Job Summary
This post provides a fantastic opportunity to lead the integrated schools pathway in Central Beds, forming innovative and forward‑looking services that are developing substantially across Central Bedfordshire. In Central Beds this includes an established Wave 7, 11 Mental Health Support Teams (MHST), SCAS and our 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.
Overview
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. They will work with team operational leads and 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 over the next two years.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Qualification in an appropriate mental health profession such as Clinical or Family Psychology, Systemic Family Therapy, Child Psychotherapy, Nursing, Social Work, including a substantive psychological therapy/clinical qualification, and registration with relevant UK governing body.
Desirable Qualifications
* Parenting qualification and parenting supervision qualification.
* Supervision qualification.
* Specific therapeutic modality training and qualification e.g. CBT, DBT, IPT etc.
* Management or leadership training.
Experience
Essential
* Substantive experience of working in a senior post in CAMHS at a Band 8A level, Tier 2 and education settings, working with complex and serious aetiology of mental health difficulties, and in promoting and developing collaborative partnership approaches in the community to improve mental well‑being.
* Previous experience of supervising clinicians and training colleagues, where LI-CBT is part of the wider offer.
* Previous experience of developing partner relationships, particularly in relation to service development capacities, using an asset‑based and resilience‑based approach to mental well‑being.
* Experience of consultation within CAMHS and with the multi‑agency network, underpinned by systemically informed formulations.
Desirable
* Negotiation with statutory agencies, such as HEE and NHS England, and also HEIs.
* Delivery of parenting programmes – Webster Stratton, Triple P, NVR etc.
Knowledge
* Evidence of well‑developed highly specialist clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS.
* Core psychological therapy skills applying to models of change at inter‑connected systems levels.
* 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.
* Knowledge of and skills in trauma‑informed care as relating to specialist CAMHS practice and ability to translate this to other children's services and their roles within such a framework.
Skills
* Up to date and specific knowledge of current national issues, guidelines, and policies pertinent for CAMHS.
* In‑depth knowledge of CAMHS issues including complex and highly specialist mental health assessment and interventions, whole‑school and community approaches.
* Knowledge of the Children's Act and other appropriate legislation that is most current to provision of CAMH services.
* A working knowledge of Safeguarding Guidelines.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker's 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.
Contact
For any questions or further information, please contact Laura Gill, Clinical Team Lead for Central Beds CAMHS, by phone on 01525 638613/614 or email at laura.gill14@nhs.net.
Employer Details
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Central Beds CAMHS
67 High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1JF
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