Job summary
- Main area
- Nursing
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 333-G-CA-1591
- Employer
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Westminster CAMHS
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £46,419 - £55,046 Per annum incl. HCAS [Pro rata if PT]
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Duty Clinician - CAMHS Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 6
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Job overview
The post holder will act as a clinician within the Westminster CAMHS Duty System, providing a responsive and risk-aware clinical triage function for children, young people, and families referred to the service. You will be one of two Duty Clinicians responsible for the daily Westminster CAMHS Duty system, which includes screening and managing new referrals, responding to urgent contacts, and supporting the team as needed. The Duty Lead and wider team offer support and guidance where required.
The Duty Clinician is a key point of contact for urgent mental health queries, unplanned assessments, and risk management interventions, working collaboratively with the Duty Lead and wider multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, effective, and timely responses.
The post holder will provide a core element of the service by completing initial screening calls and offering brief case management to young people awaiting assessment or allocation.
The role requires sound clinical judgement, experience in managing risk and crisis presentations, and the ability to offer compassionate support during times of distress. The post holder will support the team to maintain high standards of safeguarding and clinical governance and contribute to the day-to-day functioning of the duty system and wider service.
Main duties of the job
Assume responsibility for the daily duty system, participating on the local duty rota to provide a responsive and timely approach to urgent issues and clinical queries.
Provide screening of incoming CAMHS referrals of children and young people referred to the team. In line with the national 4 Week Wait directive, this will involve a screening call including a risk assessment, a Routine Outcome Measure (ROM) and a care plan letter.
Offer support to parents, carers, and young people seeking help between appointments or during periods of crisis.
Maintain good relationships and clear lines of communication with other professional agencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.
Undertake CAMHS assessments where needed for children and young people referred to the team.
Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality documentation of all clinical activity and client contact on SystmOne in line with CAMHS and professional record-keeping standards.
Contribute to the effective functioning of the team and service through attendance at relevant meetings, taking responsibilities within the service as appropriate and negotiated with the line manager.
Working for our organisation
The Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is responsible for the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to the populations of Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea, and Westminster, as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to other Trusts and Agencies, and to a wider regional catchment area. Clients of the Trust are drawn from a population that is highly diverse ethnically and socio-economically, including refugees. There are high levels of social and economic deprivation. Hillingdon CAMHS is Specialist CAMHS (Tier 3) based at Minet Clinic, Avondale Rd, Uxbridge, Hayes UB3 3NR.
The service comprises of approximately 60 professionals, consisting of a Team Manager, Consultant Child Psychiatrists, C&A Psychotherapists, Clinical Psychologists, Systemic Family Therapists, Nurse Specialists, Primary Mental Health Specialists, Child Wellbeing Practitioners, Art Psychotherapists, Assistant Psychologists, a Behaviour Analysts and Administrative staff.
To find out more about working in CAMHS CLICK HERE for our video.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To ensure that all recording and reporting of client contact is timely, accurate, up to date and of good quality and within CAMHS & professional standards of record keeping.
- Work with the team and clients to maintain a safe therapeutic environment.
- Work to assure the quality of care through achieving high operational standards in clinical systems.
- To maintain and ensure good professional standards and attitudes towards the care and treatment of children, young people and their families.
- To link with other statutory and voluntary agencies and professionals as well as other CAMHS Teams in terms of referrals and joint work. Maintain good relationships and clear lines of communication within the boundaries of confidentiality, with other professional agencies and departments, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.
- Contribute to the effective functioning of the team and service through attendance at relevant meetings, taking responsibilities within the service as appropriate and negotiated with the line manager.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- All applicants will require a professional training and relevant CAMHS experience in combination with professional registration with one of the following statutory bodies: the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC), Health Professional's Council (HPC), Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP), The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- Relevant professional training will include: •First level nursing qualification/registration RMN or RSCN or HV with related CAMHS experience or any as below: • First level qualification in Occupational therapy, Clinical or Counselling Psychology, Social work, or equivalent with related CAMHS experience. • Qualification as a Systemic Psychotherapist (Family Therapist) with relevant CAMHS experience. • First level qualification in art, play, drama, music therapy or psychotherapy (leading to a registered qualification with one of the above statutory bodies) with related experience in the psychological aspects of caring for children and adolescent with mental health problems/needs
Desirable criteria
- Training in one or more additional areas of practice especially relevant to complex CAMHS. In particular: Research Training in Clinical supervision Further post qualifying training and education in working with children and adolescents with mental health problems.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Knowledge and skills in assessment intervention and management.
- Knowledge of the theoretical evidence base for understanding, formulating and providing interventions for mental health concerns experienced by children and young people.
- Knowledge of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) model of formulation.
- Well-developed skills in effectively communicating complex, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information, including diagnoses and formulations, both orally and in writing, to clients, their families, carers, and professionals.
- Ability to maintain accurate, timely, concise and legible clinical records both electronically and handwritten, which adhere to the CNWL policies.
- Ability to utilise digital clinical systems.
- Skills in providing consultation to both professional and non-professional groups.
- Knowledge of key legislation relevant to CAMHS setting, such as The Children Act 1989, 2004 and The Mental Health Act 1983, Human Rights Act 1998 and Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and practice. Knowledge of the principles underlying confidentiality and information sharing.
- Excellent time management skills
- To have an understanding of the 2014 Children and Families Act in regards to children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)
- To have an understanding of the graduated approach to support SEND, including using of Westminster / Kensington & Chelsea SEND local Offer.
- Good working knowledge of the following: Mental health disorders in children and adolescents
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of CAMHS legislation
- Knowledge and experience of research methodology
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Assessed supervised clinical experience working with children and adolescents with mental health problems s/needs or clear evidence of transferable skills.
- Working in collaboration with supervisor, service user, carers and MDT in assessing needs, planning and implementing care
- Taking responsibility for care delivery in a specific area and maintaining a safe therapeutic environment
- A good understanding and some experience of the following: Group, individual and family work, multidisciplinary work, clinical governance and audit and the process of clinical supervision in CAMHS
Desirable criteria
- Experience of teaching, training and / or supervision.
- Relevant research and its application to assessment, treatment and case management of CAMH disorders.
- Research informed and evidence based methods of assessment, treatment and case management.
- Proven ability to work within a changing environment
- Working with families in a multicultural environment
- Working with Looked After Children and foster carers
- Experience in carrying out specialist child and adolescent mental health assessments and treatments
Other
Essential criteria
- Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours. Ability to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behavior. In particular: • Understands and able to implement and promote the Equal Opportunities Policy at a level appropriate to the post. • Understands and can apply confidentiality and information sharing policy and procedures. Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings. Sickness (or attendance) record that is acceptable to the Trust. Declared medically fit by the Occupational Health department to perform the duties of the post.
Desirable criteria
- Willingness and ability to learn new skills and adapt to change.
Personal
Essential criteria
- Ability to manage and work with organisational stress, as well as the capacity to 'hold' the stress of others.
- Ability to be ‘reflective’ in therapeutic practice and adapt practice from this reflection.
- Skilled in building constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, supported by strong communication skills.
- Committed to treating service users with respect and dignity at all times.
- Capable of prioritising own workload and meeting performance requirements for the role.
- Willingness and ability to learn new skills and adapt to change, taking on new concepts and forward thinking.
Desirable criteria
- n/a
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- Jennifer Wauchope
- Job title
- Business Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02033157999
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