CAMHS Early Help developmental Liaison Practitioner

Job summary
30 hours per week. This is a developmental post within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) within Livewell Southwest CiC has the opportunity over the next 7 years to really shape Children Young People and Family Services.

There is an exciting opportunity for a professional registered clinician band 5 for a developmental post into a band 6, this post will involve competencies which will need to be completed within 2 years dependent on current experience.

Job Share(s) Considered

Main duties of the job
The post holder is responsible for supporting the emotional, psychological and social wellbeing of children and young people with a drive for early intervention. Enabling cultural change in the way first contact services can support children and young people with mental health problems. In line with 2019 NHS Long term plan strategic vision for CAMHS the post holder will actively promote resilience, prevention and early intervention to children and young people in the community.

The post holder will offer consultation about identified young people to the referrer, network or directly to the child, young person and their family. The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination of further assessment, targeted intervention or group that would meet the needs of the child or young person.

Please see the attached job description for the full list of main duties and responsibilities of the role.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities
Developmental post Band 5 Mental health practitioner initially.

The postholder is responsible for supporting the emotional, psychological and social wellbeing of children and young people - early intervention. Enabling cultural change in the way first contact services can support children and young people with mental health problems. In line with 2015 Future in Mind strategic vision for CAMHS the post holder will actively promote resilience, prevention and early intervention to children and young people in the community.

This developmental post will involve competencies which will need to be completed within 2 years dependent on current experience and will be assessed through various methods including feedback, self-directed assessment, direct observation and throughout line management. If not achieved within the specified timeframe will not be able to progress onto the band 6.

The post holder will work as the named Early Help liaison practitioner within the locality. The postholder will directly link with other services, families, professionals and schools supporting with potential requests for involvement into CAMHS promoting emotional, health and wellbeing as part of the whole school approach.

The post holder will offer consultation about identified young people to the referrer, network or directly to the child, young person and their family. The post holder will be responsible for the co-ordination of further assessment, targeted intervention or group that would meet the needs of the child or young person.

The post holder will co-ordinate training to community professionals and schools to meet the specific needs of each setting or school and co-facilitate training when appropriate.

2) Briefly describe the main duties of the role -Key responsibilities and tasks

To work as the identified Early Help Liaison practitioner to deliver consultation, advice and signposting to community services and schools working with children and young people who may present with emerging mental health difficulties.

Co-ordination and implementation of evidence based targeted interventions in a timely manner, in collaboration with the other clinicians in the early help pathway.

To ensure that children and young people access timely assessments and the appropriate targeted interventions.

Organisation and delivery of groups based within the school and community setting on a needs led approach. To support the delivery of evidence based programmes for children and young people with mental health issues.

Take a lead in representing CAMHS in multi-agency meetings such as EHAT, SEND meetings or child protection meetings to co-ordinate and have oversight of mental health element of a multi-agency plan around a child.

To function as a member of the locality facing CAMHS early help pathway taking appropriate responsibility for the implementation of decisions made by the team.

Ensure planned interventions are implemented effectively and evaluated using Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROMS)

Participate in the delivery of training programmes for schools and community services from a portfolio of available CAMHS training

Maintain standards of care to highest level within available resources.

To actively participate in line management with senior and junior members of staff.

To liaise effectively with the other CAMHS community teams across the city.

To develop and maintain relationships with providers statutory and non-statutory.

To maintain confidentiality in respect of the young people at all times.

Communicate clearly with children and young people, their families and all other health professional groups about their health problems.

Actively participate in clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives, e.g. clinical audit, essence of care or clinical policy development.

Ensure that children and young people are encouraged to play a part in decision making about the help they need and how they can access specific interventions. This is to promote person-centred planning.

Contribute to the provision of the advice line, providing advice, support, signposting and resources.

Person Specification

Qualifications
Essential

• Core qualification in any Mental health modality such as Nursing / Social Worker / Psychology with experience of working with children & young people in mental health.
• Appropriate Registration relevant to professional qualification i.e. NMC, HCPC

Desirable

• Post graduate training qualification in methods of working with children with mental health problems, e.g. counselling, systemic practice or post grad diploma in child and adolescent mental health.
• Clinical supervisor & assessor training to support students on placements or be willing to undertake this training as part of the role.

Knowledge
Essential

• Mental Health presentations and evidenced based interventions to support this.
• Confidentiality
• Safeguarding Children

Desirable

• Team work
• Ethical issues in relation to Mental Health
• System one trained

Skills
Essential

• Mental Health and Risk assessment, evaluation and intervention skills
• Good organizational skills and be able to prioritise caseload in a timely manner.
• Well developed communication skills both oral and written
• Ability to use IT effectively
• Commitment to anti-oppressive practice
• Ability to work in partnership and in collaboration with others, both in and out of own agency/professional background.
• Commitment to own learning and professional development.
• Evidence of excellent communication skills with children and young people
• Team Work Skills
• Administration Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Supervision of Junior Staff
• Responsible and self motivated
• Able to manage own stress
• Flexible & reliable
• Empathetic

Desirable

• Group Interaction Skills
• Change Management Skills
• Ability to recognise and support stress in others
• Mentorship or equivalent

Additional requirements
Essential

• Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
• Ability to work flexibly (hours of work and duties) both as an individual and with other colleagues in LSW and with partner agencies.
• Able to undertake the demands of the post with reasonable adjustments where required.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of post-registration working with children/young people who have experienced mental health and psychological well-being difficulties.
• Knowledge and understanding of difficulties that can impact their own mental health i.e attachment, trauma, parental mental health
• Awareness and knowledge of undertaken assessments along with the processes involved including risk management.
• Maintaining own safety in Community settings by working within relevant policy and be willing to complete training necessary for their role.
• Experience of effective working with families of different cultural backgrounds.
• Knowledge/Experience of working within multi-agency safeguarding systems e.g. child protection conferences, child in need meetings
• Be able to manage your own caseload and time management effectively.

Desirable

• Experience in wide range of settings
• Post registration experience
• Evidence of working with children and young people delivering interventions.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.