CAMHS Crisis Practitioner

Job Summary

CAMHS Crisis Practitioners focus on supporting young people in crisis, offering mental health assessments in the local A&E departments and intensive interventions in the community. This varied role offers excellent opportunities to gain experience and skills in a variety of different settings. The CAMHS Response Team operates from 8am to 10pm daily with flexible working opportunities within these hours. We seek a forward‑thinking, creative, responsive practitioner with a passion for young‑person and family‑centred care who is enthusiastic, resilient and able to respond flexibly to young people’s needs.

• Referral screening and receiving and scrutinising appropriateness of referrals.
• Carrying out mental health crisis assessments independently, including in A&E environments.
• Assessing and managing risk, planning, implementing and evaluating treatment and therapeutic interventions.
• Carrying out safe therapeutic interventions and escalating concerns as appropriate.
• Working collaboratively with team and allied health professionals within the network, including Primary Health Care, Social Care and educational establishments.
• Contributing to the ongoing quality of service and care, identifying risk issues and responding appropriately.

Essential skills and qualifications:

• Registered Mental Health Nurse and/or Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse, Registered Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Art Therapist or Drama Therapist.
• Taking responsibility for care delivery in a specific area and maintaining a safe therapeutic environment.
• Knowledge of key legislation relevant to CAMHS setting (Children Act, Mental Health Act, Human Rights Act, Mental Capacity Act).
• Experience of supervised clinical work with children and adolescents with mental health problems.
• Experience of working collaboratively with supervisors, service users, carers and MDT in assessing needs, planning and implementing care.
• Experience of research‑based/reflective practice.
• Empathy for service users and loyalty to NHS values.

Desirable:

• Further post‑qualifying training and education in working with children and adolescents with mental health problems.
• Awareness/knowledge of social inclusion issues for mental health service users.
• Specific training in CBT, DBT and family interventions.
• Relevant research and its application to assessment, treatment and case management.
• Experience working with families in diverse urban settings, look‑after children and foster carers.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AZ

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