Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

CAMHS Practitioner

The closing date is 06 April 2026

Job summary

We're looking for a dedicated Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, or Occupational Therapist to join our CAMHS West Community Team. This role is available full-time or 30 hours per week, working Monday--Friday, 8:30am--5pm.

Due to ongoing investment in our CAMHS services across Somerset, this is an exciting time to join a developing and supportive team. We welcome both experienced clinicians and newly qualified practitioners, offering roles at Band 6 or a Band 5 Preceptorship/ASYE for those starting their careers.

You will play a key role in delivering comprehensive assessments, evidence-based interventions, and ongoing evaluation for children and young people presenting with mental health difficulties. Working closely with families and carers, you will provide compassionate, holistic support tailored to individual needs.

The role involves a mix of autonomous and collaborative practice, delivering care in clinical bases, homes, and community settings.

To support your professional development, we offer monthly line management and clinical supervision, regular peer group supervision, and bi-monthly CPD sessions for all CAMHS clinicians. We also provide access to therapeutic training and clear progression opportunities.

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people and want to be part of a forward-thinking, expanding service, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

The CAMHS West Team is a multi-disciplinary team comprising of professionals from various disciplines. The team support children and young people under 18 presenting with a broad range of complex difficulties including anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, trauma and those presenting with associated risk. The team have a positive and supportive culture and a strong ethos of working together with a shared passion and operates 9-5, Monday to Friday.

There are opportunities for close working relationships with other CAMHS Teams within Somerset including Forensic CAMHS, Community Eating Disorder Service and the Enhanced Outreach Team.

You will receive clinical and managerial supervision in addition to accessing structured learning and development opportunities including the potential for training in specialist therapies. We also prioritise taking care of our employees! We have annual team away days, compassion circles, access to Employee Assistance Programme including counselling if required.

If you are interested in working with children and young people and would like to find out more, please do get in touch - we would welcome informal contact to discuss the role and the exciting opportunities it brings!

Applications welcome via CV or online.

About us

As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, fantastic pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will to experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan -- there is truly something for everyone!

Details

Date posted

21 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

184-OL-GR-4527

Job locations

Foundation House

Wellsprings Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 7PQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

  • Provide specialist assessment and intervention for children and young people presenting with mental health and/or neurodevelopmental needs.
  • Use a range of verbal and nonverbal communication strategies to ensure understanding of complex clinical information.
  • Lead both individual and group interventions and adapt evidence based treatments for young people.
  • Identify when referrals to other services are required and facilitate appropriate pathways.
  • Promote family centred, recovery focused care to enhance resilience and reduce risk.
  • Work in partnership with children's social care, paediatrics, schools, GPs, voluntary services, police, and other agencies to improve outcomes for young people.
  • Support the development of written information and resources for young people and families.

Leadership & Supervision

  • Provide supervision, guidance, and support to junior staff within the CAMHS team.
  • Participate in appraisals, service planning, and continuous improvement of the service.
  • Identify barriers to accessing services and promote initiatives to improve equity and engagement.

Professional Responsibilities

  • Maintain mandatory and professional training requirements, including revalidation where applicable.
  • Participate in regular clinical supervision and reflective practice.
  • Ensure personal practice upholds Trust values of Kindness, Respect, and Teamwork.

Organisational & Analytical Responsibilities

  • Undertake detailed assessments, formulation, and clinical reporting.
  • Analyse complex behavioural presentations and contribute to intervention planning.
  • Participate in audits, evaluation, and research activities as required.
  • Manage personal workload effectively, balancing clinical and administrative responsibilities.

Safeguarding & Risk Management

  • Act in accordance with Trust safeguarding procedures to protect vulnerable children and families.
  • Respond to clinical emergencies and prioritise care according to risk and need.
  • Maintain high standards of health and safety, risk assessment, and incident reporting.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

  • Provide specialist assessment and intervention for children and young people presenting with mental health and/or neurodevelopmental needs.
  • Use a range of verbal and nonverbal communication strategies to ensure understanding of complex clinical information.
  • Lead both individual and group interventions and adapt evidence based treatments for young people.
  • Identify when referrals to other services are required and facilitate appropriate pathways.
  • Promote family centred, recovery focused care to enhance resilience and reduce risk.
  • Work in partnership with children's social care, paediatrics, schools, GPs, voluntary services, police, and other agencies to improve outcomes for young people.
  • Support the development of written information and resources for young people and families.

Leadership & Supervision

  • Provide supervision, guidance, and support to junior staff within the CAMHS team.
  • Participate in appraisals, service planning, and continuous improvement of the service.
  • Identify barriers to accessing services and promote initiatives to improve equity and engagement.

Professional Responsibilities

  • Maintain mandatory and professional training requirements, including revalidation where applicable.
  • Participate in regular clinical supervision and reflective practice.
  • Ensure personal practice upholds Trust values of Kindness, Respect, and Teamwork.

Organisational & Analytical Responsibilities

  • Undertake detailed assessments, formulation, and clinical reporting.
  • Analyse complex behavioural presentations and contribute to intervention planning.
  • Participate in audits, evaluation, and research activities as required.
  • Manage personal workload effectively, balancing clinical and administrative responsibilities.

Safeguarding & Risk Management

  • Act in accordance with Trust safeguarding procedures to protect vulnerable children and families.
  • Respond to clinical emergencies and prioritise care according to risk and need.
  • Maintain high standards of health and safety, risk assessment, and incident reporting.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised professional qualification in nursing, social work or occupational therapy
  • Evidence of continuous post-qualifying professional development.

Desirable

  • Post-qualifying training in therapeutic interventions

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with children and young people.
  • Knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders in children and young people, and their impact on both the client group and their families/carers.
  • Knowledge of a wide range of evidence-based treatment/therapeutic interventions.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Empathy and ability to communicate and engage with client group and families/carers.
  • Ability to prioritise and take responsibility for own caseload.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised professional qualification in nursing, social work or occupational therapy
  • Evidence of continuous post-qualifying professional development.

Desirable

  • Post-qualifying training in therapeutic interventions

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with children and young people.
  • Knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders in children and young people, and their impact on both the client group and their families/carers.
  • Knowledge of a wide range of evidence-based treatment/therapeutic interventions.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Empathy and ability to communicate and engage with client group and families/carers.
  • Ability to prioritise and take responsibility for own caseload.

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.

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Foundation House

Wellsprings Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 7PQ


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Foundation House

Wellsprings Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 7PQ


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Rebecca Coram/Kate Somerville

Rebecca.coram@somersetft.nhs.uk

01823368368

Details

Date posted

21 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

184-OL-GR-4527

Job locations

Foundation House

Wellsprings Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 7PQ


Supporting documents

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