Job Description

CAMHS Crisis Specialist Mental Health Practitioner



Brent and Harrow Urgent Care Team full-time 1x Band 7



Job overview



An opportunity has arisen for an experienced and passionate Mental Health Practitioner Band 7 to join our CAMHS Urgent Care team based at Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow. The team is easily accessible by public transport, and there is also a car park available for staff. You will work in a psychiatric liaison capacity closely with children, young people and their families presenting in crisis at Northwick Park acute hospital. We offer flexible working hours to support our staff, and you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in DBT, CBT, and other training opportunities. You will receive clinical supervision from an experienced supervisor, annual leave, and NHS pension scheme membership rewards.



As part of the North West London CAMHS Transformation, CNWL CAMHS is continuing to develop a 24hr crisis care pathway aimed at supporting Children and Young People including those with a learning disability, presenting with an acute mental health crisis. Currently the role is from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and may include weekends and nights.



To find out more about working in CAMHS CLICK HERE for our video.



Main duties of the job



As a member of the UCT Team, you will be expected to assess young people in the Emergency Departments.



The post holder will be involved in completing a comprehensive assessment of young people with mental health needs (including risk assessment, the development of risk management plans), follow-up reviews, and liaise with the wider CAMHS colleagues and other agencies in developing a joint partnership care plan.



You wile be required to make clear autonomous decisions based on an analysis of the complex presenting problems and judgements based on available treatment options. This will include those related to the admission and discharge of children/young people. You will also work closely with both internal and external stakeholders.



About us



There's a place for you at CNWL We're passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient's own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We're always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we're hoping to find our future leaders and we'll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career. With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more - whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.



As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.



Job description



Job responsibilities



Children/Young people may present with emotional distress, self-harm, mental health crisis, or the psychological consequences of acute or chronic physical health problems. You will be expected to have the skills to deal with a very broad range of mental health needs as well as undertaking initial psychiatric assessments and reviews and also liaise with other professionals as deemed appropriate.



Your interpersonal skills will be expected to be excellent and you must be able to confidently communicate at a high level both verbally and in writing. You must be able to demonstrate de-escalation skills with challenging and/or acutely distressed young people.



The CAMHS Crisis Mental health specialist practitioner will promote excellence in mental health nursing practice through the integration of expert clinical practice, education and consultancy, acting as an important resource and being committed to nursing research.



Good Leadership skills are expected as part of the post holders duties which include case load management, offer training to other colleagues, clinical supervision to junior staff and working together with other teams and partner agencies in the community.