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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Crisis Clinical Specialist

The closing date is 15 February 2026

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Job summary

The Lambeth Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rapids Team (CAMHS), are looking for a Clinical Specialist to join for a 6 month period covering paternity leave.

We work closely with young people (CYP) and their families experiencing complex mental health difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, self harm suicidal ideation, psychosis and complex risk presentations. Our CYP might be at risk of inpatient hospital admission or transitioning out of inpatient care; our role is to provide intensive, support within the community. No two days are the same, and there's plenty of variety in this role and lots of opportunities for learning.

Main duties of the job

1.1 You will be part of the Lambeth CAMHS Rapids Team which consists of a Clinical Service Lead, Clinical Pathway Lead, several clinical specialists & a vocational worker. 1.2 You will be required to undertake mental health assessments for young people presenting in crisis, many with complex risk profiles, contextual risks, complex neurodevelopmental profiles and significant mental health needs.1.3 You will offer fast tracked evidenced based therapeutic treatment, to young people who are designated as high risk. 1.4 You will share responsibility for ensuring that CAMHS staff within the teams achieve positive clinical outcomes for children, young people and their families, evidenced by performance indicators such as activity data, targets and quality measures. You will also share responsibility for ensuring that all team members participate in audit and research. 1.5 You will work with other CAMHS practitioners in the service from all disciplines. You will be a member of internal and external professional networks to ensure that care plans for individual children are co-ordinated efficiently and effectively. 1.6 You will be part of a wider team and will be required to offer support for other members of the crisis team especially during crisis situations or when the care coordinator is otherwise indisposed. 1.7 The work will be clinic based with some community-based outreach appointments in servicer users' homes. There is some limited opportunity to work from home.

About us

Lambeth Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides multidisciplinary assessment, diagnostic, treatment, advisory and consultative service for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural disorders, in particular those at high risk or those with more severe and persistent problems associated with psychiatric disorder. The London Borough of Lambeth has a population of 317,800 (GLA 2020). Lambeth's population is highly diverse, a characteristic visible in the breadth of ethnic and cultural traditions seen throughout the borough. It is estimated that 63% of the population describe their ethnicity as other than White British; 23% describe their ethnicity as Black (11% Black African, 7% Black Caribbean and 5% Other Black), 22% White Other and 6% as Asian. Lambeth has a child and youth population aged 0-20 of almost 70,000. Over 50% of this number are 0 to 9 years old.A high number of school pupils belong to black/minority ethnic groups (85.6%). 15.9% and 18.1% of children and young people in primary and secondary education respectively have special education needs or disabilities, the UK average is 14.9%. In 2018/2019, 0.15% of the secondary school population were permanently excluded from local authority schools. In 2020, there were 459 children looked after by the local authority and around 230 children on a child protection plan. Lambeth accommodated 97 were unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, who made up 27% of the total looked after population

Details

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum incl. of HCAs

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7669258

Job locations

Lambeth CAMHS

William Geoffrey House, 35 Black prince Road

Kennington

SE11 6JJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

4. Key Responsibilities:

4.1 Service and Team responsibilities

4.1.1 Participate as a multi-disciplinary team member in the setting and reviewing of therapeutic aims, objectives, standards and strategies to provide a high standard of care to clients and their families.

4.1.2 To ensure that all recording and reporting of client contact is timely, accurate, up to date and of good quality and within CAMHS & professional standards of record keeping. To collect & collate information about individual clinical activity on ePJS.

4.1.3 Work with the team and clients to maintain a safe therapeutic environment.

4.1.4 Work to assure the quality of care through achieving high operational standards in clinical systems.

4.1.5 To maintain and ensure good professional standards and attitudes towards the care and treatment of children, young people and their families.

4.1.6 To link with other statutory and voluntary agencies and professionals as well as other CAMHS Teams in terms of referrals and joint work. Maintain good relationships and clear lines of communication within the boundaries of confidentiality, with other professional agencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.

4.1.7 Contribute to the effective functioning of the team and service through attendance at relevant meetings, taking responsibilities within the service as appropriate and negotiated with the line manager.

4.1.8 Supervise junior members of the team or trainees from any discipline.

5.1 Clinical - Individual

5.1.1 Assume responsibility for the daily duty system, particularly ascertaining the level of risk, and agreeing safety plans as and when necessary..

5.1.2 Use individual, group work, family work, advice and supervision according to the needs of children and young people and have a flexible and innovative approach to planning packages of care.

5.1.3 Maintain good relationships and clear lines of communication with other professional agencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.

5.1.4 Put Therapeutic training into practice and deliver evidenced based treatment using outcome measures to measure progress.

5.1.5 participate in team meetings, sharing professional experience and consult on complex cases when required.

5.1.5 Take on a caseload of a mixture of short term, medium and long term cases.

5.2 Professional Conduct, Teaching, Training and Research

5.2.1 Undertake all duties in line with the professional Codes of Professional Conduct, and maintain professional registration requirements for the post according to discipline/profession.

5.2.2 Work in accordance and within the principles, policies, procedures and guidelines of all aspects of clinical governance.

5.2.3 Attend monthly supervision and quarterly appraisal meetings. Make effective use of colleagues in sharing and participating in casework supervision and other forms of supervision when required according to local practice, including attending peer supervision meetings.

5.2.4 Plan your training schedule to maintain compliance with the Trusts and your professional mandatory training requirements.

5.2.5 Identify development and training needs with manager in accordance with Trust/Directorate guidelines. Remain up to date with changing practices and wherever possible make full use of all training and educational facilities.

5.2.6 Join and lead with colleagues in specialist teaching, consultation /support to other professionals and agencies. Participate in the provision of a good quality learning environment for trainees, overseeing placements and supervising trainees.

5.2.7 Participate in the monitoring, evaluation and audit of the service.

5.2.8 Work with others to undertake and promote research-based practice and use that knowledge in your everyday practice, sharing it with others in the team.

5.3 Freedom to Act

You will manage your own caseload and work within a team but will have freedom to act within the service framework and Trust operational policies. You will manage your time and your caseload within your job plan. You will be accountable for you own professional actions, your day to day work will be managed rather than supervised and you will initiate new clinical and service actions guided by broad Trust clinical policies and procedures. You will be responsible for the management of financial and physical resources for yourself.

Job description

Job responsibilities

4. Key Responsibilities:

4.1 Service and Team responsibilities

4.1.1 Participate as a multi-disciplinary team member in the setting and reviewing of therapeutic aims, objectives, standards and strategies to provide a high standard of care to clients and their families.

4.1.2 To ensure that all recording and reporting of client contact is timely, accurate, up to date and of good quality and within CAMHS & professional standards of record keeping. To collect & collate information about individual clinical activity on ePJS.

4.1.3 Work with the team and clients to maintain a safe therapeutic environment.

4.1.4 Work to assure the quality of care through achieving high operational standards in clinical systems.

4.1.5 To maintain and ensure good professional standards and attitudes towards the care and treatment of children, young people and their families.

4.1.6 To link with other statutory and voluntary agencies and professionals as well as other CAMHS Teams in terms of referrals and joint work. Maintain good relationships and clear lines of communication within the boundaries of confidentiality, with other professional agencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.

4.1.7 Contribute to the effective functioning of the team and service through attendance at relevant meetings, taking responsibilities within the service as appropriate and negotiated with the line manager.

4.1.8 Supervise junior members of the team or trainees from any discipline.

5.1 Clinical - Individual

5.1.1 Assume responsibility for the daily duty system, particularly ascertaining the level of risk, and agreeing safety plans as and when necessary..

5.1.2 Use individual, group work, family work, advice and supervision according to the needs of children and young people and have a flexible and innovative approach to planning packages of care.

5.1.3 Maintain good relationships and clear lines of communication with other professional agencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.

5.1.4 Put Therapeutic training into practice and deliver evidenced based treatment using outcome measures to measure progress.

5.1.5 participate in team meetings, sharing professional experience and consult on complex cases when required.

5.1.5 Take on a caseload of a mixture of short term, medium and long term cases.

5.2 Professional Conduct, Teaching, Training and Research

5.2.1 Undertake all duties in line with the professional Codes of Professional Conduct, and maintain professional registration requirements for the post according to discipline/profession.

5.2.2 Work in accordance and within the principles, policies, procedures and guidelines of all aspects of clinical governance.

5.2.3 Attend monthly supervision and quarterly appraisal meetings. Make effective use of colleagues in sharing and participating in casework supervision and other forms of supervision when required according to local practice, including attending peer supervision meetings.

5.2.4 Plan your training schedule to maintain compliance with the Trusts and your professional mandatory training requirements.

5.2.5 Identify development and training needs with manager in accordance with Trust/Directorate guidelines. Remain up to date with changing practices and wherever possible make full use of all training and educational facilities.

5.2.6 Join and lead with colleagues in specialist teaching, consultation /support to other professionals and agencies. Participate in the provision of a good quality learning environment for trainees, overseeing placements and supervising trainees.

5.2.7 Participate in the monitoring, evaluation and audit of the service.

5.2.8 Work with others to undertake and promote research-based practice and use that knowledge in your everyday practice, sharing it with others in the team.

5.3 Freedom to Act

You will manage your own caseload and work within a team but will have freedom to act within the service framework and Trust operational policies. You will manage your time and your caseload within your job plan. You will be accountable for you own professional actions, your day to day work will be managed rather than supervised and you will initiate new clinical and service actions guided by broad Trust clinical policies and procedures. You will be responsible for the management of financial and physical resources for yourself.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualifications (A/I) All applicants will require a professional training and relevant CAMHS experience in combination with professional registration with one of the following statutory bodies: the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) , Health Professional's Council (HPC), Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP),The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Relevant professional training will include: oFirst level nursing qualification/registration RMN or RSCN or HV with related CAMHS experience or any as below: oFirst level qualification in Occupational therapy, Clinical or Counselling Psychology, Social work, or equivalent with related CAMHS experience. oQualification as a Systemic Psychotherapist (Family Therapist) with relevant CAMHS experience. oFirst level qualification in psychotherapy art, play, drama, music therapy (with registered qualification with one of the above statutory bodies) with related experience in the psychological aspects of caring for children and adolescent with complex mental health problems/needs.
  • Experience working with young people within a community CAMHS setting

Desirable

  • Training in Clinical supervision
  • Experience in adapting therapy to meet need of young people with complex neurodevelopmental profiles ENB 998 or mentorship and or equivalent experience and training (Nursing only)

Experience

Essential

  • oAssessed supervised clinical experience working with children and adolescents with mental health problems/needs or clear evidence of transferable skills.
  • oExperience of working with young people who present with suicidal ideation/plans and self-harm.
  • oExperience of managing complex risk
  • oWorking in collaboration with supervisor, service user, carers and MDT in assessing needs, planning and implementing care
  • oTaking responsibility for care delivery & care coordination & maintaining a safe therapeutic environment

Desirable

  • Working with families in a multi-racial urban environment
  • Working with Looked After Children and foster carers

Knowledge

Essential

  • A good working knowledge of the following: Mental health disorders in children and adolescents Difficulties common to Looked After Children e.g. attachment difficulties
  • Key legislation relevant to CAMHS setting: The Children Act 1989, 2004 and The Mental Health Act 1983, Human Rights Act 1998 and Mental Capacity Act 2005 London Child protection procedures
  • Assessment of risk and management of risk factors
  • The principles of clinical governance and practice.
  • The principles underlying confidentiality and information sharing.

Desirable

  • Relevant research and its application to assessment, treatment and case management of CAMH disorders.
  • Research informed and evidence based methods of assessment, treatment and case management.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to be able to tolerate high levels of distress from children and families who present in a mental health crisis.
  • Ability to be able to work with emotive material and manage high risk and hard to reach groups.
  • Ability to work therapeutically with the client group, using a range of therapeutic interventions
  • Ability to take on new concepts/forward thinking

Desirable

  • Skill in using a specific therapy in practice .
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualifications (A/I) All applicants will require a professional training and relevant CAMHS experience in combination with professional registration with one of the following statutory bodies: the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) , Health Professional's Council (HPC), Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP),The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Relevant professional training will include: oFirst level nursing qualification/registration RMN or RSCN or HV with related CAMHS experience or any as below: oFirst level qualification in Occupational therapy, Clinical or Counselling Psychology, Social work, or equivalent with related CAMHS experience. oQualification as a Systemic Psychotherapist (Family Therapist) with relevant CAMHS experience. oFirst level qualification in psychotherapy art, play, drama, music therapy (with registered qualification with one of the above statutory bodies) with related experience in the psychological aspects of caring for children and adolescent with complex mental health problems/needs.
  • Experience working with young people within a community CAMHS setting

Desirable

  • Training in Clinical supervision
  • Experience in adapting therapy to meet need of young people with complex neurodevelopmental profiles ENB 998 or mentorship and or equivalent experience and training (Nursing only)

Experience

Essential

  • oAssessed supervised clinical experience working with children and adolescents with mental health problems/needs or clear evidence of transferable skills.
  • oExperience of working with young people who present with suicidal ideation/plans and self-harm.
  • oExperience of managing complex risk
  • oWorking in collaboration with supervisor, service user, carers and MDT in assessing needs, planning and implementing care
  • oTaking responsibility for care delivery & care coordination & maintaining a safe therapeutic environment

Desirable

  • Working with families in a multi-racial urban environment
  • Working with Looked After Children and foster carers

Knowledge

Essential

  • A good working knowledge of the following: Mental health disorders in children and adolescents Difficulties common to Looked After Children e.g. attachment difficulties
  • Key legislation relevant to CAMHS setting: The Children Act 1989, 2004 and The Mental Health Act 1983, Human Rights Act 1998 and Mental Capacity Act 2005 London Child protection procedures
  • Assessment of risk and management of risk factors
  • The principles of clinical governance and practice.
  • The principles underlying confidentiality and information sharing.

Desirable

  • Relevant research and its application to assessment, treatment and case management of CAMH disorders.
  • Research informed and evidence based methods of assessment, treatment and case management.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to be able to tolerate high levels of distress from children and families who present in a mental health crisis.
  • Ability to be able to work with emotive material and manage high risk and hard to reach groups.
  • Ability to work therapeutically with the client group, using a range of therapeutic interventions
  • Ability to take on new concepts/forward thinking

Desirable

  • Skill in using a specific therapy in practice .

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

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Lambeth CAMHS

William Geoffrey House, 35 Black prince Road

Kennington

SE11 6JJ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Lambeth CAMHS

William Geoffrey House, 35 Black prince Road

Kennington

SE11 6JJ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Crisis Pathway Lead

Stephen Collier

stephen.collier@slam.nhs.uk

02032287370

Details

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum incl. of HCAs

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7669258

Job locations

Lambeth CAMHS

William Geoffrey House, 35 Black prince Road

Kennington

SE11 6JJ


Supporting documents

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