Job overview
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) are seeking to recruit 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 ensuring that the nursing skills and expertise contribute to assessment and interventions. Development of the nursing role on the team is a priority. There are 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
• The successful candidate will be 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 will be a key area of responsibility.
• Their other main duties include acting as a care coordinator taking responsibility for initiating, planning and reviewing care plans, assessing and monitoring risk and drawing up appropriate risk management plans.
• Report writing, as a specialist service, is a key component of the work.
• ADI and ADOS assessments are undertaken with most of the cases the team sees. Training can be provided.
Working for our organisation
About Us:
We are a highly skilled multi-disciplinary team comprised of Consultant Child Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Junior Doctors, Trainee Clinical Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists, Behaviour Therapist, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapist, Senior Educational Psychologist and Team Administrators.
The team is based at the Michael Rutter Centre, Maudsley Hospital and will be moving 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 talk flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 8am to 6pm, giving you the very best of good work life balance. (This may include working early mornings, later evenings or Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post).
Detailed job description and main 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
• Training
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. First level nursing qualification/registration RMN
2. All applicants will require professional registration with a statutory body (A/I)
3. Training in clinical supervision (A/I)
4. Post Grad Diploma Specialist Training
Desirable criteria
5. 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
Essential criteria
6. Experience and ability to function as a specialist practitioner with children and young people, including those with Intellectual Disability or Neurodevelopmental Disorders (A/I)
7. Experience of working as a case manager in child and adolescent mental health or Intellectual Disability/neurodevelopmental services (A/I)
8. Ability to undertake functional assessments and develop positive behavioural support plans
9. Evidence of good practice in child and adolescent mental health assessments, assessments of behaviour and performance, family functioning (A/I)
10. Evidence of providing CAMHS interventions in group, individual and family work, multidisciplinary work. (A/I)
11. Evidence of experience of clinical governance and audit and the process of clinical supervision. (A/I)
Desirable criteria
12. Working with families in a multi-cultural urban environment (A/I)
Knowledge
Essential criteria
13. Mental health disorders in children and adolescents across all ages (A/)
14. 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)
15. Knowledge of clinical assessment, formulation and risk assessment in complex presentations (A/I)
16. Understanding of the principles underlying confidentiality and information sharing. (A/I)
17. 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)
Desirable criteria
18. Experience of carrying out research relevant to children and young people or people with Intellectual Disability or neurodevelopmental disorders. (A/I)
19. Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and CAMHS practice. (A/I)
20. Training in ADOS/ ADI-R.
21. Experience in PBS approach.
Skills
Essential criteria
22. Evidence of competency in clinical judgement (A/I)
23. Evidence of competency in risk assessment (A/I)
24. Evidence of using child protection in practice effectively (A/I)
25. Ability to work respectfully as part of an MDT (A/I)
26. Ability to work under pressure (A/I)
27. Ability to take on new concepts/forward thinking (A/I)
28. Good written and verbal presentation skills (A/I)
29. Good IT and data entry skills Proven ability to be ‘reflective’ in therapeutic practice and adapt practice from this reflection (A/I)
30. Demonstrate an ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team (A/I)
31. Experience of supervising others. (A/I)
32. Excellent time management skills (A/I)
33. Proven ability to engage therapeutically with the client group, using a range of therapeutic interventions (A/I)
34. Skill in teaching and supporting parents in coping and management strategies (A/I)
35. To communicate skilfully 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)
36. Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles (A/I)
37. 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)
38. Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with severe behaviour that challenges (A/I)
39. Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self (A/I)
Desirable criteria
40. Leadership and management skills (A/I)
41. Skills in negotiating & Influencing others (A/I)
42. Evidence of organisational skills to deliver targets and meet deadlines (A/I)
43. Proven ability to work within a changing environment (A/I)
44. Experience of teaching and training others (A/I)