Primary Mental Health Specialist

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Primary Mental Health Specialist

Closing date: 13 March 2026

In an exciting new development, we are delighted to be expanding our workforce and are looking to appoint a children and young peoples mental health specialist to be part of a PCN (Primary Care Network) mental health service in Sunderland. The role supports the delivery of evidence-based interventions for children, young people and their families who present with a wide range of mental health difficulties.

In a new and innovative service model, the team is comprised of high and low intensity Children and Young People's Mental Health (CYPMH) practitioners and will work closely with our well-established Sunderland Community Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (SCCYPMHS). This multi-disciplinary team delivers a range of interventions that identify mental health difficulties at the earliest stage, and facilitate the provision of services that promote resilience, and enable positive mental health.

If you are a skilled, experienced, enthusiastic and highly motivated CYPMH practitioner and are seeking an opportunity to play an instrumental role in developing innovative services for children, young people and their families, this could be the post for you.

We expect the post holder to have sound children and young peoples mental health knowledge and skills. You will have the aptitude, motivation and enthusiasm for working within a groundbreaking service. Candidates will need:

• An appropriate professional qualification and registration in nursing, teaching (with QTS Qualified Teacher Status), social work or allied health professions e.g. RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW,
  
  B.Ed, PGCE or equivalent.
• Additional postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
• Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
• Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work.
• Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals and work cooperatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Lesley Gammell, CYPMHS Clinical Lead on .

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture/working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforce's health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

To work as a member of the PCN (Primary Care Network) Mental Health Team in Sunderland providing first‑line Mental Health interventions to Children and Young…