Job summary
Employer heading
CAMH Clinical Social Worker
Band 7
West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.
We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.
Job overview
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 1.0 WTE Band 7 permanent post in the CAM 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. The Social Worker will also need to be flexible and have the necessary skills and experience to provide high quality care that is both evidence based and client focussed.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work alongside other social workers in the team addition to holding an individual caseload. You will receive regular clinical, professional and management supervision from an experienced Social Worker in the team. We offer a range of in house and external training opportunities
As a Social Worker within West London CAMHS you will be offered good opportunities for continuing professional development and you will be supported in your career progression.
Main duties of the job
The CAMH Specialist Mental Health Practitioner will participate in delivering 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.
The role will involve 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 Team.
The role will include providing brief interventions and outreach work to children and young people presenting with acute psychological and mental health problems where intensive support is required to prevent admission to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Units. This will also include facilitating safe and timely discharges from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Units.
The crisis pathway offer includes helpline telephone support, offering first line advice and support to callers across the tri-borough who are seeking help.
Working for our organisation
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 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
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.
Detailed job description and main 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 criteria
- Degree or Diploma in Social Work
- Active Professional registration with Social Work England (SWE)
- Evidence of accredited courses in child and adolescent mental health practice
- First or higher degree in appropriate subject area or equivalent post registration training and experience
- Training in prevention and management of violence and aggression
Desirable criteria
- Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) stage 2 qualification
- CYP IAPT Trainings, e.g. CBT, Systemic Family Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy [IPT],
- Other post-graduate qualifications in: DBT, Systemic Foundation Years, EMDR, Mindfulness. Mentalizing Trainings
- Post registration training in CAMHS
- Working towards Masters Level in a CAMHS related subject.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience of assessment and working therapeutically with children, adolescents and their families within a mental health setting
- Demonstrable experience working with young people with in a community CAMHS setting
- Experience of working in a number of ways i.e. assertive outreach, clinic based settings, home, school or other appropriate environments
- Experience of using therapeutic skills, such as CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Family Work
- Experience of interagency and multidisciplinary working
- Experience of assessing risk and formulating safe and effective risk management plans
- Clinical Supervision / Reflective Practice
- Experience of teaching other professionals
Desirable criteria
- Experience of management of child protection emergencies
- Experience of therapeutic work with children and families where abuse or neglect has occurred
- Experience of audit and/or research
- Experience of contributing to and implementing new service developments
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of legislation relevant to the Children’s Act 2004, Mental Health Act 1983 & Safeguarding Guidelines
- A sound working knowledge and application of relevant professional code, i.e. professional Code of Practice
- Knowledge of the legal issues relating to consent and capacity in children and young people.
- An awareness and understanding of the issues facing, children, adolescents and their families
- Knowledge of the various assessment tools used in CAMHS
- Knowledge of the Care Plan Approach • Excellent communication skills
- Skills in communicating with children, adolescents and their families or carers
- The ability to present and communicate complex information
- Good organisational and prioritising skills • Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
- Flexible approach • Good team player • Able to manage risk
- A good understanding of, and ability to use, clinical supervision
- A high level of self-awareness and capacity to reflect
- Ability to contain the anxieties of severely unwell young people and their parents
- Consultation Skills • Computer literate
Desirable criteria
- Skills and sensitivity in working with difficult to engage families
- Ability to deal with challenging behaviour in possibly distressing situations.
- Car Driver
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills . Skills in communicating with children, adolescents and their families or carers
- The ability to present and communicate complex information
- Good organisational and prioritising skills. Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
- Flexible approach. Good team player
- Able to manage risk. A good understanding of, and ability to use, clinical supervision
- A high level of self-awareness and capacity to reflect
- Ability to contain the anxieties of severely unwell young people and their parents
- Consultation Skills. Computer literate
Desirable criteria
- Skills and sensitivity in working with difficult to engage families
- Ability to deal with challenging behaviour in possibly distressing situations.
- Car Driver
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
- Evidence of continuing professional development as expected by the relevant professional body
- Highly motivated and able to work independently
- Genuine commitment to equal opportunity, fair access and service user empowerment
- Ability to be calm under pressure, to contain others emotional distress and anxiety.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Chris Ugochukwu
- Job title
- Team Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For more information or an informal discussion please contact Emily Skipsey, Head of Social Work for CAMHS, by emailing [email protected] or phone 0208 354 8160.
Or Chris Ugochukwu Locum Clinical Team Manager – CAMHS Alliance Team
Tel: 020 8483 2808, Mobile: 07718989974, Email: [email protected]
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