Oxford Health NHS Trust

Children & Young People | Sr Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 11 December 2025

Job summary

Are you looking for an exciting new role working with children and young people? Or wanting a change of pace in your clinical work?

We're looking for a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join our CAMHSOutreach team. The team aims to support and engage children, young people and families with complex needs by means of individualised home and community treatment packages.

You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team that offers a whole systems approach to the short and long term management of mental illness that works across the whole CAMHS service with the OSCA team picking up the highest levels of need.

You will be required to participate in the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire out of hours on- call rota and will be expected to work evenings and weekends as per the team rota.You will also be required to work within the teams Crisis rota, to support the facilitation of the service in-hours (8-8pm) as required for the needs of said population.

Main duties of the job

  • Provide a quality needs-led service as part of the multi-disciplinary team, which will include working flexibly across a 7-day week on a shift rota between 8am and 8pm, and participating in the on-call cover as noted above. Responding promptly to urgent and emergency requests for assessments and meeting young people wherever they may feel most comfortable.
  • Provide prompt psychosocial assessments and evidence-based interventions for children and young people, aiming to prevent hospital admissions and support recovery in the least restrictive environment.
  • Collaborate with a wide range of agencies, including social care, education, police, and voluntary sector partners, to develop integrated care packages for high-risk and hard-to-reach young people.
  • Support and supervise junior staff and students, contributing to their development through mentoring, appraisal, and clinical supervision.
  • Maintain accurate clinical records, engage in reflective practice, and participate in ongoing professional development and training to ensure best practice standards are met.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Details

Date posted

27 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-BM7623549

Job locations

Sue Nicholls Centre

Aylesbury

HP20 1EG


Job description

Job responsibilities

The OSCA Service aims to:

  • Reducing children and young peoples vulnerability to mental health crisis
  • Maximising children and young peoples resilience
  • Enabling children and young people with high levels of mental health need to be supported in their own homes or placements
  • Offering choice to children, young people and their families and carers
  • Avoiding inpatient admissions
  • Reducing inpatient days
  • Offering advice, support and supervision to systems supporting young people, such as addiction, adoption, Childrens Care and youth offending services.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The OSCA Service aims to:

  • Reducing children and young peoples vulnerability to mental health crisis
  • Maximising children and young peoples resilience
  • Enabling children and young people with high levels of mental health need to be supported in their own homes or placements
  • Offering choice to children, young people and their families and carers
  • Avoiding inpatient admissions
  • Reducing inpatient days
  • Offering advice, support and supervision to systems supporting young people, such as addiction, adoption, Childrens Care and youth offending services.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to jointly manage a case load of high risk young people

Qualifications

Essential

  • Mental Health Nursing, OT or Social Worker qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Post qualification experience in a mental health setting, working with young people or adults with mental illness.
Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to jointly manage a case load of high risk young people

Qualifications

Essential

  • Mental Health Nursing, OT or Social Worker qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Post qualification experience in a mental health setting, working with young people or adults with mental illness.

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.

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.

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

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Sue Nicholls Centre

Aylesbury

HP20 1EG


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Sue Nicholls Centre

Aylesbury

HP20 1EG


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Lead

Ashleigh Green

ashleigh.green@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

01865901951

Details

Date posted

27 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-BM7623549

Job locations

Sue Nicholls Centre

Aylesbury

HP20 1EG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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