Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is growing and changing. We provide specialist mental health, learning disability and community services across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, and we're hiring people who want to shape what comes next.
Formed on 1 April 2020 through the merger of Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, we're now focused on the future with a new Trust Strategy and our Best for the Black Country programme.
What we do
· Adult and older adult mental health
· Children and young people's mental health
· Specialist learning disability services
· Community healthcare for children, young people and families in Dudley
Why join now
· We've got real momentum right now. New strategy, clear priorities and our Best for the Black Country work mean things are moving in the right way, fast.
· Our values aren't just posters. People are genuinely compassionate, take responsibility, treat you with respect and help you feel confident and empowered.
· You'll be looked after. Flexible working, family-friendly policies, supportive teams, proper wellbeing support and chances to learn with coaching and development.
· There's room to grow. Loads of services to explore and real space to try ideas and be heard.
· It's a good place to live. Friendly diverse communities, easy transport, good schools and colleges, shopping, food, lots to do, plenty of green space and a lower cost of living than many other city regions.
What it's like to work here
You'll join friendly, skilled teams who look out for each other. We plan together, share caseload pressures, and celebrate wins. New starters get a warm welcome and clear induction; early careers colleagues have preceptorship and buddying; experienced staff can lead, teach and innovate. You'll have space to do good work, speak up, and see the difference you make.
Who we are
We're 4,000+ colleagues from many backgrounds, committed to improving health and wellbeing for our communities and for each other. If you're excited about the role but don't tick every box, please apply. We value potential and transferable experience.
Job overview
Be part of the movement to improve and provide mental health services for children, young people and parents who are severely to profoundly deaf across England.
We are looking for an enthusiastic manager and committed individual to help lead our unique regional service. We have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Band 8a Service Manager to join the National Deaf CAMHS team for Central England.
This is an ideal opportunity for a senior practitioner with robust clinical experience who is wanting to take the next step in their career in clinical management and in a dynamic and fascinating area of Deaf CAMHS. Applicants will need to have relevant, demonstrable experience and must be highly motivated with strong leadership capabilities
The post holder will be officially based from home but must have the ability to travel to a range of settings throughout the Central England Region. We are well resourced for remote working. Applicants from across the West Midlands and East Midlands and South Central England regions are encouraged to apply
Advert
National Deaf CAMHS is an innovative community and inpatient mental health service delivering a pathway of care for 0–18 year olds across England. The national service is delivered by four NHS Trusts, and our teams link closely together. You will be working closely with our key partners where together we have an ambition to deliver an outstanding model of mental health care for deaf children, young people and parents of England.
NDCAMHS is a unique and truly individual service. We are continuously learning and evolving, as we work together to meet the mental health needs of deaf children, young people and parents.
Working for our organisation
We are a fully integrated multi-disciplinary team comprising Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Systemic Family Therapists, Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Family Support Workers. A key aspect of the role is working closely with clinicians/practitioners as part of a bi-lingual, bi-cultural multi-disciplinary team with deaf and hearing practitioners and qualified BSL/English Interpreters.
We welcome deaf applicants, and applicants who already have a high level of British Sign Language or experience of working with deaf children and young people.
However, we recognise that the right candidate may need specialist training and development, including access to training to further develop British Sign Language, and specific skills and expertise for working with deaf people.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To provide a cost effective, quality of life and recovery focused, culturally sensitive mental health service to severe or profoundly deaf people aged 18 years and under, with English, BSL and other communication and language needs (including language deprivation and language neglect), and who require a linguistically accessible and deaf-affirming service.
2. This role will provide clinical leadership and Managerial expertise to deliver services within agreed service care pathways, working with service users and carers, and other stakeholders- including referrers and commissioners within a national context.
3. The post holder will provide advice and supervision in the management of referrals and caseloads for clinicians within both elements of the service. They will manage and develop staff within the team to ensure that they are providing quality care that is innovative, effective, evidence based and in keeping with national guidance. At all times, the post holder will acknowledge and respect the rights and personal dignity of individuals and promote good access for deaf people to access mental health services.
Additional responsibilities include:
• Promote and embed cultural and linguistic concordance across all aspects of service delivery.
• Provide supervision that supports reflective, deaf-affirming, non-deficit and culturally responsive practice.
• Ensure service development and pathways are informed by the views and experiences of deaf children, young people and families.
• Recognise language and communication as central clinical considerations, not administrative tasks.
• Willingness to challenge deficit-based, medicalised or inaccessible practice within teams and wider systems.
The main office base for the outreach team is in Dudley; however, clinicians are based from their homes across the whole of the Central England region (West Midlands, East Midlands, South Central), and you will be required to travel to a range of settings throughout this area and the rest of the UK
Applying and timelines
We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications, so please apply soon. We shortlist after the closing date and will contact shortlisted candidates usually within two weeks. If you haven't heard by then, you haven't been shortlisted. Please check your email for updates and contact Recruitment for feedback.
Pay and contracts
Most NHS roles are paid under NHS Agenda for Change. With us - your starting point is set against the advertised band and your relevant NHS service, with progression through annual increments.
Medical and Very Senior Manager roles follow separate national pay frameworks, not Agenda for Change. Details are provided in each advert and during recruitment.
Standards and checks
· Clinical posts up to and including Band 4 are expected to hold the Care Certificate. If you don't have it yet, we'll support you to complete it in post.
· Some roles require a Standard or Enhanced DBS check under part V of the Police Act 1997. Having a criminal record won't automatically prevent employment. We consider the role and individual circumstances.
· We are an equal opportunities employer, offer flexible working, and are a smoke free Trust.
Inclusion, equality and adjustments
· We are an equal opportunities employer and offer flexible working.
· We are an anti-racist, disability-inclusive and LGBTQ+-inclusive Trust.
· We welcome applications from under-represented groups and people with lived experience relevant to our services, including Black and Asian colleagues, Disabled people (including non-visible disabilities such as neurodiversity and mental health) and LGBTQ+ people.
· Disabled applicants can request consideration under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme where essential criteria are met. You can ask for reasonable adjustments at every stage of the process.
Our culture and values
Best for the Black Country is our improvement journey. We share a clear vision and values, lead with compassion and visibility, listen to every voice, keep improving what we do and take ownership for delivery. You'll feel it in how teams support each other and in the impact your work has on local people. If you want to contribute, learn and progress, this is a great time to join us.