South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Primary Mental Health Worker
The closing date is 01 June 2026
The Sunderland Community Children and Young People’s Service (SCCYPMHS) is delighted to invite applications from exceptional Primary Mental Health Workers who are passionate about supporting children, young people, and their families. This is an exciting opportunity to join a thriving and forward‑thinking service.
Success candidates will join a skilled multidisciplinary team, contributing to the development and delivery of early intervention approaches that identify mental health difficulties at the earliest opportunity.
Applicants should have strong knowledge and experience in children’s mental health, alongside leadership capabilities. They must be confident working autonomously as a practitioner while also collaborating effectively across a wide range of professions and organisations.
Main duties of the job
* Offer assessment and treatment of children and young people with moderate mental health needs, including direct provision of evidence‑based interventions and outcome‑focused standards of care.
* Deliver high‑quality training, consultation, and support to universal services.
* Provide clinical supervision and support the facilitation and development of clinical expertise within the team.
* Assist leadership, motivation and support for the team.
* Support service development and innovative models.
* Support clinical governance, quality monitoring, ongoing research and audit of practice.
* Work autonomously to assess needs, identify and implement care plans and initiate appropriate holistic, research‑based health information and care.
* Take a lead/champion role in an area of specialist interest relevant to a children’s mental health service.
Experience
* Significant experience working with children, young people and families.
* Experience carrying out mental health assessments.
* Experience supporting the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
* Experience working within a community/educational context.
* Facilitating teaching or delivering training.
* Experience in a service where agreed targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.
* Experience in a children and young peoples mental health service.
Qualifications
* Appropriate professional qualification and registration in nursing, teaching (with QTS), social work or allied health professions (e.g. RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed, PGCE or equivalent, CYP‑IAPT postgraduate qualification with accreditation).
* Additional postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
* Evidence of further study to enhance practice.
* Recognised supervision course.
* Evidence of leadership responsibilities.
Physical Skills
* Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
* Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements for training and work.
* Ability to move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
* Ability to work flexibly, including occasional unsocial hours, to meet service needs.
Skills and Knowledge
* Knowledge of universal and specialist children’s mental health service provision.
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other IT packages.
* Proven organisational skills.
* Proven time and caseload management skills.
* Able to write clear reports and letters; demonstrates high standard in written and oral communication.
* Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
* Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
* Ability to undertake risk assessments.
* Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
* Ability to work under supervision and make good use of supervisory process for development.
* Demonstrates understanding of children’s mental health disorders and how they present in children and young people.
* Demonstrates understanding of the need for evidence‑based psychological therapies.
* A working knowledge of child development and links with childhood mental health.
* Knowledge of relevant guidance, policy and good practice.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous convictions.
We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity and particularly those from under‑represented groups.
Benefits include access to a fitness centre, libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.
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