Job summary
We are pleased to introduce a new CAMHS Early Years Practitioner training and progression role within West London CAMHS. As part of ongoing investment and service expansion, this post will help to increase access to targeted support for children aged 0-5 and their families/carers.With supervision and support, you will deliver evidence-based interventions to children aged 0-5 and their families/carers, including VIPP/VIG and Incredible Years Parenting Groups, as part of a multidisciplinary team, and you will participate in the CAMHS Development Programme.
The CAMHS Development Programme supports participants to develop the core knowledge, skills, and competencies set out in the Competence Framework for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, enabling progression to Band 7 CAMHS Specialist roles.
This post is offered as a Band 6-7 progression role. However, due to the fixed-term nature of the appointment, progression to Band 7 within the contract period cannot be guaranteed and will be dependent on the post holder demonstrating the required competencies. If the post holder does not achieve all competencies within the fixed-term timeframe, they will still have developed and evidenced their current level of competence, which can support future employment applications.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will join the newly established and expanding CAMHS 0-5s Team within West London NHS Trust, a specialist early years mental health service aligned with the Best Start for Life vision and the NHS Long Term Plan. This Band 6-7 progression post offers an exciting opportunity for a practitioner from a core CAMHS discipline to develop advanced skills in infant and early childhood mental health.
The role will span the boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow, with the team co-located across CAMHS clinics and local authority children's centres/family hubs, supporting strong partnership working and early access for families.
A key component of the role will be, with supervision and support, delivering specialist assessment and intervention for children aged 0-5 and their parents/carers. This includes completing comprehensive early years assessments, formulating within a developmental and relational framework, and offering evidence-based interventions such as individual Incredible Years, VIPP (Video Interaction Guidance-based interventions), and co-facilitating weekly Incredible Years Parenting Programme groups in each borough.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A Minimum of a Second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject e.g. psychology, and further relevant training eg Children's Wellbeing Practitioner or Education Mental Health Practitioner course. AND/ OR Qualification in an appropriate mental health profession (such as Nursing, Social Work, OT, Counselling or Clinical Psychology, Family Therapy or Child Psychotherapy) and registration with relevant UK governing body
- Training in Incredible Years Parenting Intervention
Desirable
- PGDip in CYP-IAPT Infant Mental Health or Early Years Mental Health
- Qualification in therapeutic approaches with children and families eg Video Interaction Guidance (VIG), Video Intervention for Positive Parenting (VIPP)
- Youth Mental Health First Aid trained.
skills/ competencies
Essential
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health interventions with children age 0-5 and families.
- Ability to conduct group parenting programmes.
- Ability to conduct mental health assessments of young children.
- Ability to make an assessment of risk and to record and communicate it appropriately
- Ability take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
- Ability to organise own time and diary and that of junior staff and learners.
Desirable
- Ability to conduct other group therapeutic interventions with children and their families.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of safeguarding issues.
- Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.
- Understanding of child development, in particular development of children age 0-5.
- Understanding of evidence based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice.
- Ability to be an autonomous practitioner whilst being able to work as an integral part of a multi-agency locality team.
- Be committed to anti discriminatory/ anti oppressive practice and equal opportunity.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the functional operation of specialist CAMHS teams
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A Minimum of a Second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject e.g. psychology, and further relevant training eg Children's Wellbeing Practitioner or Education Mental Health Practitioner course. AND/ OR Qualification in an appropriate mental health profession (such as Nursing, Social Work, OT, Counselling or Clinical Psychology, Family Therapy or Child Psychotherapy) and registration with relevant UK governing body
- Training in Incredible Years Parenting Intervention
Desirable
- PGDip in CYP-IAPT Infant Mental Health or Early Years Mental Health
- Qualification in therapeutic approaches with children and families eg Video Interaction Guidance (VIG), Video Intervention for Positive Parenting (VIPP)
- Youth Mental Health First Aid trained.
skills/ competencies
Essential
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health interventions with children age 0-5 and families.
- Ability to conduct group parenting programmes.
- Ability to conduct mental health assessments of young children.
- Ability to make an assessment of risk and to record and communicate it appropriately
- Ability take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
- Ability to organise own time and diary and that of junior staff and learners.
Desirable
- Ability to conduct other group therapeutic interventions with children and their families.
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of safeguarding issues.
- Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.
- Understanding of child development, in particular development of children age 0-5.
- Understanding of evidence based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice.
- Ability to be an autonomous practitioner whilst being able to work as an integral part of a multi-agency locality team.
- Be committed to anti discriminatory/ anti oppressive practice and equal opportunity.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the functional operation of specialist CAMHS teams
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.
