YJS CAMHS Practitioner

Overview

Go back South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Closing date: 22 February 2026

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated CAMHS practitioner to work within the YJS (Youth Justice) CAMHS service as a secondment from April until December 31st 2026. This is an excellent learning and developmental opportunity with a chance to work in a small specialist team that is supported by an experienced MDT. Caseloads remain small, allowing time to work with complex needs.

There is ample opportunity for direct work with young people (enhancing clinical risk and CAMHS assessment skills and practicing a range of therapeutic interventions).

Applicants will need to have a relevant first level qualification in Social Work, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Child Psychotherapy, or Creative Therapies with related experience in the psychological aspects of caring for children and adolescent with mental health problems/needs. It is desirable that applicants have further training in additional evidence based treatments with some CAMHS experience.

The successful candidate will be clinically confident in carrying out mental health and risk assessments and contribute to developing multi-agency risk management plans. The successful candidate will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be committed to providing a high standard quality of care. They will have responsibility for a caseload providing a range of clinical interventions. They will work closely with other members of the multi-disciplinary alongside partner agencies (YJS officers, education, health, social care and police).

A senior psychologist who also works in the HSB service. They will be a valued member of the YJS CAMHS team offering clinical input in the multidisciplinary team.

As one of the few Trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 8am to 6pm, giving you the very best of good work life balance.

YJS CAMHS is a multidisciplinary team that provides specialist mental health treatment to young people who have become engaged with the Youth Justice System and need help. The team comprises of 2 CAMHS Practitioners, 1 HSB Lead, 1 Youth Justice Liaison & Diver sion Practitioner and a part-time Consultant Psychiatrist and Team Lead. The Team offers a combination of evidence-based interventions and work closely with the Youth Justice Team.

The YJS CAMHS team is located in the Civic Centre less than 5 minutes from the Brixton Underground and Train station (zone
2). The team is co-located with the Youth Justice Service, but work in a hybrid model with young people seen at the Youth Justice offices in Brixton or Lambeth CAMHS sites at St John's Angell Town or Black Prince Road. There is also an opportunity for some remote working during the week.

- To assume responsibility for own case list and case management of children, adolescents and families who are determined to be at low/medium/high risk.

- To make clinical formulation/ tentative diagnosis from a standard CAMH assessment, including risk assessment, on which to recommend a treatment intervention.

- Participate as a multi-disciplinary team member in the setting and reviewing of therapeutic aims, objectives, standards and strategies to provide a high standard of care to clients.

- Deliver interventions for children and young people with a range of complex needs commonly found when working within the youth justice service. As the work is predominantly with young people with emotional behavioural and conduct difficulties then a range of talking therapies and structured interventions and family work have been found to be effective. The treatment interventions provided would be based on NICE guidelines and evidence based practice.

- Use individual, group work, family work, advice and supervision according to the needs of children and young people and have a flexible and innovative approach to packages of care.

- Participate and lead in joint…