East London NHS Foundation Trust

Senior CAMHS Practitioner

The closing date is 08 March 2026

Job summary

We are looking for a creative, forward thinking and motivated Mental Health Practitioner to join our friendly and professional multi-disciplinary Emotional & Behavioural (core) CAMHS Team. The team is based in Dunstable, within the South Bedfordshire Specialist CAMHS Service. Our work is underpinned by strong values to treat each other, service users and agency partners with respect and care. We would be happy to consider requests for flexible working.

The post-holder will be offering assessment and therapeutic treatment to young people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties and their families/carers. You will involve parent/carers, schools and other agencies as required. You will require a high degree of professional autonomy, organization, and self management, with the ability to work well in a team. You will be supported by regular specialist clinical and management supervision sessions, access to a variety of internal CPD sessions, and annual performance appraisals. You will also participate in weekly clinical discussions with the team. There are opportunities to take part in discipline-specific meetings within Bedfordshire CAMHS and ELFT.

Main duties of the job

We work alongside other CAMHS teams that offer more specialist support, for example for clients in crisis, or those with eating disorders or learning disabilities. We also work closely with our growing local community teams that have staff working in schools, GP practices and Early Help teams. The team is made up of: Administrative staff, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, a Senior Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, CBT Psychotherapists, an Arts Psychotherapist, Systemic Therapists, a Counsellor and Mental Health Nurse. We are also passionate about supporting trainees from all disciplines.

The team leader is committed to staff development and there are regular opportunities for staff to apply for appropriate training courses and to get involved with Quality Improvement projects. We enjoy working with our excellent service user participation team, for example involving service users in recruitment and service development. There are frequent new developments in the service, offering staff the chance to work at a higher banding during the time of the project. As part of the East London Foundation Trust (ELFT), there are a significant number of positions in the trust for clinicians up to band 8D, opening up paths for promotion for ambitious members of staff. ELFT also prioritizes staff wellbeing and we have introduced a range of staff wellbeing initiatives to support this.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details

Date posted

20 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-SSLB7705103

Job locations

Dunstable CAMHS

Beech Close

Dunstable

LU6 3SD


Job description

Job responsibilities

This post is based close to the M1 and easily reached by car from North London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. The clinic has the added benefit of free parking and all clinicians are supported by very dedicated and efficient administrative staff.Most of the work will be based in the clinic when not remote working (currently up to 25% of hours can be worked from home). Access to a car would be very helpful given the location. The Trust has an arrangement for 50% discount on season ticket fares with Thameslink, the rail provider, for its staff. A generous relocation package is available if you need to move to access this job.

For further information or to arrange an informal visit, please contact:

Dr Louise Scrivener, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Team Lead, Dunstable CAMHS, tel 01582 707635 or email louise.scrivener1@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

This post is based close to the M1 and easily reached by car from North London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. The clinic has the added benefit of free parking and all clinicians are supported by very dedicated and efficient administrative staff.Most of the work will be based in the clinic when not remote working (currently up to 25% of hours can be worked from home). Access to a car would be very helpful given the location. The Trust has an arrangement for 50% discount on season ticket fares with Thameslink, the rail provider, for its staff. A generous relocation package is available if you need to move to access this job.

For further information or to arrange an informal visit, please contact:

Dr Louise Scrivener, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Team Lead, Dunstable CAMHS, tel 01582 707635 or email louise.scrivener1@nhs.net

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A qualification in one of the following: Child Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology, Nursing, Counselling Psychology, Social Work or other equivalent profession. Non registered applicants will not be short-listed.
  • Clinical Psychology Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996)
  • Registration with HPC or relevant organisation
  • Child Psychotherapy Honours degree. Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Psychoanalytical Observational Studies or recognised equivalent. Masters in Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy: Child and Adolescent.

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of well- developed clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS- additional training in evidence based therapy (DBT, CBT, Trauma informed, ACT, CAT, EMDR, systemic, etc)
  • Skilled in emergency and crisis assessments
  • Evidence of ability to lead, support and influence others
  • Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres

Desirable

  • Specific trainings in ND and ASD/C assessment and treatment protocols
  • Skills in applying behavioural/learning approaches to difficult to manage behaviour

Knowledge

Essential

  • A high degree of self-awareness and an ability to reflect on personal and professional attitudes and accept feedback
  • A developed knowledge of ND and ASD/C
  • Awareness of current national guidelines and policies in the field of CAMHS
  • Specific knowledge of pertinent issues for CAMHS
  • Knowledge of The Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007) and associated legislation
  • Knowledge of the Children's Act and other appropriate legislation
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A qualification in one of the following: Child Psychotherapy, Clinical Psychology, Nursing, Counselling Psychology, Social Work or other equivalent profession. Non registered applicants will not be short-listed.
  • Clinical Psychology Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996)
  • Registration with HPC or relevant organisation
  • Child Psychotherapy Honours degree. Postgraduate Diploma/MA in Psychoanalytical Observational Studies or recognised equivalent. Masters in Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy: Child and Adolescent.

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of well- developed clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS- additional training in evidence based therapy (DBT, CBT, Trauma informed, ACT, CAT, EMDR, systemic, etc)
  • Skilled in emergency and crisis assessments
  • Evidence of ability to lead, support and influence others
  • Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres

Desirable

  • Specific trainings in ND and ASD/C assessment and treatment protocols
  • Skills in applying behavioural/learning approaches to difficult to manage behaviour

Knowledge

Essential

  • A high degree of self-awareness and an ability to reflect on personal and professional attitudes and accept feedback
  • A developed knowledge of ND and ASD/C
  • Awareness of current national guidelines and policies in the field of CAMHS
  • Specific knowledge of pertinent issues for CAMHS
  • Knowledge of The Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007) and associated legislation
  • Knowledge of the Children's Act and other appropriate legislation

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

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dunstable CAMHS

Beech Close

Dunstable

LU6 3SD


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dunstable CAMHS

Beech Close

Dunstable

LU6 3SD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Team Lead

Louise Scrivener

louise.scrivener1@nhs.net

01582707635

Details

Date posted

20 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-SSLB7705103

Job locations

Dunstable CAMHS

Beech Close

Dunstable

LU6 3SD


Supporting documents

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