CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner | Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in Trafford

We are recruiting to 3 train fixed term 12-month roles involving 2 days per week on the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Therapies with Children and Young People. We are offering three pathway trainings: Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy Pathway (1 place), Systemic Family Practice Pathway (1 place), Learning Disability and Autism Pathway (1 place). The course will involve teaching and supervision in assessment, formulation and intervention (according to the pathway recruited to) on Thursdays and Fridays at the Psychological Therapies Training Centre at Prestwich Hospital. You will additionally have 3 days per week based at one of our district CAMHS bases providing a clinical service to families. Methods of service delivery within the community include individual case-work, contributing to MDT and group interventions, and joining the on-call risk rota (as appropriate). You will be required to work autonomously within professional guidelines and departmental policies and practices and will be required to liaise with professional networks. Following successful completion of the course there will likely be opportunities for progression within the district service or wider MFT CAMHS. Dependent on the banding at which candidates are recruited and the availability of funding beyond the 12-month duration of training there will be opportunities for discussion about future job roles and progression.

Responsibilities

• To formulate and implement plans for psychological therapeutic intervention within a chosen practice framework (CBT, Systemic or Early Years), working in clinic, home, community and educational settings where appropriate.
• To exercise responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients.
• To communicate highly complex condition-related or contentious or sensitive information where there may be significant barriers to acceptance and to manage ensuing difficult interpersonal situations in the interests of the patient’s welfare.
• To assist in developing existing pathways/services with colleagues and partner agencies.
• To help plan, contribute and participate in any team building process that may be seen as necessary to enhance the working efficiency of the service.
• To attend departmental and specialist team meetings.
• To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a clinical psychologist and other professional colleagues, where appropriate.
• To take responsibility for continuing professional development and continue to gain wider post-qualification experience in service-related areas.
• To take part in annual appraisal.
• To utilise evidence-based literature and research to support effective practice.
• To participate in evaluation of all clinical activity within the post and provide such information as required by the Head of Department for the purpose of service monitoring and evaluation.

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation and continuous improvement. Whether you’re beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients. You’ll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives. At MFT, you’ll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions. Your journey at MFT is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’ll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading. We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

• Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
• Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.
• Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: DBS Fees.

DBS Update Service

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices.