CYP Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview

Are you looking for a rewarding and varied role where you can help children and young people access the right mental health support at the right time?

We are seeking 2 experienced and motivated Band 6 Children and Young People’s Mental Health Practitioners to join the CYP 0–18 Mental Health Hub, Central Cheshire Locality (1 x Crewe, 1 x Winsford).

The Hub provides a central point of access for children, young people, families and professionals. The primary focus of this role is within the Single Point of Access (SPOA) function, reviewing referrals, identifying clinical risk and safeguarding concerns, and supporting timely, informed decisions about the most appropriate care pathway. Practitioners will also contribute to the Hub’s Choice assessment function, undertaking holistic mental health assessments with children, young people and families where required.

To be successful, you will have:

• A recognised professional qualification in nursing, social work or an allied health profession.
• Current registration with the relevant professional body.
• Experience working with children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties.
• Experience undertaking mental health, risk and safeguarding assessments.
• Sound clinical judgement and the ability to make proportionate decisions from complex information.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
• A commitment to child-centred, evidence-based and values-led practice.

Main duties of the job

Do you want to help improve access to mental health services for children, young people and their families?

Working primarily within the Hub's Single Point of Access function, you will review referrals and clinical information to understand presenting needs, identify risk and safeguarding concerns, and determine the safest and most appropriate next step for children and young people:

• Review referrals and identify mental health, clinical risk and safeguarding needs.
• Apply sound clinical judgement to determine priority and the most appropriate pathway.
• Recognise and promptly escalate urgent or emergency concerns.
• Liaise with children, young people, families, referrers and professionals where further information is required.
• Develop clear clinical formulations and recommendations.
• Provide advice, consultation and guidance to professionals and partner agencies.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary discussions and seek senior clinical support when needed.
• Communicate referral outcomes clearly and sensitively.
• Contribute to the Hub's Choice assessment function, undertaking holistic mental health assessments and collaboratively developing plans with children, young people and families as part of a multidisciplinary team process.
• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality electronic records.
• Contribute to service improvement, audit and quality development initiatives.

Interested? Informal enquiries and visits to the team are welcomed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

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.