CAMHS Clinical Specialist | South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic Senior CAMHS Clinical Specialist (1.0WTE) to join the Intensive Outreach Team (IOT) in a developing clinical role. It is an exciting time to join the IOT, which is a pilot project proposed by the South London Partnership (SLP). The team is relatively newly formed, but well-structured with a clear remit of work. It provides intensive outreach treatment for patients at risk of, or currently admitted to hospital, whether this be to a local acute hospital, or to the onsite in-patient specialist eating disorder unit (Wisteria Ward).

The service works closely with our colleagues in Wisteria Ward; St George’s Hospital; St Helier’s Hospital; Kingston Hospital; SWLSTG Adult Eating Disorder Services; Adolescent Outreach Team (AOT); and the co-created pilot outreach team ‘START’, of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. IOT supports on-site and home-based care, depending on clinical need, and works directly with children or young people admitted to paediatric wards or Wisteria Ward.

IOT is embedded within the Children and Young People Community Eating Disorders Service (CYP-CEDS), which is part of the CAMHS Directorate of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG). Both IOT and CYP-CEDS are multidisciplinary teams comprising consultant and trainee psychiatrists, clinical nurse specialists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, assistant psychologists, family therapists, a dietitian, and a consultant paediatrician. The service also hosts students from nursing, undergraduate psychology courses, trainee clinical psychologists, and medical trainees, fostering a welcoming culture with a focus on learning and development within the service.

The team operates mainly core hours 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Unless expressly stated in the job advert, this role is not subject to sponsorship; please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.

Suitable applicants will have extensive experience of working with children and adolescents with mental health difficulties and in managing risks. You will provide specialist multi-disciplinary assessment and expert clinical interventions to children and adolescents with eating disorders, and their families. The post holder will undertake a diverse set of therapeutic responsibilities, including, but not limited to:

• Providing high quality, comprehensive CAMHS assessments for children and young people presenting with a mental health crisis that may include or be solely related to a food-restriction crisis, at A&E Departments, and following admission to a paediatric ward.
• Providing follow up appointments with staff and families to review and plan ongoing care for young people admitted to a paediatric ward and help to facilitate earlier discharge.
• Providing outreach appointments in patients’ homes, in the community, and in our on-site clinic, to support parents with developing necessary skills and confidence to stabilise and increase their child’s weight in line with medical guidance. This will involve leading regular, intensive family meal support.
• Developing closer links between CAMHS services and the multidisciplinary teams on paediatric wards and A&Es in local hospitals across the South London Partnership (SLP). As part of this, collaborate with colleagues to develop and deliver appropriate training to colleagues in these teams and hospitals.
• Manage risk within team, Directorate and Trust structures.
• Actively participate in the ongoing development and enhancement of the service.
• Work to relevant professional and ethical guidelines, and within the framework of Directorate and Trust policies and procedures.