NHSCT Temporary Mental Health Practitioner Step 3 CAMHS Band 7

Job details

• Branch: Northern HSC Trust Area
• Location: Ferrard Site: Antrim Chd&Adolescent Ctr
• Directorate: Women, Children & Families Division
• Functional Area: Child & Adolescents Mental Health
• Salary: Band 7 (£47,810 - £54,710)
• Contract Type: Temporary
• Opening Date: 02/10/26
• Closes: Fri, 16 October 2026 @ 5:00 PM
• Interview Dates: To Be Confirmed

Notes

Online and Manual applications accepted. If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week. Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

Job Description

Temporary Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioner (May be secondment)

Step 3 CAMHS

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) is responsible for the delivery of safe and effective health and social care (HSC) services to the population of the Northern Trust area in Northern Ireland.

We provide compassionate care with our community in our community. In order to do this we require the commitment of a highly skilled and professional workforce that meets the need of the service.

The diagram below outlines our values and our objectives which support the delivery of compassionate care within our community.

The below diagram details the values and associated behaviours that we expect staff working within Health and Social Care (HSC) to display at all times;

HSC Value

What does this mean?

What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together

We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.

I work with others and value everyone’s contribution

I treat people with respect and dignity

I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams

I actively engage people on issues that affect them

I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible

Compassion

We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.

I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness

I learn from others by listening carefully to them

I look after my own health and well-being so that I can care for and support others

Excellence

We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high-quality, compassionate care and support.

I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference

I take responsibility for my decisions and actions

I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing

I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty

We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships

I ask someone for help when needed

I speak up if I have concerns

I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Temporary Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioner.

Applications are welcome from those seeking a secondment from their current role. Please note that you should have permission to be released from your substantive post from your line manager in advance of applying.

BAND: Band 7

DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: The Children and Young People’s Division

INITIAL LOCATION: Ferrard Site, Antrim Child and adolescent centre

REPORTS TO: Team Leader

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Director of Childrens services

FLEXIBLE WORKING

PROVISIONS AVAILABLE: Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Extended Clinics

JOB SUMMARY

To work as a member of a multi-disciplinary Step 3 CAMHS team providing a comprehensive mental health service to children, young people and their families. The practitioner is responsible for providing specialist skills and knowledge of children and adolescents with mental health difficulties. The practitioner will provide knowledge of evidence based therapeutic interventions and will be able to apply skills and understanding to the child and family’s journey from the point of Choice appointment throughout their intervention.

To work and contribute as a member of a multi-disciplinary team across CAMHS and the wider Directorate. Supporting the Operational Lead/Practitioner and the Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in delivering best practice and a high quality standard of care within CAMHS.

The postholder will be expected to manage risk appropriately and ensure that treatment models are established and adhered to within their practice, making independent clinical decisions in partnership with children, young people and their families.

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Working within the Step 3 CAMHS services.

To demonstrate enhanced levels of practice, competence and skills when working with children/adolescents and families.

To participate as an integral member of a multi-disciplinary team and to be responsible for the management of a caseload.

To work in direct practice with children/adolescents and where appropriate co-working with other practitioners.

To provide support and advice to other team members, students, other professionals as appropriate.

To attend to his/her professional development through training, supervision and learning opportunities.

To work effectively with children/adolescents and families to promote engagement and participation.

To access and participate in research and other developmental activity relevant to improving standards of practice.

To participate in the development of evidence based practice within the team.

To promote and demonstrate a high standard of CAMHS practice.

To be accountable for maintaining high quality records which clearly and comprehensively describe the care delivered to service users and demonstrate the rationale underpinning decision-making.

To participate in professional and management and clinical supervision.

To contribute to the review of Trust policies and procedures which relate to children/adolescents receiving CAMHS.

To ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times.

To adhere to legislation according to the Children Order NI (1995) and the Mental Health Order (1986) and the Human Rights Legislation (2000).

To consider and assess child protection concerns and act in accordance with ACPC Regional Policy & Procedures.

To specialise in therapeutic activities with children/adolescents and their families.

Knowledge of effects of mental health medication used to treat service users

Provide support and advice to others in relation to their practice and professional development e.g. mentoring staff undertaking assessed year in employed.

Access and participate in, as appropriate, research and other developmental activity relevant to improving standards of practice.

Participate in the development of evidence-based practice within the Child Care Programme.

Clinical

To provide specialist assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care, for children and young people referred to the service in a multi-agency context including the provision of advice.

To use evidence-based practices – for example, professional evidence based models of practice, evidence based assessment, treatment, and outcome measures or other recognised evidence based modality supported by post graduate training – in the conceptualisation, treatment and evaluation of complex mental health problems.

The provision and organisation of crisis intervention via individual professional and generic practice and team response.

To actively lead in the Care planning process.

To carry out FACE risk assessment and management plans in line with promoting quality care.

Take a lead in most appropriate professional assessment and treatment intervention for implementation by the team as a part of a multi-disciplinary care plan.

To professionally maintain accurate records and ensure that standards of record keeping are maintained by those supervised by the post holder.

To lead in delivering interventions to a team caseload comprising of children & young people and their families/carers with complex needs.

To demonstrate flexibility in working hours as agreed with the line manager.

Developing and maintaining supportive professional networks across the trust.

To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained.

To liaise with and actively promote excellent working relationships, communication and working practices with referring teams and partner agencies. This would include the provision of expert advice to multi-agency partners.

To, where necessary, provide a single point of contact to professionals for emergency referrals and mobilise resources accordingly, in a flexible manner.

To demonstrate clinical leadership skills as part of the senior staff in service development of the Intensive Treatment Team and care pathway as a comprehensive, intensive, home assessment and treatment service, with particular reference to flexible working and the development of out of hours services.

To participate in the translation of policy to practice and the development of protocols and procedures for the service alongside senior clinicians and managers.

To actively contribute to team and individual staff training and development within the CAMHS care group, and wider trust as directed.

To support and facilitate admission and discharge pathways to the intensive treatment and inpatient service.

Provide and receive appropriate managerial, professional and clinical supervision and actively participate within group supervision to support team development.

To adhere to the relevant professional code of ethics and professional conduct and trust policy and comply with local and national clinical standards of practice.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:-

At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner

At all times demonstrate practice the HSC values of Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty and Compassion

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner which assures patient and client safety

Comply with all instructions in regard to Infection Prevention and Control

Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them

Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations

Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment

Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision

Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Employees which aims to guide staff, managers and employers in the work that they do and the decisions and choices they have to make. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT

All employees of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including (for example) the ICT Security Policy, Data Quality and Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

SALARY

BAND 7 £47,810 - £54,710 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)

RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK

Please note this role may not meet the requirements for a Skilled Worker visa (including a Heath and Care Worker visa) and the Trust therefore would be unable to employ anyone that requires Sponsorship. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration).

HOURS

Part-time hours of duty 26 hours per week, exclusive of meal times

MEDICAL

Appointment will be subject to a successful pre-employment health assessment.

HOLIDAYS

27 days each year; 29 days after 5 years’ service; 33 days after 10 years’ service and 10 statutory and public holiday (pro rata for part-time)

PENSION

The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.

NORTHERN TRUST BENEFITS

You can explore the benefits on offer to you in the Northern Trust by clicking here

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

You will serve a probationary period of normally six months.

WAITING LIST

A waiting list may be compiled for similar temporary, part time posts which may arise within the next 6 months in Antrim.

PAY PROTECTION

Legacy Trust Staff who apply for a promotion after 1 April 2011 should be aware that they will lose their legacy protection arrangements and will be entitled to pay protection in accordance with circular HSS (JNF)(1) 2011. This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.

Completed application forms should be returned to the BSO Recruitment and Selection Shared Services Centre on or before the closing date as stated in the advertisement.

Canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will be an absolute disqualification.

We will review this Job Description and it may include any other duties and responsibilities we determine in consultation with the jobholder. We do not intend it to be rigid and inflexible but rather to provide guidelines within which the jobholder works.

September 2026

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioner

Band of Post: 7

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

Experience

Registered Mental Health Nurse Part 1 Level 1 of the live NMC Register

OR

Professional Social Work Qualification (CQSW/CSS/BSW/DipSW) AND be registered with the NISCC

An undergraduate degree in a relevant area or core mental health profession

(e.g. occupational therapy, physiotherapy, counselling, psychology, psychotherapy) with a postgraduate (university Aligned) qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), (i.e. Postgraduate Diploma, MSC). Accredited member of a relevant, recognised organisation ( e.g. British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BAPCP), British Psychological Society (BPS) CBT accreditation or equivalent by time of appointment

AND

At least 3 years’ experience working directly with children or young people who have experienced emotional health and wellbeing difficulties

At least 3 years’ experience working in a community mental health team or Mental Health inpatient service.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Ability to reflect and appraise own performance.

Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, at both a written and oral level, complex, and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional persons, both within and outside and HPSS.

Willingness to advance professional development.

Provide teaching/mentorship to other professionals/students.

Enhanced level of expertise and competence in therapeutic work with children/young people and families

Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team

Commitment to client centred evidence based practice

Interview / Test

Knowledge

Knowledge/expertise/competence in the assessment and treatment of children and young people with mental health disorders.

Knowledge of clinical governance principles.

Knowledge, skills and ability to work as an autonomous practitioner providing clinical and risk assessments.

Knowledge of legislation, policy, procedures and current issues in family and child care.

Value Based Recruitment

Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust.

It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.

In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.

Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges

Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate. Where it is necessary to obtain an Access NI disclosure the Trust operates in line with the Access NI Code of Practice (www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-code-practice).

If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders or the policy on the Secure Handling, Use, Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE NHSCT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

have the right to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.