South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Primary Mental Health Worker
The closing date is 13 July 2026
We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to expand our workforce and recruit several Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Workers within a Primary Care Network (PCN) service across South Tyneside and Sunderland.
We are seeking individuals who can deliver evidence‑based interventions to children, young people and families experiencing a broad range of mental health difficulties. This innovative service model brings together high‑ and low‑intensity CYPMH practitioners, working closely with our established Community Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Services.
The multidisciplinary team will provide early identification of mental health needs, promote resilience and support positive wellbeing through a range of interventions.
If you are a skilled, experienced, motivated and enthusiastic CYPMH practitioner looking to play a key role in developing forward‑thinking services for children, young people and families, this could be the ideal opportunity for you.
Main duties of the job
We expect the post holder to have strong knowledge and skills in children and young peoples mental health, along with the motivation and enthusiasm to work within an innovative service. Candidates will be required to:
- Assess and deliver treatment for children and young people with moderate mental health needs.
- Provide direct, evidence‑based interventions and maintain outcome‑focused care for children and families.
- Deliver high‑quality training, consultation and support to universal services.
- Offer clinical supervision and support the development of clinical skills within the team, contributing to leadership and team motivation.
- Support service development and innovative models of care.
- Contribute to clinical governance, quality monitoring and ongoing research and audit.
- Work autonomously to assess need, plan and implement care, and deliver holistic, evidence‑based interventions.
For an informal discussion about this post please contact Lesley Gammell, CYPMHS Clinical Lead on 0191 5244000 or Carl Sketchley on 0191 5243535.
About us
We welcome all applications irrespective of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. We also provide access to high‑quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
Job responsibilities
To work as a member of the Children and Young Peoples Primary Care Mental Health Service in South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust based within Sunderland / South Tyneside Primary Care Mental Health Service.
To offer assessment and treatment to children and young people with moderate mental health needs, including direct provision of evidence‑based interventions and outcome‑focused standards of care to children and families.
To deliver high‑quality training, consultation and support to universal services.
To offer clinical supervision and support the facilitation and development of clinical expertise within the team.
To assist leadership, motivation and support to the team.
To support service development and innovative models.
To support clinical governance and quality monitoring, ongoing research and audit of practice.
To work autonomously, assessing child/young person needs, identifying and implementing a plan of care and initiating appropriate holistic research‑based health information and care.
To take a lead/champion role in an area of specialist interest relevant to a children’s mental health service.
The service will be delivered from community bases as an integral part of the agreed multi‑agency CYPMH provision.
Work collaboratively with multi‑professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective, evidence‑based and safe.
Person Specification
Experience
- Significant experience of working with children, young people and families.
- Experience of carrying out Mental Health Assessments.
- Experience of supporting the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
- Experience of working within a community/educational context.
- Facilitating teaching or delivering training.
- Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.
- Experience of working in a children and young peoples mental health service.
Physical Skills
- Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
- Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements and demands of training and work within the service.
- Ability to, on occasion, move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
- Ability to work flexibly sometimes with additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service.
Qualifications
- Appropriate professional qualification and registration in nursing, teaching (with QTS Qualified Teacher Status), social work or allied health professions e.g. RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed, PGCE or equivalent (CYP‑IAPT postgraduate qualification with accreditation).
- Additional postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
- Evidence of further study to enhance practice.
- Recognised supervision course.
- Evidence of leadership responsibilities.
Skills and Knowledge
- Knowledge of universal and specialist children’s mental health service provision.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.
- Proven organisational skills.
- Proven time and caseload management skills.
- Able to write clear reports and letters. Demonstrates a high standard in both written and oral communication.
- Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
- Ability to work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
- Ability to undertake risk assessments.
- Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
- Ability to work under supervision and make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development.
- Demonstrates an understanding of children’s mental health disorders and how this may present in children and young people.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the need for evidence‑based psychological therapies.
- A working knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health.
- Knowledge of relevant guidance policy and good practice.
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 Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
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