Job overview

The Children and Young People's division (formerly Forward Thinking Birmingham) currently provides dedicated mental health in reach support into the city's Youth Justice Service to support children and young people who may have a mental health need. Birmingham Youth Justice Service is one of the largest in the country. 

Often these children find mental health services difficult to access, they are often marginalized and face multiple disadvantages and there are high rates of disproportionality.

The role of the Specialist practitioner in one that seeks to overcome these barriers and systemic challenges by working with the Children and young people and the systems around them to understand their needs and next steps., resulting in timely support and access to services. 

Main duties of the job

To contribute to the principal aim of the Youth Justice Service to prevent offending by children and young people, by ensuring that the physical emotional and mental health needs are addressed as a principle factor with all programs of assessment and interventions undertaken by the Youth Justice Service (YJS).

The YJS Specialist practitioner will ensure that a young person in contact with the youth justice system will have the same access to a comprehensive health service as any other young person within the general population. The post holder will deliver a health service to children and young people, to include direct assessment, early intervention and referral for young people, offering advice and consultation on children and young people’s health care to colleagues.

The post holder will have responsibility for the management and coordination of health care needs of young people within the criminal justice system. To work within a multi agency environment with a wide range of professionals across all agencies to meet the physical, emotional and mental health needs of children and young people who are at risk of, or have offended. This will be through a model of consultation and direct delivery. 

Key working relationships include service users, parents/carers,  health professionals, YJS professionals, substance misuse colleagues, GP’s, colleagues in children services, education, within the voluntary and private sector.

Working for our organisation

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.  Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year.  We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community.  If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people’s lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.