Job overview
We are seeking a Band 7 NMC registered Nurse, OT, Social Worker, to take up this exciting opportunity to work in the Berkshire West CAMHS Specialist Community Team (SCT). An excellent opportunity has become available for a Band 7 Advanced Mental Health Practitioner to cover Reading and Wokingham and when needed Newbury. This is a 12months fixed terms contact role is full time (1WTE) 9-5pm and is based at Erlegh House, University of Reading with free parking on-site.
CAMHS SCT provides a responsive, formulation led intervention for children and young people experiencing complex mental health difficulties or needing urgent and/or intensive specialist support. The service develops an early, holistic understanding of each young per by coproducing formulations with them, their families and key professionals across education, social care and the voluntary sector. This shared approach clarifies the young person’s difficulties and the systemic factors influencing their presentation and creates the best care plan to meet their needs.
The post holder will join a team of clinicians from various disciplines to provide assessments, care-coordination, and evidence-based psychological interventions to young people and their families. As a senior member of the team, you will be supporting and supervising less experienced and junior members of the team.
Main duties of the job
- Provide comprehensive assessments and therapeutic interventions to young people and their families, as appropriate.
- Provide care co-ordination for young people open to the service where appropriate.
- Independently manage an appropriately sized caseload.
- Use supervision effectively.
- Offer supervision and training to junior colleagues and other agencies as appropriate.
- Work with colleagues to support the clinical leadership of the team.
- Work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and within a multiagency system.
- Work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice.
- Contribute to audit, service development and research, as appropriate.
- Maintain own continuing professional development and contribute to team professional development initiatives.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for this role:
- Qualification in one of the core mental health professions – Nurse, OT, Social Worker.
- Experience in Children’s Mental Health services.
- The ability to manage complexity.
- Training or experience in risk assessment and management.
- The ability to work as part of a team.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification. We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted. For further application tips – see the help with your application document attached once you click apply.
If you’re someone who shares our passion for excellence and care, you belong at Berkshire Healthcare!
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact: Christina Subrai by email on christina.subrai@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.
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.
Person specification
Previous Experience
Essential
- Strong knowledge of, and significant experience in, mental health practice, including working with CYP presenting with a range of emotional, behavioural, and psychological needs.
- Demonstrated experience of managing highly distressing or emotionally charged situations, including serious mental illness, child abuse including physical/sexual/exploitation, and complex family dynamics
- Experiencing of working with complex situations concerning safeguarding and risk management including understanding of safeguarding legislation, guidance, and multiagency working.
- Demonstrated experience of working assertively with CYP to support their engagement in therapeutic activities.
- Significant experience of working with and knowledge of neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., ASD, ADHD) and their impact on mental health.
- Experience of working with, and addressing issues of diversity, including experience of working with diversity, multiculturalism, and equality of access to service.
- Demonstrated experience of working effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to collaborative decision‑making and high‑quality, integrated care.
- Proven ability to work both as an effective team member and independently, using own initiative to make sound clinical decisions without direct supervision.
Desirable
- Experience of autonomously managing a caseload in a community mental health setting.
- Experience of service development and carrying out clinical audit, supporting research and applying the findings.
- Experience or training in delivering group interventions.
- Familiarity with ROMs and outcome monitoring tools.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Able to work flexibly around working patterns as required.
- Able to travel independently between locations in Berkshire Healthcare geographical area to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to manage difficult situations with service users that have complex presentations and/or challenging behaviours and to manage a demanding and complex caseload.
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, technical and/or sensitive information to service users, their carers/families and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills, with the ability to support, influence and engage with clinicians, stakeholders and service users to create change and improvement.
- The ability and skills to act as an advocate for the service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system.
- Ability to confidently cope well under pressure, resolve issues and competing demands, with excellent time management skills and an ability to respond constructively to challenge or resistance, applying practical problem-solving skills in everyday and complex situations.
- Advanced IT skills and the ability to navigate various systems and software packages (such as RiO, Outlook, databases, MS office/Teams, One Consultation and the internet).
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- To have undertaken a qualification in one of the core mental health professions with associated professional registration including: Nursing qualification and registration as RMN, RNLD, RNC by NMC OR Social Worker with Social Work England registration OR Occupational Therapy registered by HCPC
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Demonstrates a commitment to ongoing professional development relevant to Mental Health and CAMHS, evidenced through up‑to‑date CPD activities and certification.
- Provides clear evidence of specific training, experience, and/or interest in the service area, including work with service users presenting with significant or severe mental health difficulties, particularly children and adolescents.
- Training or experience in risk assessment and management, including crisis intervention.
Desirable
- Additional training in evidence‑based psychological approaches (e.g. CBT skills, DBT skills, Systemic approaches, trauma-informed care).
- Relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent level short courses, such as: Practice Assessor qualification OR Training in clinical supervision and appraisals
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Advanced Mental Health Practitioner with Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Erlegh House, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6BZ. It is listed as a Band 7 Mental health professionals role. The advertised salary is £51,657 - £58,785 per annum. The contract type is 12 months (12-month fixed term contract). The application deadline is 18 Aug 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (11 Aug 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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