Senior Mental Health Practitioner - Hillingdon CAMHS MHST
Closing date: 15 May 2026.
This role is part of the Green Paper for Transforming children and young people’s mental health programme. The Post holder will work within a Mental Health Support Team (MHST) to provide short‑term evidence‑based interventions to children and young people with mild to moderate anxiety, depression, and/or behavioural difficulties, and their parent(s) or carer(s).
Work will involve collaboration with schools, colleges, and other educational settings in the Hillingdon area, using interpreters when necessary and respecting all cultural backgrounds. The Post holder will also support the senior mental health lead in developing whole‑school or college approaches to wellbeing.
Main duties of the job
- Deliver evidence‑based interventions for mild to moderate mental health issues.
- Support schools/colleges in embedding a whole‑school wellbeing approach.
- Provide timely advice to staff and liaise with external specialist services to ensure young people receive appropriate support and remain in education.
- Manage referrals, conduct clinical telephone triage and face‑to‑face assessments, give advice, and signpost young people when appropriate.
- Work with parents/carers and other stakeholders, using interpreters as needed.
- Supervise junior staff and provide clinical supervision to education mental health practitioners and trainee practitioners.
- Maintain accurate, legible, comprehensive records and complete routine outcome measures.
- Identify and report safeguarding concerns, escalating safety issues when necessary and acting as an advocate for service users.
- Ensure compliance with mandatory training and core policies (e.g., Fire, Lone Working, Health & Safety, Absence Management).
Job responsibilities
- Form strong working relationships with stakeholders across education and health settings.
- Develop and deliver individual and group, time‑limited interventions in accordance with CYP‑IAPT principles.
- Hold a caseload of children and young people with mild‑moderate mental health difficulties.
- Complete thorough assessments, risk assessments, care planning, and reviews.
- Provide consultations and training to education staff, promoting mental health awareness.
- Participate in team and group supervision, contributing to service improvement.
- Support the expansion of the MHST service within Harrow and enhance service quality.
- Maintain compliance with fire, lone working, health & safety, and absence‑management policies.
- Report accidents or incidents following established procedures.
Person Specification
- Education & Qualifications (Essential)
- Relevant professional qualification at degree level in Mental Health Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Art Therapy, Drama Therapy, Music Therapy, LD Nursing, or substantial experience as EMHP or CWP.
- Additional child and adolescent mental health training through study.
- Registered with a relevant professional body.
- Desirable Qualifications
- Formal CBT training or postgraduate accredited CBT training.
- Accredited courses or workshops in CYP‑IAPT principles.
- Experience & Knowledge (Essential)
- Substantial consolidated experience in child and adolescent mental health.
- Experience working in multidisciplinary or multi‑agency teams.
- Good understanding of child and adolescent mental health services and conditions.
- Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and procedures.
- Desirable Experience
- Experience with mental health promotion work.
- Experience supporting schools on CYP emotional wellbeing.
- Experience running therapy groups and/or training events.
- Other Essential Skills
- Team player with excellent time‑management and organisational skills.
- Able to travel to meet post requirements.
- Clinical Skills (Essential)
- Deliver one‑to‑one therapeutic mental health interventions to children and young people.
- Conduct mental health assessments.
- Work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness among staff.
- Knowledge (Essential)
- Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards as they apply to the role.
- Understanding of quality improvement in safety and patient experience.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. Disclosure must be obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous convictions.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
£45,953 to £54,254 a year (per annum, incl. HCAS).
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