Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- This job role requires full time working on site
- Job ref
- 334-NUR-7890694-TA-A
- Employer
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Kaleidoscope Children's Centre with an expectation to assess young people in A+E in University Hospital Lewisham
- Town
- Lewisham
- Salary
- £58,133 - £65,261 per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
CAMHS Crisis Team Senior Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 7
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone’s potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I’m going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you’ll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
Lewisham CAMHS Crisis team have an opening for a senior Practitioner to join the team. This role is suitable for Registered Nurses and Allied Professionals.
The successful candidate will be part of a small team that works with colleagues across Lewisham CAMHS and the South London Partnership as well as Paediatric Team at University Hospital Lewisham. This role exists to contribute to Crisis Care, particularly through clinical presentations at University Hospital Lewisham A&E.
The post holder will deliver high quality, safe crisis care, ensuring consistently high standards of practice and clinical excellence which comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code of professional conduct. As a CAMHS Crisis Team Senior Practitioner you will support the Team Leader and junior colleagues to promote and develop excellent clinical practice. You will be a positive role model to junior members of the team through the practice of evidence-based care. You will be expected to support professional development by contributing to the ongoing educational programme for all staff and students, fostering a positive learning environment.
The service currently operates between the hours of 9am and 5pm, however the aim is to develop a more responsive service with aspirations of moving to a 24 hour service in future.
Main duties of the job
The Lewisham CAMHS Crisis Team is a Multi-disciplinary Tier3 CAMHS Service that works with young people who attend University Hospital Lewisham in a crisis. Children and adolescents who present, have a range of mental health disorders and distress. Some present with self-harming behaviour or suicidal ideation. Others have mental health disorders including psychosis or severe mental ill-health. The team undertake mental health assessment, formulation, risk planning and refer onwards for longer term interventions.
The team is currently composed of a Consultant Psychiatrist and CAMHS Nursing colleagues; though experienced professional applicants from other health care related backgrounds would be welcomed.
We work closely alongside wider tier 3 CAMHS teams, specialist tier 4 services and inpatient settings as required. The team work in collaboration with complex networks around the young person including social care, education, residential services and other healthcare providers.
Working for our organisation
About the Location
The team is based at Kaleidoscope Children's Centre which is a short walk from Catford stations or Ladywell Station. Crisis assessments are undertaken at University Hospital Lewisham and follow up appointments are offered at Kaleidoscope.
Benefits:
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It’s important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential Criteria
First level nursing qualification/registration
Registered General Nurse and/or Registered Mental Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disability Nurse,
OR
Clinical registration in a healthcare profession including therapy, social work, clinical psychology
All applicants will require professional registration with a statutory body
Desirable Criteria
Masters’ degree
Mentorship qualification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential Criteria
Experience working in CAMHS / acute setting
Experience of research-based / reflective practice.
Significant relevant clinical experience.
Evidence of continuing professional development
Knowledge of clinical governance and audit
Knowledge of adult and child safeguarding
Knowledge of mental health legislation and of the practical application of MH law.
Desirable Criteria
Experience of taking responsibility for a ward / clinical unit.
Experience as a preceptor / mentor
Skills and Knowledge
Essential Criteria
Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user’s needs.
Ability to supervise clinically
Teaching ability.
Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations.
Approachable.
Self-aware, self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to motivate others.
Loyal and able to advocate for and show pride in the work area and organisation.
Forms very effective working relationships with colleagues.
Advocates for all individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics; promotes equality and diversity.
Desirable Criteria
Ability to manage a team
Other Requirements
Empathy for service users including individuals who have experienced mental health problems.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- First level Nursing Qualification/Registration
- Registered General Nurse and/or Registered Mental Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disability Nurse, or Clinical registration in a healthcare profession including therapy, social work, clinical psychology
Desirable criteria
- Masters’ degree Mentorship qualification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experience working in CAMHS / acute setting
- Significant relevant clinical experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Knowledge of adult and child safeguarding
- Knowledge of mental health legislation and of the practical application of MH law.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of taking responsibility for a ward / clinical unit.
- Experience as a preceptor / mentor
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service users needs
- Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations.
- Approachable. Self-aware, self-confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to motivate others.
- Forms very effective working relationships with colleagues.
- Advocates for all individuals, particularly those with protected characteristics; promotes equality and diversity
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Gillene Thomas
- Job title
- Clinical Service Lead
- Telephone number
- 0203 228 4927
List jobs with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in Nursing and Midwifery or all sectors








