South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Primary Mental Health Worker
The closing date is 18 March 2026
In an exciting new development, we are delighted to be in a position of expanding our workforce and are looking to appoint a number of children and young people's mental health workers to be part of a PCN (Primary Care Network) mental health service in Sunderland.
This includes looking for individuals who have the ability to support 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 Peoples Mental Health (CYPMH) practitioners and will work closely with our well-established Sunderland Community Children and Young Peoples mental Health Service (SCCYPMHS).
This multi-disciplinary team will deliver 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.
Main duties of the job
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:
* To offer assessment and treatment to children and young people with moderate mental health needs.
* This includes the direct provision of evidence-based interventions and outcome focused standards of care to children and families; the delivery of high-quality training, consultation, and support to universal services; to offer clinical supervision and support the facilitation and development of clinical expertise within the team; to assist leadership, motivation and support to the team.
* To support with service development and innovative models.
* To support with clinical governance and quality monitoring, ongoing research and audit of practice.
* To work autonomously, assessing child/young person needs, identify and implement a plan of care and initiate appropriate holistic research-based health information and care.
For an informal discussion about this post please contact Lesley Gammell, CYPMHS Clinical Lead on 0191 5244000.
About us
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.
Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.
To work as a member of the Children and Young Peoples Primary Care Mental Health Service in South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust based within Sunderland Primary Care Mental Health Service.
To offer assessment and treatment to children and young people with moderate mental health needs.
This includes the direct provision of evidence-based interventions and outcome focused standards of care to children and families.
The delivery of high-quality training, consultation, and support to universal services.
To offer clinical supervision and support the facilitation and development of clinical expertise within the team.
To assist leadership, motivation and support to the team.
To support with service development and innovative models.
To support with clinical governance and quality monitoring, ongoing research and audit of practice.
To work autonomously, assessing child/young person needs, identify and implement a plan of care and initiate appropriate holistic research-based health information and care.
To take a lead/champion role in an area of specialist area of interest relevant to a children's mental health service.
The service will be delivered from community bases as an integral part of the agreed multi-agency CYPMH provision.
Work collaboratively with multi professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective, evidence based and safe.
This will be achieved by:
* Listening to and understanding the community.
* Bringing people together to develop a shared local vision with service users as equal partners.
* Assessing community assets, resources, needs and issues.
* Empowering community members to identify local issues and articulate solutions.
* Linking in with Community Mental Health Services (i.e. SCCYPMHS, CYPS, IAPT, CTT).
The post holder will ensure they uphold our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
To always promote a positive image of children and young people with mental health conditions.
To always promote a positive image of the specialist service area and the wider Trust.
Person Specification
Physical Skills
* Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
* Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements and demands of the training course and work within the service.
* Ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role.
* Ability to, on occasion, move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
* The ability to work flexibly sometimes working additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service and ensure a complete understanding is had in relation to care delivery.
Qualifications
* 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 (CYP-IAPT post graduate qualification with accreditation).
* Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
* Evidence of further study to enhance practice.
* Recognised supervision course.
* Evidence of leadership responsibilities.
Skills and Knowledge
* Knowledge of universal and specialist children's mental health service provision.
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.
* Proven organisational skills.
* Proven time and caseload management skills
* Able to write clear reports and letters. Demonstrates a high standard in both written and oral communication.
* Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
* Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Ability to undertake risk assessments.
* Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
* Ability to work under supervision and make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development.
* Demonstrates an understanding of children's mental health disorders and how this may present in children and young people.
* Demonstrates an understanding of the need for evidence based psychological therapies.
* A working knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health.
* Knowledge of relevant guidance policy and good practice.
Experience
* Significant experience of working with children and young people and families.
* Experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
* Experience of working within a community/educational context.
* Facilitating teaching or delivering training
* Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.
* Experience of working in a children and young peoples mental health service.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
£38,682 to £46,580 a year 2026/27 pay award pending (£39,959-£48,117)
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