Senior Practitioner/Nurse Specialist

Learning Disability clinician within the Learning Disability Service.


An exciting opportunity has arisen for a graduate qualified health professional to join our dynamic Learning Disability service


Driven by the principles underpinning the national CYP-IAPT programme (Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) the service provides the latest in evidence based NICE compliant psychological interventions to children, young people and their families experiencing emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties. You will be a highly motivated and innovative individual with clinical experience working with children and young people with emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties.


Come and work for NELFT, an organisation that values the best care by the best people.


Are you enthusiastic, motivated and an experienced CAMHS Practitioner , who has an interest and knowledge of working with Children and Adolescents who present with mental health and significant behavioural difficulties.


As a key part of our Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service, the post holder will undertake CAMHS assessments of children and young people up to age 18 to inform formulation, diagnosis and recommendations for treatment within a spectrum of mental health presentations. You will have a caseload, offering evidence based interventions to children and adolescents with complex mental heath needs and their families .


You will have the ability to deliver a range of evidence based clinical interventions for children and young people and will be supported to train in other treatment modalities . You must demonstrate an interest in multi-agency and multi-disciplinary work and be familiar with evidence-based practice in children's mental health. You must be able to work independently and have good clinical / therapeutic and case management skills to engage this group of young people.


NELFT have 7 locality teams based across Kent incorporating a range of town and rural communities, each with their own demographic needs.
Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).


All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex


COVID-19 Vaccination


We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.
Routinely measure clinical outcomes and deliver evidence-based clinical interventions in line with the CY-IAPT programme within EWMHS


- Promote the mental and emotional health of children, young people and families in the community through clinical interventions in the care pathway


- Undertake initial school based and community based assessments and deliver a range of early interventions to children and young people with a range of emotional and psychological difficulties where appropriate


- Assess and develop plans of care to meet the complex needs of patients with a variety of conditions.


About NELFTs Children & Young Peoples Mental Health Services (CYPMHS)


NELFTs CYPMHS is for anybody aged between 0-18, living in Kent and is free at the point of entry. The service is also for young people with special educational needs (SEN) up to the age of 25. The CAMHS Tier II and Tier III services no longer exist, replaced with an integrated CYPMHS.


Structure of Children & Young Peoples Mental Health Services (CYPMHS)


There is one Childrens Single Point of Access (SPA), a Neurodevelopmental & Learning Disabilities Service, six Locality Teams and a Crisis Team. Substance misuse with co-existing mental health needs (dual diagnosis)
Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) - with co-occurring mental health needs
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - with co-occurring mental health needs
All referrals to the service are assessed using a care pathways approach, developed in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance criteria (NICE) and based on a best practice model of treatment.


Locality Team in Children & Young Peoples Mental Health Services (CYPMHS)


The aim of our new CYPMHS is to respond earlier to children and young peoples needs in order to help prevent, reduce or delay the need for more specialist interventions. This transformation of children and young peoples mental health services has a clinical focus, integrated with local authorities to deliver a long term collaborative approach to planning and delivering services.


CYPMHS focuses on emotional wellbeing as well as mental health and includes access to self-help tools and services based in schools and the community. The CAMHS Tier II and Tier III service no longer exist, replaced with an integrated CYPMHS. Training and support is available to other professionals and agencies. Key new features include a Childrens Single Point of Access (SPA) into the service, clear early signposting, and use of digital channels such as Big White Wall to access support and services.


Each locality team have care pathways. Each care pathway is clinically led, with care pathway leads operationally managing all CYPMHS practitioners working in that care pathway. With the support of the team manager, care pathway leads are responsible for assessment, treatment and systematic outcome measurement in that care pathway. CYPMHS multi-disciplinary pathway workers and mental health workers may work across more than one care pathway in a locality team.


Care pathways include Mood and anxiety Early Help Complex Behavioural and conduct, Neurodevelopmental & Learning Disability.
Successful completion of a graduate training (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy)
HCPC, NMC)
Experience in a relevant NHS setting or similar with Young people with mental health presentations.
Must be able to travel across the Kent area

Experience of working with patients with neurodevelopmental and learning disabilities
Multi-Agency working experience
Assessment, formulation risk management and safety planning
Childrens Act, Mental Health Act, mental capacity)

Successful completion of a graduate training (e.g nursing, social work, Occupational therapy) and equivalent substantial CAMHS clinical experience


Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis


Experience of working with difficult, disturbed or challenging children/young people requiring skilled and complex interventions


Work with people with Moderate to Severe Learning Disabilities
NELFT North East London Foundation Trust