Senior Mental Health Practitioner CAMHS SPA/EI

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join the CAMHS Single Point of Access (SPA) and Early Intervention Services at the Horizon Centre, Taunton.

This role is ideal for experienced mental health professionals looking to develop their career within CAMHS. You’ll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team working to ensure children and young people across Somerset receive timely, effective mental health support. The post offers a varied caseload, opportunities for direct and group work, and involvement in triage and service development.

Main duties of the job

  • Provide comprehensive, holistic psycho-social assessments and interventions for children and adolescents presenting with mental health difficulties.
  • Support the screening and triage of referrals into CAMHS SPA across Somerset.
  • Deliver therapeutic interventions, including individual and group work, for young people and families.
  • Offer signposting and early intervention for moderate mental health/emotional difficulties.
  • Work collaboratively with partner agencies such as GPs, schools, social care, and voluntary organisations.
  • Maintain accurate patient records in line with Trust policies.
  • Participate in service development, audits, and clinical governance activities.
  • Supervise and support junior staff and students as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following – nursing, social work or occupational therapy.
  • OR
  • A recorded/registered doctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology with current HCPC registration.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development and maintenance of relevant professional qualification

Desirable

  • Professional knowledge acquired through degree/diploma.

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working in CYP mental health services
  • Have worked in a service where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
  • Experience of providing evidence based psychological therapies.
  • Experience of teaching and liaising with other professional groups.
  • Experience in establishing diagnosis / psychological formulation.
  • Extensive experience in carrying out risk assessments and supervising others in undertaking risk assessment and management plans.

Desirable

  • Experience of working in Primary Care Services.
  • Experience of working with diverse communities.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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 (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 19 July 2026

To apply for this job please visit somersetft.tal.net.