Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical / Service Delivery
•    To provide specialist CBT assessment, formulation and intervention for children and young people presenting with a range of mental health difficulties, including but not limited to anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, trauma-related presentations, low mood, emotional dysregulation and difficulties associated with neurodevelopmental needs.
•    To deliver evidence-based CBT interventions adapted to the developmental, cognitive, communication, cultural and systemic needs of children, young people and families.
•    To work collaboratively with children, young people, parents and carers to develop shared formulations, goals and treatment plans.
•    To provide care that is inclusive, culturally sensitive, anti-discriminatory and responsive to the diverse needs of children, young people and families.
•    To provide individual CBT, parent/carer work, family-informed interventions and group-based interventions where appropriate.
•    To undertake specialist assessment of risk, including self-harm, suicidal ideation, risk to others, exploitation, neglect, abuse and safeguarding concerns.
•    To contribute to safety planning, crisis planning and risk management in collaboration with the young person, family, wider CAMHS team and partner agencies.
•    To maintain a caseload of children and young people with complex and varied presentations, ensuring that clinical work is prioritised according to risk, need and service demands.
•    To work with complexity, including co-morbidity, neurodevelopmental needs, family stressors, trauma, school difficulties and social care involvement.
•    To ensure that the voice of the child or young person is central to assessment, formulation, intervention and care planning.
•    To make appropriate onward referrals or signpost to other services where needs fall outside the post-holder’s clinical remit or require additional specialist support.
•    To work as an active member of the Community CAMHS multidisciplinary team, contributing to referrals discussions, assessments, care planning, reviews and discharge planning.
•    To provide psychological consultation and advice to colleagues within CAMHS regarding CBT formulation, intervention planning and risk management.

Communication and Engagement
•    To liaise with parents, carers, schools, social care, paediatrics, GPs, voluntary sector agencies and other professionals involved in the young person’s care.
•    To contribute to multi-agency meetings, including child protection conferences, child in need meetings, education planning meetings, early help meetings and care planning reviews where appropriate.
•    To support effective transitions between services, including transition to adult mental health services, specialist CAMHS pathways or community-based support.
•    To communicate complex and sensitive information clearly, compassionately and appropriately to children, young people, parents, carers and professionals.
•    To adapt communication to meet the needs of children and young people with learning disabilities, autism, communication differences, trauma histories, cultural needs or sensory needs.
•    To manage conversations involving distress, risk, disagreement or safeguarding concerns in a calm, professional and child-centred manner.
•    To promote collaborative relationships with families and professional networks while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

Service Improvement and Participation

•    To contribute to the development of CBT pathways within Community CAMHS, including intervention offers for common mental health presentations.
•    To support service improvement initiatives aimed at improving access, outcomes, experience and equity of care.
•    To participate in audit, outcome monitoring, clinical governance and quality assurance activity.
•    To use routine outcome measures and feedback tools to inform clinical practice and service evaluation.
•    To contribute to the development of group programmes, psychoeducation resources, parent/carer materials and young-person-friendly clinical information.
•    To identify gaps in provision and work with senior colleagues to support service planning and pathway improvement.

Professional Responsibilities
•    To work within professional codes of conduct, ethical frameworks and organisational policies.
•    To maintain appropriate professional registration/accreditation and engage in continuing professional development.
•    To maintain accurate and timely clinical records in accordance with service standards, information governance requirements and professional guidance.
•    To ensure that consent, confidentiality and information sharing are managed appropriately, particularly when working with children, young people and families.
•    To maintain awareness of relevant legislation and guidance, including the Children Act, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act, Working Together to Safeguard Children, SEND guidance and local safeguarding procedures.
•    To manage clinical work within the limits of professional competence, seeking supervision and advice where required.
•    To attend and participate in team meetings.
•    Adhere to Trust policies, safeguarding procedures, and professional standards.

General Duties
•    Maintain awareness of safeguarding responsibilities and escalate concerns appropriately.
•    To contribute to reducing barriers to accessing CAMHS for underserved or marginalised groups.
•    To consider the impact of poverty, racism, disability, neurodivergence, sexuality, gender identity, culture, religion, language and family context on mental health and access to services.
•    Contribute to a positive and supportive team culture.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment. 

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.