Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate and
skilled CAMHS Primary Practitioner to join our Primary Intervention Team within
Wakefield CAMHS on a fixed term basis to cover maternity leave (37.5 hours per
week, until January 2027).
This is an exciting opportunity to work in the heart of our
Single Point of Access (SPA), where youll play a key role in the triage and
early intervention pathway helping young people and families to get the right
help, at the right time.
You would be joining the team at a really exciting time,
where we are working collaboratively to review our front door into the
service.
We are seeking an experienced and motivated professional
with experience in mental health. Youll bring:
-
Strong communication and decision-making skills
-
Confidence in working independently as well as
part of a team
-
A calm and empathetic approach in fast paced
situations
-
A passion for early intervention
We are a supportive and friendly team that values your
skills and well-being.
Main duties of the job
Single Point of Access (SPA)
Youll be the first point of contact for children, young people, families and
professionals. Youll take triage calls, make informed clinical decisions, and
offer supportive advice and signposting, helping to support people to navigate
what can feel like a daunting system.
2+1 Intervention Youll
deliver brief, targeted support through our 2+1 approach. One initial
assessment and two focused intervention sessions.
The role would require you to
support children, young people and families to get the right support, and make
onward referrals either internally within Wakefield CAMHS or to external
agencies. You would need to have excellent risk assessment and triage skills,
along with making safeguarding referrals where required.
The service is open
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00.
Whether youre looking for a new challenge or a step up into a Band 6 role, we would love to hear from you!
Calls are encouraged.
We are based at Drury Lane Health and Well-Being Centre in the centre of Wakefield, with a permanent move planned to Fieldhead Hospital from late 2026.
About us
We
are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health
and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale,
Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are
the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is
to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this
by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ
staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a
difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage
and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value
diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being
a foundation Trust means were accountable to our
members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people
(including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join
us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving
the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and
help each year.
We
are committed
to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and
vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this
commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To contribute to a co-ordinated delivery of training & consultation, and provide limited joint assessments and therapeutic interventions to children and young people and universal service workers within the District.
- To facilitate the interface between Universal Services and the CAMH Service.
- To act as a resource by being fully aware of existing provision for Children and Young People and establish good working relationships with those services.
- To participate with supervision and attend Primary Intervention Team meetings to establish an embedded working relationship.
- To promote safeguarding and the welfare of children and young people.
- To work within the single point of referral as required, between the hours of 09:00 to 18:00.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To contribute to a co-ordinated delivery of training & consultation, and provide limited joint assessments and therapeutic interventions to children and young people and universal service workers within the District.
- To facilitate the interface between Universal Services and the CAMH Service.
- To act as a resource by being fully aware of existing provision for Children and Young People and establish good working relationships with those services.
- To participate with supervision and attend Primary Intervention Team meetings to establish an embedded working relationship.
- To promote safeguarding and the welfare of children and young people.
- To work within the single point of referral as required, between the hours of 09:00 to 18:00.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
Person Specification
Special Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Assessment planning and evaluation of time limited therapeutic programme skills in mental health and behavioural difficulties including risk assessments
- Good verbal and communication skills
- Ability to manage own caseload
- Good negotiation skills, and problem solving skills
- Customer service orientation
- Effective record keeping and report writing skills to include care planning and risk assessments.
- IT skills.
- Have good team working skills. Be able to work across disciplines with an ability to predict and manage inter-disciplinary tensions and foster good working practices.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to work autonomously and as part of a team
- Ability to travel to various sites around the Trust in accordance with the demands of the post
- Commitment to a Multi-agency approach to the client
- Calm, confident, innovative, creative and assertive
- Willingness to be flexible and adaptable in accordance with changing service priorities
- Commitment to challenging discrimination and improving accessibility of services
- Ability to manage crisis situations
Qualifications
Essential
- First level registered qualification, such as :
- RMN, CPN, SW, Occupational Therapy or relevant mental health profession.
Desirable
- Post qualification training in mental health therapy (e.g. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Family & Systemic Therapy)
- Experience of mentoring/supporting learners or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
- Practice Educator/Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
Physical Attributes
Essential
- Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Experience
Essential
- Comprehension of current legislation in relation to under 18s.
- An understanding of roles and responsibilities of agencies involved in working with under 18s.
- Experience of working with children and adolescents with multiple problems and their families/carers.
- Multi-disciplinary working. Experience of providing consultation/support and training to professional carers working with under 18s.
- Experience of working with universal service professionals.
- Experience of supervising/mentoring junior staff.
- Experience of safeguarding children and young people.
Desirable
- Experience of working in universal services.
- Experience of networking between universal services and CAMHS.
- Experience of working in a Family and Systemic Team.
- Knowledge and experience of working with equality and diversity
- Experience of delivering training to others
Person Specification
Special Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Assessment planning and evaluation of time limited therapeutic programme skills in mental health and behavioural difficulties including risk assessments
- Good verbal and communication skills
- Ability to manage own caseload
- Good negotiation skills, and problem solving skills
- Customer service orientation
- Effective record keeping and report writing skills to include care planning and risk assessments.
- IT skills.
- Have good team working skills. Be able to work across disciplines with an ability to predict and manage inter-disciplinary tensions and foster good working practices.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to work autonomously and as part of a team
- Ability to travel to various sites around the Trust in accordance with the demands of the post
- Commitment to a Multi-agency approach to the client
- Calm, confident, innovative, creative and assertive
- Willingness to be flexible and adaptable in accordance with changing service priorities
- Commitment to challenging discrimination and improving accessibility of services
- Ability to manage crisis situations
Qualifications
Essential
- First level registered qualification, such as :
- RMN, CPN, SW, Occupational Therapy or relevant mental health profession.
Desirable
- Post qualification training in mental health therapy (e.g. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Family & Systemic Therapy)
- Experience of mentoring/supporting learners or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
- Practice Educator/Practice Assessor Preparation Certificate or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
Physical Attributes
Essential
- Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Experience
Essential
- Comprehension of current legislation in relation to under 18s.
- An understanding of roles and responsibilities of agencies involved in working with under 18s.
- Experience of working with children and adolescents with multiple problems and their families/carers.
- Multi-disciplinary working. Experience of providing consultation/support and training to professional carers working with under 18s.
- Experience of working with universal service professionals.
- Experience of supervising/mentoring junior staff.
- Experience of safeguarding children and young people.
Desirable
- Experience of working in universal services.
- Experience of networking between universal services and CAMHS.
- Experience of working in a Family and Systemic Team.
- Knowledge and experience of working with equality and diversity
- Experience of delivering training to others
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).
