Senior clinical nurse specialist

West London CAMHS (WL CAMHS) provides specialist mental health services for children and young people experiencing a wide range of emotional, behavioural, psychological, and neurodevelopmental difficulties. The service delivers comprehensive assessments, risk management, and evidence-based interventions tailored to individual and family needs. Care is delivered within a multidisciplinary team approach, working closely with colleagues across CAMHS, including clinicians, therapists, nurses, and psychologists, as well as partner agencies in health, education, and social care. Regular supervision, consultation, and joint working ensure safe, coordinated, and high-quality care. WL CAMHS works collaboratively with families, carers, and schools to provide person-centred support that promotes recovery, resilience, and improved wellbeing. The service also contributes to consultation, training, service development, and quality improvement, supporting the ongoing development of evidence-based practice and clinical standards.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide advanced mental health support and treatment for children and young people, undertaking comprehensive assessments, including risk assessments and the development of risk management plans. They will deliver specialist interventions for young people presenting with acute, complex, long-standing, and/or severe mental health difficulties. The post holder will work in partnership with children, young people, their families, carers, and significant others. They will also liaise with statutory and voluntary agencies to develop effective multi-agency networks that ensure coordinated, appropriate, and timely support for young people and their families.

The post holder will provide accessible, high-quality care that is sensitive to cultural, ethnic, religious, contextual, family, and developmental needs. They will promote mental health, wellbeing, resilience, and personal and family growth through collaborative goal-setting and person-centred practice.

The post holder will utilise appropriate evidence-based treatment approaches and resources to support positive outcomes for children and young people. They will also offer specialist advice and consultation to professionals across a range of agencies, including primary care, social care, and education, and provide support, clinical supervision, and teaching to staff and students.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree/diploma in Nursing
• Professional registration with the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) RMN.
• Evidence of accredited courses in child and adolescent mental health practice
• MSc level training in a relevant specialist field or appropriate experience.
• Training in mentorship and supervision
• Training in standardised assessment tools relevant to the role e.g. ADI-r, ADOS or a willingness to undertake this training
• Relevant post graduate qualification in Mental Health related field
• Qualifications/ training in specialist skills e.g. systemic therapies, CBT, Family Intervention. Evidence based group work e.g. DBT
• Non-Medical Prescribing Qualification or a willingness to undertake this training

Experience

• Demonstrable post qualifying experience of working within a multidisciplinary CAMHS at Band 7 or above.
• Experience of working in a number of ways i.e. assertive outreach, clinic-based settings, home, school or other appropriate environments
• Experience of assessing risk and formulating safe and effective safety plans and crisis, relapse and support plans
• Experience of multidisciplinary and multiagency working
• Experience of providing consultation/teaching/ training
• Experience of managing and supervising others in a clinical and performance management context including appraisals
• Experience of developing operational protocols
• Experience of managing child protection emergencies
• Experience of leading on developing, delivering and evaluating evidence based clinical care packagesxApplication/ Interview
• Experience of audit and/or research
• Experience of contributing to and implementing new service developments

Knowledge

• Knowledge of legislation relevant to the Children's Act 2004, Mental Health Act 1983 & Safeguarding Guidelines
• A sound working knowledge and application of relevant professional code, i.e. professional Code of Practice - RCOT
• Knowledge of the legal issues relating to consent and capacity in children and young people.
• An awareness and understanding of the issues facing, children, adolescents and their families
• Skills and sensitivity in working with difficult to engage families
• Ability to deal with challenging behaviour in possibly distressing situations.
• Experience of working with neurodiversity.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£63,665 to £70,887 per annum inclusive