Job overview
The post holder will act as a clinician within the Westminster CAMHS Duty System, providing a responsive and risk-aware clinical triage function for children, young people, and families referred to the service. You will be one of two Duty Clinicians responsible for the daily Westminster CAMHS Duty system, which includes screening and managing new referrals, responding to urgent contacts, and supporting the team as needed. The Duty Lead and wider team offer support and guidance where required.
The Duty Clinician is a key point of contact for urgent mental health queries, unplanned assessments, and risk management interventions, working collaboratively with the Duty Lead and wider multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, effective, and timely responses.
The post holder will provide a core element of the service by completing initial screening calls and offering brief case management to young people awaiting assessment or allocation.
The role requires sound clinical judgement, experience in managing risk and crisis presentations, and the ability to offer compassionate support during times of distress. The post holder will support the team to maintain high standards of safeguarding and clinical governance and contribute to the day-to-day functioning of the duty system and wider service.
Main duties of the job
Assumeresponsibilityforthedailyduty system, participating on the local duty rota to provide a responsive and timely approach to urgent issues and clinical queries.
ProvidescreeningofincomingCAMHSreferralsofchildrenandyoungpeoplereferredtotheteam. In line with the national 4 Week Wait directive, this will involve a screening call including a risk assessment, a Routine Outcome Measure (ROM) and a care plan letter.
Offer support to parents, carers, and young people seeking help between appointments or during periods of crisis.
Maintaingoodrelationshipsandclearlinesofcommunicationwithotherprofessionalagencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.
Undertake CAMHS assessments where needed for children and young people referred to the team.
Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality documentation of all clinical activity and client contact on SystmOne in line with CAMHS and professional record-keeping standards.
Contributetotheeffectivefunctioningof theteamandservicethroughattendanceatrelevant meetings,takingresponsibilitieswithintheserviceasappropriateandnegotiatedwiththeline manager.
Working for our organisation
The Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is responsible for the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to the populations of Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster, as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to other Trusts and Agencies, and to a wider regional catchment area. Clients of the Trust are drawn from a population that is highly diverse ethnically and socio-economically, including refugees. There are high levels of social and economic deprivation. Hillingdon CAMHS is Specialist CAMHS (Tier 3) based at Minet Clinic, Avondale Rd, Uxbridge, Hayes UB3 3NR.
The service comprises of approximately 60 professionals, consisting of a Team Manager, Consultant Child Psychiatrists, C&A Psychotherapists, Clinical Psychologists, Systemic Family Therapists, Nurse Specialists, Primary Mental Health Specialists, Child Wellbeing Practitioners, Art Psychotherapists, Assistant Psychologists, a Behaviour Analysts and Administrative staff.
To find out more about working in CAMHS for our video.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To ensure that all recording and reporting of client contact is timely, accurate, up to date and of good quality and within CAMHS & professional standards of record keeping.
2. Work with the team and clients to maintain a safe therapeutic environment.
3. Work to assure the quality of care through achieving high operational standards in clinical systems.
4. To maintain and ensure good professional standards and attitudes towards the care and treatment of children, young people and their families.
5. To link with other statutory and voluntary agencies and professionals as well as other CAMHS Teams in terms of referrals and joint work. Maintain good relationships and clear lines of communication within the boundaries of confidentiality, with other professional agencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.
6. Contribute to the effective functioning of the team and service through attendance at relevant meetings, taking responsibilities within the service as appropriate and negotiated with the line manager.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
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9. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.