CAHMS Practitioner - Band 6

A Band 6 CAMHS Practitioner post in the Community Access Service at East London NHS Foundation Trust, which works to improve children's mental health in schools and the community. The practitioner delivers evidence-based interventions to children, young people and parents with mild to moderate difficulties, including risk assessment and low-intensity CBT or guided self-help. The role spans education settings and GP surgeries, with hybrid face-to-face and remote working.

Applicants need a professional qualification and registration, or eligibility for accreditation within six months.

• Assess and deliver outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions to children, young people and parents with mild to moderate difficulties
• Work in partnership with children, young people and families to develop intervention plans and agreed outcomes
• Support and empower children, young people and families to make informed choices about intervention
• Support children and young people with mild to moderate difficulties and their families
• Undertake assessment of risk to self and others where appropriate
• Follow service referral protocols and signpost unsuitable referrals to the right service
• Provide information and support for evidence-based psychological treatments, low-intensity CBT and guided self-help, face-to-face, by phone or other media
• Meet an agreed activity contract for contacts and sessions per week to improve access and reduce waiting times
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings on referrals or children in treatment where appropriate
• Keep coherent records of all activity in line with service requirements
• Work from an inclusive values base that recognises and respects diversity

• Qualification in a mental health or social welfare profession at PG Diploma, BSc or Masters level, or senior CWP or EMHP with advanced post-qualification experience

• Registered with a professional body, or eligible to apply for accreditation within 6 months

• Working with children and young people aged 5 to 18, and with their parents or caregivers
• Delivering low-intensity interventions for social anxiety and emotion regulation
• Risk formulation, monitoring and management for mild to moderate self-harm
• Adapting interventions for children with increased complexity, under supervision
• Delivering psychoeducation workshops in person and remotely
• Leading Whole School Approach or systemic change work, and working with senior leadership teams

• Current evidence-based guidelines for assessing and treating mild to moderate mental health difficulties in children and young people
• Legislation affecting clinical practice and the mental health of children, young people and families
• Knowledge of diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and of high deprivation
• Current guidelines on implementing the whole-school approach in education
• Keyboard and computer skills
• Self-awareness, reflection on attitudes, and giving constructive feedback to colleagues

• Car driver, essential for travel across the community

• Able to offer supervision to junior staff and work across numerous education settings in Bedford borough

• Post-graduate training or experience supporting the needs of different children, young people and families
• Mentor or practice educator qualification
• Recognising when core interventions suit neurodiverse children and young people, and adapting them
• Experience of trauma-informed practice
• Experience of low-intensity interventions for OCD
• Experience of interventions for emotionally based school non-attendance
• Previous CAMHS experience or specific knowledge of CAMHS issues
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act

• Hybrid working, combining face-to-face and remote clinical work