Job summary The Symbol Therapy Team is multi-disciplinary with a range of clinicians who work to help and support children and young people who are looked after or adopted. This post is to cover the maternity leave of the substantive Clinical Service Lead who has progressed the team over the past 5 years to a point where the clinical service operates at a high level of functioning, providing assessment, complex assessment and intervention to children and young people, and additionally, providing consultation and support to the network of professionals around these young people including particularly foster cares, adoptive parents and social workers. There is a highly skilled, dedicated, and functional clinical team in place who require the management and support of a skilled and thoughtful leader for the period of the maternity leave. Main duties of the job To take day to day operational management responsibility in the planning, directing and management of the Symbol CLA service. The post holder will ensure that service access and delivery is efficient, effective, evidence based, needs led, as well as service user and carer focused. To undertake assessments and interventions with children and young people who are looked after or adopted. To provide management and clinical supervision as appropriate. The post holder will provide clear leadership, in partnership with the Service Manager to ensure access to timely treatment and intervention by well led and motivated staff that contributes to promoting safety and achievement for all children and young people. To contribute at a senior level with colleagues across the service. About us Lewisham CAMHS is a multi-disciplinary, Community, Schools & Clinic based mental health service for children and young people based in three buildings in Lewisham & Catford; 78 Lewisham Park, Kaleidoscope, Catford & Holbeach Road, Catford. The Symbol Therapy Team is based at 78 Lewisham Park alongside the Adolescent Treatment Team and Child Wellbeing Practitioners. Lewisham & Catford are vibrant, multi-cultural towns in South East London. They have great transport links and paid parking available locally, as well as a few free parking spaces at the clinic site (first come, first served). There are some interesting independent shops, cafes and green spaces which enhance the environment. Lewisham CAMHS has expanded rapidly over the past few years with the introduction of Child Wellbeing and Schools Mental Health Teams. Symbol Therapy Team is well established, longstanding and highly regarded within the service and by outside agencies. There is pressure everywhere in the NHS at present, and Lewisham CAMHS is not exempt from this, but the senior leadership and management team are supportive and encouraging, and there is a culture of regular clinical and management supervision. Date posted 07 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £61,927 to £68,676 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time Reference number 334-NUR-7080109-LF Job locations 78 Lewisham Park London SE13 6QJ Job description Job responsibilities Leadership To support the development of a culture that promotes leadership through coaching in accordance with Trust standards and protocols. To line manage and performance manage team leaders/managers in accordance with Trust standards and protocols. To line manage and performance manage team to assist in recruiting, motivating, training, developing and retaining appropriate staff enabling them to have the skills, expertise and discretion to function effectively in their roles. Provide demonstrable assurance that staff have the appropriate skills and competence to deliver high quality care. To ensure the effective operational management of the CAMHS service in providing services which are in accordance with the objectives of the CAMHS / and achievement of key performance targets. To demonstrate clinical competence and role model effective clinical care delivery. To recruit/develop team leaders/managers who meet the organisational standards and measure performance against leadership and management competencies adopted by the Trust. To be a visible leader and be accessible to clinical staff, services users and carers. Team Management To ensure that services are developed and provided that are of the highest standard in terms of accessibility, consistent with SLAMs values. To ensure (in conjunction with the Service Manager, Heads of Professions and Lead Clinicians) that practice within the team meets relevant standards, is appropriate, timely, safe and follows agreed professional practice. To provide immediate advice and direction to all members of the Service, and others in relation to complex organisational practice situations as necessary. To work in conjunction with the Service Manager to develop effective quality assurance and performance systems that support performance against CAMHS KPIs and provide staff with feedback on their performance. To establish and maintain effective working relationships and new working arrangements with colleagues, children and young people, parents and other key stakeholders. To ensure that staff engage in regular meetings, training and team building with the goal of promoting a working environment that is open, honest, supportive and outward looking. Staff Management To ensure the effective use of human resources ensuring safe levels of staffing which reflect the necessary and appropriate skill mix. To ensure that all staff are in receipt of regular appraisal and professional development support, liaising with Heads of profession and training departments as appropriate. Provide demonstrable assurance that all staff are receiving appraisal and personal development plans that include mandatory training and clinical supervision to enable the workforce to be fit for practice. To provide demonstrable assurance that service lines comply with all mandatory reporting and assurance frameworks to enable the Trust to achieve compliance. To ensure the effective use of human resources ensuring safe levels of staffing which reflect the necessary and appropriate skill mix. To ensure that all staff are in receipt of regular appraisal and professional development support, liaising with Heads of profession and training departments, as appropriate. To establish and maintain effective working relationships and new working arrangements with colleagues, children and young people, parents and other key stakeholders. To ensure that staff engage in regular meetings, training and team building with the goal of promoting a working environment that is open, honest, supportive and outward looking. To monitor sickness absence, annual leave, training and study leave, taking any appropriate management action as required. To ensure all staff are trained and participate in regular audit. To ensure all staff are pro-active in contributing to team and service training initiatives. To ensure that all staff are trained to understand and make optimum use of electronic systems that facilitate service delivery. Job description Job responsibilities Leadership To support the development of a culture that promotes leadership through coaching in accordance with Trust standards and protocols. To line manage and performance manage team leaders/managers in accordance with Trust standards and protocols. To line manage and performance manage team to assist in recruiting, motivating, training, developing and retaining appropriate staff enabling them to have the skills, expertise and discretion to function effectively in their roles. Provide demonstrable assurance that staff have the appropriate skills and competence to deliver high quality care. To ensure the effective operational management of the CAMHS service in providing services which are in accordance with the objectives of the CAMHS / and achievement of key performance targets. To demonstrate clinical competence and role model effective clinical care delivery. To recruit/develop team leaders/managers who meet the organisational standards and measure performance against leadership and management competencies adopted by the Trust. To be a visible leader and be accessible to clinical staff, services users and carers. Team Management To ensure that services are developed and provided that are of the highest standard in terms of accessibility, consistent with SLAMs values. To ensure (in conjunction with the Service Manager, Heads of Professions and Lead Clinicians) that practice within the team meets relevant standards, is appropriate, timely, safe and follows agreed professional practice. To provide immediate advice and direction to all members of the Service, and others in relation to complex organisational practice situations as necessary. To work in conjunction with the Service Manager to develop effective quality assurance and performance systems that support performance against CAMHS KPIs and provide staff with feedback on their performance. To establish and maintain effective working relationships and new working arrangements with colleagues, children and young people, parents and other key stakeholders. To ensure that staff engage in regular meetings, training and team building with the goal of promoting a working environment that is open, honest, supportive and outward looking. Staff Management To ensure the effective use of human resources ensuring safe levels of staffing which reflect the necessary and appropriate skill mix. To ensure that all staff are in receipt of regular appraisal and professional development support, liaising with Heads of profession and training departments as appropriate. Provide demonstrable assurance that all staff are receiving appraisal and personal development plans that include mandatory training and clinical supervision to enable the workforce to be fit for practice. To provide demonstrable assurance that service lines comply with all mandatory reporting and assurance frameworks to enable the Trust to achieve compliance. To ensure the effective use of human resources ensuring safe levels of staffing which reflect the necessary and appropriate skill mix. To ensure that all staff are in receipt of regular appraisal and professional development support, liaising with Heads of profession and training departments, as appropriate. To establish and maintain effective working relationships and new working arrangements with colleagues, children and young people, parents and other key stakeholders. To ensure that staff engage in regular meetings, training and team building with the goal of promoting a working environment that is open, honest, supportive and outward looking. To monitor sickness absence, annual leave, training and study leave, taking any appropriate management action as required. To ensure all staff are trained and participate in regular audit. To ensure all staff are pro-active in contributing to team and service training initiatives. To ensure that all staff are trained to understand and make optimum use of electronic systems that facilitate service delivery. Person Specification Qualifications & Registration Essential oA professional training and relevant CAMHS experience in combination with professional registration with one of the following statutory bodies: the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC), Health Professional's Council (HPC/ HCPC), Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) or The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Desirable oMSc level qualification or equivalent with evidence of a comprehensive portfolio of post-registration professional development in child and adolescent mental health oCompleted training course in clinical supervision. oEvidence of continuing professional development. Experience Essential oExperience of consultation to, and clinical supervision of, other staff. oExperience of working with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. oExperience of supervision of other staff. oExperience of clinical leadership and providing clinical support for practitioners across disciplines including recruitment, supervision and appraisal. Desirable Experience working as an independent non-medical prescriber with a CAMHS service and ability to demonstrate continuing professional development in this area. Experience of providing a clinical service to children and young people who are in care or who have been adopted. Knowledge & Skills Essential Highly specialist knowledge of childhood disorders including emotional and behavioural disorders, relationship difficulties and attachment disorders and theories of child development. Knowledge of legislation and national policy in relation to Looked After Children and mental health issues, including the Children Act, safeguarding children and the Mental Health Act. Awareness of racial and diversity issues and their impact on service access, through attendance of relevant training. Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to children, young people, families and colleagues. Well developed consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team and/or other professional groups. Person Specification Qualifications & Registration Essential oA professional training and relevant CAMHS experience in combination with professional registration with one of the following statutory bodies: the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC), Health Professional's Council (HPC/ HCPC), Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) or The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Desirable oMSc level qualification or equivalent with evidence of a comprehensive portfolio of post-registration professional development in child and adolescent mental health oCompleted training course in clinical supervision. oEvidence of continuing professional development. Experience Essential oExperience of consultation to, and clinical supervision of, other staff. oExperience of working with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. oExperience of supervision of other staff. oExperience of clinical leadership and providing clinical support for practitioners across disciplines including recruitment, supervision and appraisal. Desirable Experience working as an independent non-medical prescriber with a CAMHS service and ability to demonstrate continuing professional development in this area. Experience of providing a clinical service to children and young people who are in care or who have been adopted. Knowledge & Skills Essential Highly specialist knowledge of childhood disorders including emotional and behavioural disorders, relationship difficulties and attachment disorders and theories of child development. Knowledge of legislation and national policy in relation to Looked After Children and mental health issues, including the Children Act, safeguarding children and the Mental Health Act. Awareness of racial and diversity issues and their impact on service access, through attendance of relevant training. Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to children, young people, families and colleagues. Well developed consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team and/or other professional groups. 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Address 78 Lewisham Park London SE13 6QJ Employer's website https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)