CAMHS RAFT Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young people?

We are looking for a dedicated CAMHS RAFT Practitioner to join our team, working with children, young people and young adults in a Responsive, Acute, Focussed and Timely (RAFT) way within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

You will play a key role in assessing, treating and providing intensive support to young people and their families during periods of distress and crisis. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a countywide, dynamic, multi disciplinary team offering flexible care across homes and community settings. You will also be part of a rota covering extended hours, seven days a week, ensuring timely and effective support.

The role involves working autonomously and collaboratively across clinical bases, home settings and other environments as needed. You will also provide support to colleagues and clinical supervision to Band 4 Child and Family Support Workers.

• Complete joint and individual assessments for children, young people and families referred to the RAFT service.
• Develop and review care and treatment plans in collaboration with CAMHS professionals and partner agencies.
• Deliver short term evidence based interventions to meet the needs of young people and families.
• Undertake risk assessment and risk management planning for high risk presentations.
• Provide education, support and practical advice to children, young people, families and carers.
• Liaise closely with CAMHS colleagues, inpatient units, hospitals, schools, social care and voluntary services to ensure effective care pathways.
• Act as a point of contact for patients, carers and referrers, discussing referrals and signposting when appropriate.
• Participate in the shift rota, including extended hours, and provide daily coordination for the team when required.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records in line with Trust standards.
• Provide clinical supervision to Band 4 staff and contribute to ongoing team development.
• Support the collection of service data, audit information and evaluation materials to improve service delivery.

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.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Assess children, young people and families referred to the service and agree appropriate actions.
• Formulate treatment plans and support CAMHS professionals to deliver agreed interventions.
• Reassess and adapt treatment plans as needed based on clinical progress.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop risk management plans for young people displaying high risk behaviours.
• Deliver brief, goal focussed interventions using evidence based approaches.
• Work collaboratively with Tier 3 CAMHS, hospitals, inpatient units, eating disorder services and transition teams.

Communication and Multi Agency Work

• Work closely with education settings, social care, local authority teams and voluntary agencies.
• Build strong professional networks to support effective communication and coordinated care.
• Offer advice and support to referrers and non specialist colleagues.

Leadership and Supervision

• Coordinate team activity during shifts to ensure safe and effective service delivery.
• Provide clinical supervision to Band 4 staff.
• Contribute to team meetings, handovers and service development activities.

Administration and Record Keeping

• Maintain accurate electronic records on RIO in accordance with Trust policy.
• Support service evaluation through data collection, audit and review.

Professional Responsibilities

• Work within legal and professional frameworks including the Children Act, Mental Health Act, safeguarding procedures and Trust policies.
• Participate in required training, supervision and continuing professional development.
• Carry out duties as required by the Operational Service Manager.

• Qualification in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, or equivalent field.
• Advanced training in and/or substantial experience in the use of behaviour and or evidence-based interventions with children and families.
• Evidence of previous and ongoing commitment to continuous professional development.
• Qualification in CBT / Counselling / Dialectical Behaviour Therapy / behaviour modification / social skills or group therapy.

• Significant post-qualifying experience of working with children and young people with mental health difficulties.
• Previous experience in a CAMH service which preferably includes liaising with and giving advice to referrers and clients at the point of entry to a service.

• Knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders in children and young people, and their impact on both the client group and their families/carers.
• Knowledge of a wide range of evidence-based treatment/therapeutic interventions.
• Knowledge and experience of risk assessment and risk management planning with high-risk young people.
• Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.