Clinical CAMHS Social Worker

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Social Worker with experience of working with young people and their families to work in Tri-borough CAMHS. This is a full-time Band 7 permanent post in the CAMHS Alliance Service. We would be delighted to hear from Social Workers who have some experience working in CAMHS using social work skills and are interested in this role.

We are looking to appoint a Social Worker who is able to demonstrate a commitment to creative engagement with a culturally diverse population of young people, shows initiative, is a team player and is able to communicate ideas clearly to both professionals and young people alike. Ability to demonstrate knowledge, competence and an interest in working with children who present with complex mental health needs is essential for the role.

Main duties of the job

The Alliance Crisis Team serves 3 key pathways
o Acute Trust and out of hours' service
o Intensive community support/ Home Treatment service & Post A&E Review
o Intensive community support/Home Treatment + service with Tier 3 CAMHs interface and Tier 4 diversion/Tier 4 step down

The post holders will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, holding a clinical caseload and undertaking the comprehensive assessment of children and young people with mental health needs (including risk assessment and the development of risk management plans) who present in crisis to CAMH Services, hospitals and sites covered by the Alliance Crisis Care.

In addition to providing direct work to families and young people, the post holders will also assist the CAMHS and/or paediatrics team with treatment planning and provide consultation to families/carers and other professionals involved in the life of the young person.

The post holder will participate in delivering the provision of specialist mental health services to children and young people and their families and carers across the West London NHS Trust 3 Boroughs CAMH Service and crisis pathway.

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential
o Degree or Diploma in Social Work
o Evidence of accredited courses in child and adolescent mental health practice
o Active Professional registration with Social Work England (SWE)
o Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) stage 2 qualification
o Training in prevention and management of violence and aggression
o First or higher degree in appropriate subject area or equivalent post registration training and experience

Desirable
o CYP IAPT Trainings, e.g. CBT, Systemic Family Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy [IPT],
o Other post-graduate qualifications in: DBT, Systemic Foundation Years, EMDR, Mindfulness. Mentalizing Trainings
o Post registration training in CAMHS
o Working towards Masters Level in a CAMHS related subject.

Experience

Essential
o Demonstrable experience of assessment and working therapeutically with children, adolescents and their families within a mental health setting
o Demonstrable experience working with young people with in a community CAMHS setting
o Experience of working in a number of ways i.e. assertive outreach, clinic based settings, home, school or other appropriate environments
o Experience of using therapeutic skills, such as CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Family Work
o Experience of interagency and multidisciplinary working
o Experience of assessing risk and formulating safe and effective risk management plans
o Clinical Supervision / Reflective Practice
o Experience of teaching other professionals

Desirable
o Experience of management of child protection emergencies
o Experience of therapeutic work with children and families where abuse or neglect has occurred
o Experience of audit and/or research
o Experience of contributing to and implementing new service developments

Knowledge & Skills

Essential
o Knowledge of legislation relevant to the Children's Act 2004, Mental Health Act 1983 & Safeguarding Guidelines
o A sound working knowledge and application of relevant professional code, i.e. professional Code of Practice
o Knowledge of the legal issues relating to consent and capacity in children and young people.
o An awareness and understanding of the issues facing, children, adolescents and their families
o Knowledge of the various assessment tools used in CAMHS
o Knowledge of the Care Plan Approach
o Excellent communication skills
o Skills in communicating with children, adolescents and their families or carers
o The ability to present and communicate complex information
o Good organisational and prioritising skills
o Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
o Flexible approach
o Good team player
o Able to manage risk
o A good understanding of, and ability to use, clinical supervision
o A high level of self-awareness and capacity to reflect
o Ability to contain the anxieties of severely unwell young people and their parents.
o Consultation Skills
o Computer literate

Desirable
o Skills and sensitivity in working with difficult to engage families
o Ability to deal with challenging behaviour in possibly distressing situations.
o Car Driver

Other Requirement

Essential
o Evidence of continuing professional development as expected by your professional body
o Flexible approach to work