Senior Mental Health Practitioner- CAMHS MHST in Taunton

We are seeking an enthusiastic and skilled Senior Mental Health Practitioner (SMHP) to join our Mental Health Support Team (MHST) within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. This is a varied and rewarding role, where you will hold a small clinical caseload of children and young people (CYP) with low to moderate mental health concerns, deliver early interventions in line with the CAMHS framework, and provide up to 10 sessions per young person. You will act as a key link between education settings and MHST, offering consultation, advice, signposting, and resources to support a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with schools, GPs, social care, public health, and other partners, you will contribute to improving outcomes for children and young people across your locality.

Main duties:

• Hold a small clinical caseload of CYP with low to moderate mental health needs, delivering short-term, evidence-based interventions.
• Act as a main point of contact between education settings and MHST, offering advice, consultation, and signposting to other services.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with schools, GPs, social care, public health, and voluntary sector partners.
• Support the development and delivery of whole-school approaches to mental health and wellbeing.
• Participate in service evaluation, audit, and clinical governance to ensure high-quality provision.
• Maintain accurate records, reports, and statistical data in line with Trust and professional standards.

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

As a Senior Mental Health Practitioner within MHST, you will provide:

• Clinical Work: Deliver assessment, treatment, and evaluation for a small number of CYP referred to MHST, using a range of low-intensity, evidence-based interventions. Work in partnership with families, carers, and schools to develop and review care plans, ensuring that support is tailored to the needs of each young person.
• Consultation and Advice: Offer expert advice to education staff, helping them to identify mental health concerns early, respond effectively, and access appropriate support pathways. Share up-to-date resources, guidance, and signposting options.
• Partnership Working: Build collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, including schools, GPs, social care, and voluntary sector partners, to ensure joined-up care for CYP.
• Whole-School Approach: Contribute to the development and delivery of initiatives that promote mental health and wellbeing across school communities.
• Service Development and Governance: Contribute to the development of clinical protocols, training packages, and evaluation tools. Participate in audits, service reviews, and governance activities to drive continuous improvement.
• Training and CPD: Maintain professional development through training, supervision, and reflective practice. Deliver training packages to schools and partner agencies on topics related to CYP mental health.
• Safeguarding: Act in line with safeguarding legislation and local procedures, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is always prioritised.

This is an excellent opportunity to combine clinical practice and partnership work to make a lasting difference to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Somerset.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Essential: Qualification in nursing, social work, occupational or family therapy, child psychology, or equivalent field.
• Current core registration with a relevant professional body.
• To have training in and/or substantial experience in the use of behaviour and or brief/solution focused techniques with children and families.
• Evidence of previous and ongoing commitment to continuous professional development.
• Desirable: Qualification in CBT/ Counselling / psychotherapy / behaviour modification / social skills or group therapy.

Experience

• Essential: Significant post-qualifying experience of working with children and young people with mental health difficulties.
• Previous experience in a children's service which preferably includes liaising and advice giving to referrers and clients at the point of entry to a service.
• Desirable: Experience in facilitation or delivery of training. Experience and/or qualifications in one or more of the following areas would be desirable: Cognitive Therapy/Counselling/Psychotherapy; Behaviour Modification; Social Skills or Group Therapy; Family Therapy.

Additional Criteria

• Essential: Evidence of the ability to assist in supervising, and guiding the administrative support dedicated to this post, and to work harmoniously with colleagues, clients and referrers under pressure in a multi-disciplinary team setting.
• Ability to work both assertively and with awareness of one's limitations; excellent telephone, face to face and written communication skills with children and young people, carers and referrers.
• Ability to travel around the county and outside base frequently given the community based nature of this post.
• Ability to frequently work from home to complete administration and video meetings.