South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
CAMHS Clinical Nurse Specialist (N&S SCAAND)
The closing date is 27 May 2026
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist to provide specialist assessment and interventions to children, young people and families, and consultation to other agencies or services, as part of a multi‑disciplinary Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAAND). The postholder will provide specialist nursing input to young people with highly complex presentations, including Intellectual Disability, neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health co‑morbidities and behaviours that challenge. We are looking for a motivated and committed individual who will have experience working with children and young people and will need to meet the criteria detailed in the person specification. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a well‑established specialist service and ensure that nursing skills and expertise contribute to assessment and interventions. Development of the nursing role on the team is a priority, with a range of teaching and training opportunities. The team leads a national service for young people with Prader Willi Syndrome which all team members are involved with.
Main duties of the job
* Involved with multidisciplinary assessments of complex young people who have Intellectual Disability, neurodevelopmental disorders, and mental health and/or behavioural comorbidities.
* Functional assessments and development of PBS plans.
* Act as a care coordinator: initiating, planning and reviewing care plans, assessing and monitoring risk and drawing up appropriate risk management plans.
* Report writing.
* ADI and ADOS assessments undertaken with most cases; training can be provided.
About us
We are a highly skilled multi‑disciplinary team composed of Consultant Child Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Junior Doctors, Trainee Clinical Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists, Behaviour Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Senior Educational Psychologists and Team Administrators. The team is based at the Michael Rutter Centre, Maudsley Hospital and will move into Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People (PMCYP) in May 2026.
Flexible working: As one of the few Trusts in London, we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will work Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm, with possible early mornings, late evenings or Saturdays as part of the core working hours or pattern for this post.
Job responsibilities
* Providing MDT assessments and interventions, including review of documents, history taking, ADI, ADOS, school and/or home visits.
* Contributing to case discussions and formulations with MDT and external agencies.
* Undertaking functional assessments of behaviours that challenge.
* Developing Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) plans.
* Attending multiagency meetings.
* Report writing.
* Involvement with safeguarding reviews, school reviews, transition planning.
* Supervision of student nurses.
* Teaching and training.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Professional registration with a statutory body (A/I).
* Training in clinical supervision (A/I).
* A strong portfolio of additional training and qualifications relevant to working with children and young people with Intellectual Disability, Autism, mental health difficulties and behaviour that challenges (A/I).
Experience
* Experience and ability to function as a specialist practitioner with children and young people, including those with Intellectual Disability or Neurodevelopmental Disorders (A/I).
* Experience of working as a case manager in child and adolescent mental health or Intellectual Disability/neurodevelopmental services (A/I).
* Ability to undertake functional assessments and develop positive behavioural support plans.
* Evidence of good practice in child and adolescent mental health assessments, assessments of behaviour and performance, family functioning (A/I).
* Evidence of providing CAMHS interventions in group, individual and family work, multidisciplinary work (A/I).
* Evidence of experience of clinical governance and audit and the process of clinical supervision (A/I).
* Working with families in a multi‑cultural urban environment (A/I).
Knowledge
* Mental health disorders in children and adolescents across all ages (A/).
* Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the general evidence base for treatment of children and young people with Intellectual Disability, Autism and associated mental health difficulties and/or behaviour that challenges (A/I).
* Knowledge of clinical assessment, formulation and risk assessment in complex presentations (A/I).
* Understanding of the principles underlying confidentiality and information sharing (A/I).
* Knowledge of relevant legislation, policy and guidance in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities (A/I).
* Experience of carrying out research relevant to children and young people or people with Intellectual Disability or neurodevelopmental disorders (A/I).
* Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and CAMHS practice (A/I).
* Training in ADOS/ADIR.
* Experience in PBS approach.
Skills
* Evidence of competency in clinical judgement (A/I).
* Evidence of competency in risk assessment (A/I).
* Evidence of using child protection in practice effectively (A/I).
* Ability to work respectfully as part of an MDT (A/I).
* Ability to work under pressure (A/I).
* Ability to take on new concepts / forward thinking (A/I).
* Good written and verbal presentation skills (A/I).
* Good IT and data entry skills.
* Proven ability to be 'reflective' in therapeutic practice and adapt practice from this reflection (A/I).
* Demonstrate ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team (A/I).
* Experience of supervising others (A/I).
* Proven ability to engage therapeutically with the client group, using a range of therapeutic interventions (A/I).
* Skill in teaching and supporting parents in coping and management strategies (A/I).
* To communicate skillfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information (A/I).
* Ability to work effectively within a multi‑disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles (A/I).
* Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these (A/I).
* Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with severe behaviour that challenges (A/I).
* Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self (A/I).
* Leadership and management skills (A/I).
* Skills in negotiating & influencing others (A/I).
* Evidence of organisational skills to deliver targets and meet deadlines (A/I).
* Proven ability to work within a changing environment (A/I).
* Experience of teaching and training others (A/I).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exception 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.
Compensation and contract
£58,133 to £65,261 per annum inclusive of HCAS.
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full‑time
Reference number
334-NUR-7938926-FR
Job location
Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People (PMCYP)
#J-18808-Ljbffr