Senior CAMHS Practitioner - LBC CAS

Job summary
We are looking for a creative, forward-thinking and motivated Senior CAMHS Practitioner to play a key role in expanding and developing our Community Access Service (CAS) across Luton.

The successful candidate will help lead the delivery of our ambition to achieve 100% Mental Health Support Team (MHST) coverage across Luton schools, with a particular focus on increasing access for children and young people attending special provision and referral units (SEMH). They will help to provide consultation and direct clinical appointments for pupils attending Luton's Pupil Referral Unit and support the promotion, ongoing development and audit of our new CAS direct-access clinics, delivered in community settings across Luton.

Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity to join our friendly and highly skilled multidisciplinary Enhanced Community Access Service (CAS) Pathway. CAS forms a key part of the stepped-care CAMHS model in Luton, providing early intervention and community-based support for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties who may not meet the threshold for specialist clinic-based CAMHS services.

The post-holder will work closely with a wide range of community partners and will be fully integrated within educational settings, Best Start Family Hubs, GP practices and children's services. We have strong partnerships across Luton and are committed to co-production, working closely with our service user participation team to ensure that children, young people and families shape service development.

About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year pro rata
Contract: Secondment
Working pattern: Part-time
Closing date: 25 October 2026

Job responsibilities
As this role involves working across multiple sites in Luton, the post-holder must have access to a car or other reliable means of transport.

For further information or to arrange an informal discussion, please contact:

Dr Vicky Taylor, Clinical Team Lead, Luton CAS, Vicky.taylor9@nhs.net
Amanda Wallace, Integrated Schools' Lead, Luton CAS, Amanda.wallace2@nhs.net

Essential qualifications

• Qualification and registration with relevant UK governing body: CAMHS Family and Systemic Psychotherapy, Clinical/Counselling Psychology, Child Psychotherapy, Clinical Social Work, Community Mental Health Nurse, Other Psychological Therapists
• Knowledge of standard setting and audit implementation

Desirable qualifications

• Supervision Training
• Systems Consultation Training

Essential experience

• At least 2 years of working in CAMHS setting
• Working with a wide range of mental health problems commonly seen in CAMHS
• Experience of working systems consultation work
• Previous Supervision and/or Line management of clinicians
• Working with schools/GPs and or community partners in a mental health capacity
• Well-developed clinical skills and knowledge gained by working in CAMHS setting
• Emergency and crisis assessment skills
• Ability to work effectively across organisational boundaries

Desirable experience

• Understanding of the issues and challenges faced by young people living in urban communities, such as Luton

Essential knowledge and skills

• Well-developed clinical skills and knowledge
• Specialist skills assessing complex aetiology across mental health, neuro-developmental, learning and social factors; ability to produce contextualised formulations and resilience-based recommendations
• Emergency and crisis assessment skills
• Specialist clinical skills within specific therapeutic modalities
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice within specialist CAMHS and wider children's services

This 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.

Applications 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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Apply through our website