Job Summary
We’re excited to offer a permanent, full‑time Senior Mental Health Practitioner role to join the Assessment and Primary Intervention Team (APIT) within Barnsley CAMHS. The APIT is a dynamic multidisciplinary team delivering high‑quality mental health services to children and families. This varied role is suited to an experienced practitioner eager to make a difference. You’ll join a passionate, supportive team where staff wellbeing is a priority. We offer a thorough induction, regular supervision, and excellent opportunities for training and professional growth.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide assessment and brief interventions for young people referred to CAMHS for issues such as anxiety and low mood.
* Collate referral reading, risk screening, signposting and liaise with local partners in health, education and social care.
* Work collaboratively with families, carers, and young people, adapting approaches to meet their needs and considering neurodiversity.
* Coordinate with Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) under the Branching Minds (BM) initiative to ensure timely access to services.
* Work autonomously and within a multidisciplinary team, providing consultation for other agencies and professionals.
* Participate in the CAMHS on‑call rota and work flexibly, including 24/7 coverage when required.
* Maintain high standards of safeguard and welfare for children and young people.
* Provide training, supervision and consultation to partner agencies and junior staff.
* Contribute to service development, audit, and review.
* Use information technology systems (including Rio) for secure data handling.
* Participate in clinical audit programmes and report lessons learnt.
Qualifications & Experience
* Substantial post‑qualification experience working with children, young people and their carers in a mental health or complex care setting.
* Multidisciplinary team working and inter‑agency liaison skills.
* Experience supervising and mentoring junior staff.
* Clinical and therapeutic knowledge and skills in mental health.
* Experience of assessment and risk management, and ability to implement evidence‑based practice.
* Knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance (e.g., NHS plan, mental health legislation, Children’s Act).
* Experience of safeguarding children and young people.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Good negotiation and problem‑solving skills.
* Customer‑service orientation and effective record‑keeping/report‑writing skills.
* IT skills and ability to work across disciplines.
* Current UK professional registration and membership of a recognized professional body.
* Post‑registration qualification (degree) and postgraduate qualifications in mental health (e.g., CBT, Family Therapy, Counselling) are desirable.
* Teaching and assessing qualification is desirable.
Desirable Experience
* Experience in community settings and within different cultural contexts.
* Experience of working with equality and diversity.
* Experience of delivering training to others.
Special Knowledge / Skills
* Good verbal and communication skills.
* Ability to manage own caseload.
* Effective record‑keeping and report‑writing skills, including care planning and risk assessments.
* IT skills.
* Excellent team‑working skills and ability to predict and manage inter‑disciplinary tensions.
* Strong commitment to multi‑agency approach and actualising service improvement.
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
* Good sickness record over the previous two years (subject to fairness and equality of opportunity).
* Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential.
Training and Professional Development
* Training and experience relating to specialist CAMHS.
* Experience of delivering training to others.
Personal Attributes
* Autonomous working and teamwork skills.
* Commitment to multi‑agency approach.
* Ability to make decisions under pressure and remain calm in crisis situations.
* Innovative, creative and assertive.
* High levels of clarity of decision making and self‑care.
* Commitment to challenging discrimination and improving accessibility of services.
* Willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing service priorities.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offences Act 1975. Disclosure and Barring Service checks are required.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information see NHS Careers website.
Employer Details
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Upper New Street, Barnsley, S70 1LP
Employment Type & Band
Full‑time, Permanent, Band 6. Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year. Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible.
EEO Statement
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
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