CAMHS Senior Substance Use Practitioner Band 7

Opening date: 02/11/26
Closes: Tue, 17 November 2026 @ 4:00 PM
Salary: Band 7 (£47,810 - £54,710)
Contract Type: Temporary

SHSCT CAMHS Senior Substance Use Practitioner Band 7 ref:55999587

Branch: St Luke's Hospital site, Armagh (SHSCT)
Directorate: Children & Young People's Services

Interview Dates: To Be Confirmed

Notes: Online and Manual applications accepted. A waiting list may be created for similar posts. Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards.

Flexible Working
We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role.

Job Summary
The role of the post holder will involve providing a substance use service to children and young people under 18 with substance use problems; building links with trust wide substance use services including adult addiction services and community based drug agencies across the stepped care model. The post holder will provide Substance use / mental health consultation to partner agencies.

The post holder will play a key role within CAMHS in developing structures which support the effective management and care of under 18's with mental health and substance use co-morbidity. They will work within the multi-disciplinary CAMH teams alongside other senior members of CAMHS.

The post holder will complete mental health/substance use assessment and manage children and young people with substance use in partnership with other professionals and agencies.

The post holder will assess the psychosocial and physical factors relevant to the treatment of children and young people who use substances. This will include planning; implementing, evaluating needs led interventions.

The post holder will be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service, to include evenings and weekends as required.

Key Duties / Responsibilities
Clinical

• Provide initial and individualised assessment including emergency liaisons, care planning, treatment and therapeutic programmes to children / young people, families, groups and/or their parents or carers, in CAMHS.
• Be highly skilled, competent and knowledgeable in sensitively engaging in therapeutic work with vulnerable children / young people and families.
• Take lead responsibility for clinical work and case management, linking in with MDT, seeking consultation / supervision as necessary.
• Be competent in assessing and managing risk in all aspects of the post, including clinical as well as generic risk assessment and management.
• Provide treatment in a range of settings as determined by need, working collaboratively across specialist community CAMHS, as per the CAMHS Stepped Care Service Model and outreach where appropriate.
• Utilise a range of theoretical perspectives in best understanding and responding to the emotional and mental health needs of children, young people and their families.
• Participate in devising and delivering therapeutic programmes to children and young people in accordance with best practice guidelines, current legislation, NICE guidelines and recommendations of professional bodies.
• Involve users / carers where appropriate in aspects of intervention and treatment programmes.
• Work in collaboration with other practitioners in providing the established services and in new developments, including multi agency working and providing advice and guidance on the management of children and young people referred to CAMHS.
• Report response to intervention and treatment and other relevant clinical issues to the Line Manager.
• Engage in on-going evaluation of care plans and communicate and update others accordingly.
• Attend case planning meetings, case conferences, paediatric, psychiatric wards, or school based meetings as required.
• Provide advice and consultation to users and carers, and other professionals where appropriate.
• Adhere to the Regional Child Protection Policy and Procedures seeking support, advice and making child care / safeguarding referrals accordingly.

Professional

• Comply with the Professional Codes of Conduct and regulatory governing bodies standards of practice and guidelines.
• Adhere to established policies, procedures, protocols within CAMHS and Trust.
• Appropriately and without undue delay seek support and consultation regarding clinical, management or professional issues.
• Liaise with and develop positive partnerships and relationships with other professionals across CAMHS.
• Participate in regular shared learning activities and developmental experiences across CAMHS.
• Initiate continual professional development including keeping abreast of changes and developments in CAMHS.

Education

• Initiate the preparation and provision of appropriate training to multi-professional groups, in agreement with Line Manager.
• Ensure that practitioners have information relating to current good practice.
• Initiate, develop and promote the introduction of new and innovative practices within the confines of governance and legislative requirements, and in agreement with Line Manager.
• Participate in the orientation and induction of new staff.
• Participate in the education and mentoring of students and other trainee professionals.

Organisational Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively within CAMHS, fostering good communication and team spirit across Core, Liaison, Referral Coordination and Community Intensive Intervention Service.
• Work collaboratively with service users, carers and providers within the voluntary, private and statutory sectors.
• Adhere to legislation e.g. The Children Order NI (1995), Mental Health Order (1986), and Human Rights Legislation.
• Provide and participate in appraisal and development activities.
• Participate in team meetings, student mentorship, training of others, selection and recruitment process, and professional development, as directed by Line Manager.
• Provide clinical, management and professional supervision to other practitioners in agreement with Line Manager. Adhere to Supervision Policy and Procedures.
• Keep Line Manager and Professional Lead informed of clinical, management and professional issues.
• Be directly responsible and accountable to the Line Manager for their part in the provision of an effective and efficient CAMHS.
• Adhere to all SHSCT policies and procedures e.g. absenteeism, incidents/accidents/near misses, complaints, record keeping, etc.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of working practices and procedures within the area of CAMHS.
• Ensure all records and documentation is completed and maintained in line with professional practice guidelines, CAMHS and Trust policies.
• Complete statistical recording of activity, caseload, outcomes, etc for auditing, statistical returns and capacity planning purposes.
• Initiate and participate in all relevant audit and research activities.
• Participate in the Trust's Social and Clinical Care Governance arrangements.

General Requirements
The post holder will be required to ensure the Trust's policy on equality of opportunity is promoted, co-operate with Health and Safety, infection prevention and control and records management arrangements, adhere to all Trust policies and codes of conduct, and represent the Trust's commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

Essential Criteria

• Four years' post qualifying experience of working within Mental Health services or services related to child and adolescent or CAMHS to include 1 year working with young people or adults who use substances.
• Experience in assessment and care planning of children / young people or adults with substance use.
• Registered Nurse level 1 (Parts 1, 3, 5 or 8) on the NMC Register OR Professional Social Work qualification (CQSW / CSS / BSW / DipSW) and be registered or have lodged an application with the NISCC.
• Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment.
• Knowledge of Substance Use / Mental Health issues in relation to children and young people.
• Ability to work as a member of a Multi-Disciplinary Team.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends as required.
• Excellent understanding of individual, family and group therapies.
• Excellent understanding of assessment and management of risk.
• Effective planning and organisational skills with an ability to prioritise own workload.
• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to identify solutions to problems and implement them effectively.
• Ability to work to tight timescales whilst meeting targets.
• Commitment to the provision of high quality and safe services with an ability to drive a culture of continuous improvement.
• Commitment to training and development relevant to CAMHS.

Desirable Criteria

• Evidence of having undertaken relevant post-basic training.
• Experience of working in the community.
• Experience of psychotherapies, counselling and motivational interviewing techniques.
• Ability to articulate a theory base regarding substance use, Children Order (1995), Human Rights Act (1998), Mental Health Order NI (1986), and child protection and safeguarding issues.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed. Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer. All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times.