of harm across the team, maintaining an overview of the standards of care being delivered and instigating remedial action if necessary and in accordance with current legislation and Trust policy and procedure.
• To monitor clinical incidents within defined area, observing for trends and needs for service or staff development and working with Divisional CIC Lead to inform strategy and service development improvements.
• To work with the Divisional CIC Lead in assessing the clinical skills required to deliver a safe and high quality evidence based Child in Care service, identifying gaps and supporting developing programmes to address these issues.
• To act as a coach, mentor and resource to staff. To guide and support developmental projects and advise on further resources as appropriate.
• To actively promote carer/user involvement in all aspects of care planning and delivery, whilst respecting the rights, cultural needs, capabilities and wishes of the individuals concerned.
• To ensure local safeguarding processes and systems are in place and adhered to.
• To actively involve young people and their carers in the delivery of care.
• To be a champion of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working, ensuring strong working relationships with partner agencies.
• To actively participate in the ongoing development and review of the Child in Care provision and related policies and protocols as a Senior Mental Healh Practitioner within the service.
• To lead on relevant developments and provide training packages and leadership ensuring that relevant care packages are implemented within CAMHS.
• To work in partnership with the other services and key providers and undertake a defined role, in the development of standards and audit of practice.
• To work in partnership with the Service Manager/Clinical Lead and key providers and undertake a defined role, in the development of improved pathways of care for young people, supporting choice and flexibility and identifying gaps in service provision.
• To actively participate, and lead when required, in the recruitment and selection of clinical and non-clinical staff ensuring appropriate skill mix for the service.
• To be responsible for service user engagement and development from their feedback and input.
• Undertake appropriate, evidence based mental health assessments with children, young people in care and carers who require a service, incorporating therapeutic knowledge and skills.
• Effectively communicate the Trusts policies re confidentiality and consent to children, young people and carers.
• Develop a planned programme of clinically appropriate, evidence based interventions as appropriate.
• Manage a specialist caseload and provide advice and consultancy to children, young people in care and their carers and other professionals.
• Co-ordinate multi-disciplinary specialist assessment.
• Provide expert advice to children, young people, families and multi-agency professionals.
• Act as care co-ordinator, ensuring the provision of a care package appropriate to the needs of the children and young people in care and carers.
• Provide specialist training both internally and externally.
• To oversee and review clinical outcomes through evaluation, audit and review.
• Ensure evidence based practice in all clinical work and promote the evidence base in area of specialist expertise.
• Be flexible in working hours as and when appropriate.
• Be flexible in the delivery of clinical work in terms of modality and location.
• To build capacity and skills in both clinical and non clinical staff that the service has contact with.
• To receive regular management and clinical supervision in accordance with professional guidelines.
• Provide clinical supervision to staff from own and other service groups/team.
• To provide management supervision as appropriate to your banding.
• Participate in multi disciplinary team meetings providing a professional perspective as appropriate following evidence based practice.
• Assume a shared responsibility for the implementation, monitoring and review of service developments.
• Responsible for recruitment, appraisal and training needs of the team. Also responsible for attendance management, performance management, disciplinary and grievances of the team.
• Ensure appropriate use of resources and equipment.
• Undertake Research & Development activities as appropriate.
• Undertake project management as requested by the Operational Manager.
• To work alongside the Service Manager/Clinical Lead, Divisional Lead for CIC, quality and audit team, external agencies, CAMHS managers/leads in service performance management including the collection/collation and submission of data to support activity and KPI reporting.
• To seek, evaluate and organise accurate information as a means of initiating and implementing change and ongoing improvements in service content, quality and delivery.
• To ensure comprehensive clinical notes and records are maintained in line with Trust standards, safeguarding at all times the confidentiality of information related to patients and staff.
• To make sound professional judgements whilst handling sensitive information within the framework of confidentiality.
• To assist in the resolution of any conflicts within the clinical area, resolving informal complaints locally and assisting in the investigation of and response to formal complaints as required.
• To assist where appropriate the Service Manager/Clinical Lead with competency and disciplinary concerns with members of the team.
• To create, maintain and enhance effective communication and working relationships with professional networks and colleagues.
• Maintain comprehensive clinical notes and consultation records as defined by the operational policies of the CAMHS Service.
• To utilise patient electronic record data for the purpose of identifying trends and inform future service developments.
• Maintain professional registration and adhere to professional code of conduct and take responsibility for own CPD plan in line with professional guidance.
• Undertake continued clinical professional development with the support of an identified clinical supervisor.