Date posted: 28 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: C9155-CMAHP-0726-61
Job locations:Monkwearmouth Health Centre
Dundas Street
SUNDERLAND
SR6 0AB
Wessington Primary School
Lanercost
WASHINGTON
Tyne And Wear
NE38 7PY
Valley Road Community Primary School
Corporation Road
Hendon
SUNDERLAND
Tyne and Wear
SR2 8PL
Job summarySCCYPMHS is delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for an exceptional Early Years Specialist to join our team as a Primary Mental Health Specialist (Early Years). The successful candidate will deliver high-quality, evidence-based interventions and support the development of skills, knowledge and confidence among universal children Practitioners.
The service offers Video Interaction Guidance alongside a range of evidence-based interventions to strengthen parent-child relationships, build resilience and promote positive emotional wellbeing.
Working within a skilled multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to the development and delivery of interventions that identify mental health difficulties at the earliest opportunity and facilitate timely access to support.
The post holder will work across health, education, social care and voluntary sector services to promote resilience, positive mental health and improved outcomes for children and families.
The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge of infant, child and adolescent mental health, significant experience of working with children, young people and families within the early years, strong leadership skills, and experience of delivering evidence-based interventions and supporting workforce development.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking service committed to early intervention, innovation and improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children, young people and families.
Main duties of the jobThe successful candidate will have a strong understanding of child and adolescent mental health and experience of supporting the mental health needs of children, young people and families. They will hold a professional qualification in Health Visiting, Nursing, Teaching, Social Work or an Allied Health Profession, together with a postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health or a recognised CYP-IAPT course.
They will demonstrate specialist knowledge of child development, developmental delay and developmental disorders, and be skilled in undertaking comprehensive mental health assessments and delivering evidence-based interventions. The ability to provide individual, family and group-based therapeutic support, alongside consultation and advice to a range of professionals, is essential.
The post holder will be able to work autonomously whilst building effective relationships across health, education, social care and voluntary sector services, contributing to outcomes for children and families at the interface between universal and specialist services.
About usPlease add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.
If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.Job responsibilitiesPLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.To work as a member of the Community Children and young peoples mental health service (CYMHS), providing focused assessment and evidence based interventions using evidence based interventions for children, Young People and families with moderately severe mental health needs
To build relationships with key stakeholders with the aim of embedding infant mental health interventions, and promoting early intervention and preventative emotional wellbeing, and developing positive mental health across the systems.
To provide consultation advice and signposting. To deliver high quality evidence based training to partners across the city of Sunderland in line with our training offer.
To provide support to students and junior staff developing their clinical skills, competence and practice, including supporting trainee with relevant clinical experiences.
The role of the Early Years Specialist includes working in partnership with existing services, including:
- Universal Services including Education, Voluntary, Public and Health sectors.
- Targeted Services such as, Sexual Health, Early Help, Adult Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Prevention.
- Specialist Services: instance Children and Young Peoples Service.
Providing individual and group work using therapeutic tools and models
Contributing to development of clear referral pathways that support the emotional health and wellbeing of infants, children and their families
Developing an evidence based approach to prevent children from developing mental health issues.
Developing testing and reviewing innovative education and training concepts, models and practices to support the Emotional Health and Wellbeing of, infants, children, parents, carers and the wider community.
Providing education and raising awareness of emotional and mental health issues to key stakeholders and promoting systemic practice in systems.
Involving children and their families in reviewing current service provision and delivery
Identifying children who are at risk of developing mental health issues and in doing so ascertaining the needs of children and young people.
Identify how coping strategies for, young people and their families, who are considered to be at risk.
Person SpecificationSkills / Attributes / KnowledgeEssential- Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
- Specialist knowledge of early years mental health, normal development, developmental delay and developmental disorders.
- Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work.
- Proven ability to design and deliver training to a broad range of professionals.
- Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals and work co-operatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.
- Ability to engage vulnerable and hard to reach groups.
- Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
- Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist childrens service provision.
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Excellent time and caseload management.
QualificationsEssential- Appropriate professional qualification/registration e.g. HV,RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed, PGCE or equivalent.
- Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
Desirable- Higher level qualification in infant mental health/child observational studies.
- Teaching qualification.
- Video Interactive Guidance.
- Higher degree in relevant area.
- Leadership qualification.
Physical RequirementsEssential- Good IT skills.
- Car Driver with UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
DesirableExperienceEssential- Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
- Experience of working within a community context.
- Proven record in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training with own specialism.
- Experience of leading in the development of specific aspects of service delivery.
- Extensive experience of working collaborately within a multi-agency context.
- Experience of working within an early years context.
Desirable- Experience of working in a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
- Experience in supervising professional colleagues from non-specialist backgrounds.
- Experience of working in the area of research or audit.
- Experience of working within an adult mental health/peri-natal service.
- Experience of management within a CAMHS context.
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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).
Employer detailsEmployer name: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Monkwearmouth Health Centre, Dundas Street, SUNDERLAND, SR6 0AB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:Clinical LeadLesley Gammell
lesley.gammell@nhs.net
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