Paediatric Liaison Mental Health Practitioner - CAMHS Crisis Care

We have vacancies in the following sectors. Paediatric Liaison Mental Health Practitioner - CAMHS Crisis Care.

Main area: Mental Health Practitioner

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (The working week will follow a shift pattern and include weekends, to cover service needs. Typically staff work 13x12-hour shifts across a four week period.)

Job ref: 349-SHCG-8310891-RL4

Site: Carol Kendrick Centre

Town: Wythenshawe

Salary: £39,959 - £48,117 Per Annum (Pro Rata)

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 03/11/2026 23:59

Job overview: Are you an enthusiastic and motivated registered Healthcare professional, such as a Registered Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist? This is an exciting opportunity to join MFT CAMHS Crisis Care Service to support the development of the Paediatric Liaison Pathway (PLP). The post holder will work alongside a multi-disciplinary team including a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Occupational Therapist, and a range of Mental Health Practitioners. They will be a key part in improving the service for children, young people and their families admitted to paediatric wards across the MFT footprint (Wythenshawe Hospital, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and North Manchester General Hospital) with mental health needs.

This is a developing pathway within the CAMHS Crisis Care Service, which works with children and young people 7 days a week, 365 days of the year, between the hours of 8am-8pm. However, the post holder will primarily be expected to work across Monday–Friday, 9am-5pm to support the delivery and roll-out of the specific, developing pathway (Paediatric Liaison Pathway). There may be times where support across the pathways would be expected, namely the Rapid Response Pathway (72-hour input) and Home Treatment Pathway (up to 6-weeks intensive input).

Main duties of the job: CAMHS Crisis Care Service has continued to develop for a number of years, with the most recent development relating to the Paediatric Liaison Pathway (PLP). The aim of PLP is to reduce demand on core-CAMHS services to support paediatric ward staff with management of CYP admitted to the ward. We aim to ensure that in situations where CYP have been admitted to hospital that we are supporting them to be discharged in the safest, quickest way possible with the right resources in place in the community to prevent readmission.

The post holder will therefore be expected to have experience in offering assessment, support, signposting, and brief therapeutic intervention to children and young people admitted to paediatric wards. They will be able to complete ward assessments, manage discharge coordination, deliver robust and person-centred care and safety planning, and liaise with wider agencies.

Due to the nature of a developing service, the post holder will be required to be flexible at times to support the delivery of the Rapid Response and Home Treatment Pathway. They will additionally support in service development at an exciting time for CAMHS Crisis Care. Therefore, the post holder will be adaptable, determined, and creative in order to support the delivery of the service pathways.

Working for our organisation: 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities: 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.

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. Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

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. 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.

Person specification: Qualifications: Relevant core professional qualification in mental health (Nurse, Social worker or Occupational Therapist). Qualifications in Psychological Therapies e.g. CBT / SFT/ IPT. Mentorship course ENB998 or equivalent.

Registration/Accreditation: NMC, SW England, UKCP, HCPC, BABCP.

Knowledge, Skills and Ability: Up to date knowledge of child mental health and relevant legislation. Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice. The ability to assess, formulate and manage care appropriately, ensuring discharge is timely. The ability to use assessment tools and outcome measures / ROMs effectively and in collaboration with the child, young person, and family. To be able to function as a part of a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise effectively with other agencies i.e., education, GP’s, maintaining positive working relationships. The ability to reflect on and critically appraise own practice. To have the ability to manage own caseload. Ability to manage and organise own time and diary. The ability to follow policy and make proposals for change. The ability to work independently with the support of clinical and management supervision. The ability to maintain clinical records both written and electronic. Experience of delivering training. Demonstrable therapeutic skills. IT competent. Knowledge and understanding of the research process.

Experience: Proven experience of working effectively with people with mental health difficulties. Experience of assessing and managing risk: including safeguarding. Experience of developing and providing evidenced based assessments, formulations, and care plans. Experience of liaison and working with a range of other relevant agencies and professionals. Experience of autonomously managing a caseload within a service. Experience of mentoring and supervision of others. Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures. Community mental health experience.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.