Job Summary
This post provides a fantastic opportunity to lead the integrated schools pathway in Central Bedfordshire, forming innovative and forward‑looking services that are developing substantially across Central Bedfordshire. It includes an established Wave 7 and Wave 11 Mental Health Support Teams (MHST), SCAS and an upcoming Wave 14 Team in January 2026. Mental Health Support Teams are part of an exciting project funded by NHS England, Health Education England and partners with the aim of improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in the community in response to the government’s Green Paper for Young People’s Mental Health.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be the Integrated Lead for the schools pathway teams across the Luton locality as we move towards an integrated schools offer in the coming year, and they will work with team operational leads and with the overall strategic Clinical Lead for CAMH Access Services to offer a comprehensive first step in mental health support, accessible and acceptable for all communities living in Luton, following the Thrive model. The post holder will lead the development of a wide range of targeted interventions, projects and system change with the aim of delivering whole school and community approaches to supporting young people’s mental health. We aim to develop an integrated neighbourhood‑based core offer to all schools across the locality, and an enhanced offer where there is greater need (such as in communities with greater health inequalities) over the next two years.
Person Specification
* Qualifications (Essential)
o Qualification in an appropriate mental health profession such as Clinical Psychology, Family Psychology, Systemic Family Therapy, Child Psychotherapy, Nursing or Social Work, including a substantive psychological therapy/clinical qualification, and registration with a relevant UK governing body.
* Qualifications (Desirable)
o Parenting qualification and parenting supervision qualification.
o Supervision qualification.
o Specific therapeutic modality training and qualification e.g. CBT, DBT, IPT.
o Management or leadership training.
* Experience (Essential)
o Substantive experience of working in a senior post in CAMHS at a Band 8A level, Tier 2, and in education settings, working with complex and serious aetiology of mental health difficulties, and promoting collaborative partnership approaches in the community to improve mental well‑being.
o Previous experience supervising clinicians and training colleagues, where LI‑CBT is part of the wider offer.
o Previous experience developing partner relationships, particularly in relation to service development capacities, using an asset‑based and resilience‑based approach to mental well‑being.
o Experience of consultation within CAMHS and with the multi‑agency network, underpinned by systemically informed formulations.
* Experience (Desirable)
o Negotiation with statutory agencies, such as HEE and NHS England, and also HEIs.
o Delivery of parenting programmes – Webster Stratton, Triple P, NVR, etc.
* Knowledge (Essential)
o Well‑developed specialist clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS.
o Core psychological therapy skills applying to models of change at inter‑connected systems levels.
o Highly specialist skills in assessing for complex aetiology of mental health, neuro‑developmental, learning and social factors impacting on the wellbeing of children and young people.
o Knowledge of trauma‑informed care as relating to specialist CAMHS practice and the ability to translate this to other children’s services.
* Knowledge (Essential)
o Up‑to‑date and specific knowledge of current national issues, guidelines and policies pertinent for CAMHS.
o In‑depth knowledge of CAMHS issues, including complex and highly specialist mental health assessment and interventions, whole school and community approaches.
o Knowledge of the Children’s Act and other appropriate legislation that is most current to the provision of CAMH services.
o A working knowledge of Safeguarding Guidelines.
* Skills (Essential)
o Up‑to‑date and specific knowledge of current national issues, guidelines and policies pertinent for CAMHS.
o In‑depth knowledge of CAMHS issues, including complex and highly specialist mental health assessment and interventions, whole school and community approaches.
o Knowledge of the Children’s Act and other relevant legislation.
o A working knowledge of Safeguarding Guidelines.
Contact
For any questions or further information, please contact Laura Gill, Clinical Team Lead for Central Bedfordshire CAMHS:
Phone: 01525 638613/614
Email: laura.gill14@nhs.net
Additional information
* Disclosure and Barring Service Check – The post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
* 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.
* UK Registration – Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
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