South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Mental Health Practitioner
The closing date is 01 May 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Mental Health Practitioner to join the Calderdale CAMHS team. The post would be suitable for Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists. If you are newly qualified, we can offer preceptorships to support your development within your professional qualification and role.
The Calderdale CAMHS team is a small and friendly multi‑disciplinary team who are supportive to each other and receive consistent feedback about this from students and trainees.
The post holder will deliver high quality mental health assessments where the needs of a child or young person will be established to understand whether they would be suitable for therapeutic intervention with the Core CAMHS team. The post holder will be allocated a caseload where they will deliver CBT and DBT skills work. They will also have the opportunity to access clinical supervision to assist with developing therapeutic intervention skills. There is also the opportunity for group supervision within the core team.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
Main duties of the job
To undertake mental health assessment and formulation of a child and young person’s needs and risk.
- To attend a weekly team meeting to discuss assessments, 1.1. work and to access group supervision/support.
- To partake in the CAMHS duty rota which involves taking telephone calls from the waiting list and offering advice/guidance to parents, carers and professionals.
- To hold a caseload and offer 1.1 therapeutic intervention to children, young people and parents/carers.
- To be involved with collaborative working within the CAMHS team and with partner agencies.
- To attend meetings linked to children’s social care and education as required.
- To access clinical supervision to assist with developing skills in therapeutic intervention and to support with clinical work.
- To write case notes and complete required paperwork relevant to the role.
- To be able to write reports, chronologies and summaries of work completed by CAMHS as required.
- To support group work within the service.
- To contribute to service and pathway development.
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.
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 we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we are 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 expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
JOB PURPOSE: The post holder will be responsible and accountable for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of skilled interventions to address identified needs and risk for allocated clients on a defined caseload. Works within a multi‑disciplinary team as a member of Specialist CAMHS.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
To work as a member of an integrated multi‑disciplinary team providing comprehensive assessment of children, young people and their carers, planning, implementing and evaluating skilled interventions to address identified needs.
To have knowledge of current issues and research relevant to the legislative framework and systems in which children’s mental health care is delivered e.g. Children Act, Mental Health Act and Care Programme Approach.
To contribute to service development within the clinical governance structure and policies and procedures of the Trust. Adhering to NHS guidance outlined by the relevant statutory registration bodies.
Promote the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people.
PROFESSIONAL
Assesses needs and identifies problems relevant to the care of children and young people referred. Devises a plan of care in partnership with the person and carers. Implements the planned programme of care to ensure a high standard is achieved. Reviews the effectiveness of the care provided and where appropriate initiates any action.
To be competent in all aspects of care and risk management as defined within appropriate frameworks such as the care programme approach.
To work collaboratively with clients, carers and multiple other agencies to provide effective care to optimise and maintain the holistic needs of children and young people with a range of emotional and mental health needs.
Management of enquiries and direct referrals of children and young people in accordance with the service Operational Policy and participates in the in‑hours Single Point of Access rota.
Maintain professional registration and demonstrate commitment to statutory codes of practice and continued professional development requirements.
To be responsible for the safe custody, transportation and administration of any medicines including I.M. preparations (if appropriate to qualification and / or role).
For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI‑generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we 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.
Person Specification
Experience
- Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing people / children and young people experiencing mental health problems.
- Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing risk in a variety of settings.
- Proven ability in assessing the needs and strengths of people and their carers.
- Ability to deliver a range of therapeutic techniques which can be incorporated into one to one and / or group interventions.
- Working within an integrated multi‑disciplinary environment and co‑working with other teams within team meetings, case conferences and professional meetings.
- Ability to support colleagues and supervise students/trainees.
- Experience of working holistically with children and young people with an emphasis on a holistic assessment of emotional and mental health needs alongside coexisting physical and environmental factors that impact on wellbeing.
Special Knowledge & Skills
- Working knowledge of recent government legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Health & Safety, Care Programme Approach, Care Act & Safeguarding.
- Able to work incorporating principles of Clinical Governance.
- Knowledge of working collaboratively with people and their carers to ensure their involvement in the assessment and care planning process.
- Shows awareness of cultural diversity and is able to incorporate this into care planning and the delivery of care.
- Knowledge and evidence of using IT systems.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Knowledge of audit processes.
- Knowledge of carer services/issues/assessment.
- Skills and Knowledge working holistically with children and young people.
Training
- Assessment and care planning skills and risk assessment and risk management.
- Relevant post‑basic qualification and training.
Physical Attributes
- 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).
Qualifications
- Registered Mental Health Nurse / Social Worker / Occupational Therapist.
- Mentorship Qualification or equivalent.
- Expected to work towards practice educator.
Personal Attributes
- Ability to work as part of MDT.
- Ability to work on own initiative, with reference to policies and procedures.
- Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
- Willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of service users and the team including extended hours.
- Reliable and enthusiastic.
- Motivated and resourceful.
- Professional attitude.
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.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Address
Laura Mitchell Health and Wellbeing Centre
Laura Mitchell Health and Wellbeing Centre
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