Principal CAMHS Social WorkerNHS

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 8b Principal CAMH Social Worker to join the West London CAMHS Tri-borough Alliance Service for 1 year (Fixed Term).

Alliance is a multidisciplinary Specialist Child & Adolescent Mental Health Crisis Service and Home Treatment Team which is currently based in Lakeside Mental Health Unit, Twickenham Road, Isleworth, TW7 6AF. The team works flexibly across the boroughs of Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham, working across multiple sites and locations.

This Principal Social Worker will play an integral part in supporting the management function of the Alliance Team, including; staff supervision, clinical leadership and pathway development. The Principal Social Worker will also retain a clinical role, undertaking CAMHS assessment and therapeutic interventions for children and young people with complex mental health needs. Extensive post qualifying experience working within multidisciplinary CAMHS settings at Band 8a is essential for this post and experience of working in a Crisis/HTT is desirable.

We are looking to appoint a Principal CAMH Social Worker who will promote evidence-based social work practice and the social inclusion of children and young people with mental health problems.

Main duties of the job

The Principal Social Worker will provide a visible and accessible leadership presence within the Alliance team through promoting a culture of learning and sharing good practice, acting as a clinically credible role model providing insightful, inspirational and compassionate leadership. They will also be an active member of the Cross-borough leadership team and provide professional leadership for social workers, and clinical and line management supervision to clinicians in the Alliance team.

The Principal Social Worker will contribute to the clinical work of the Alliance Team, undertaking highly specialised assessments, therapeutic work, collaborative safety planning and complex network liaison for children and young people referred to the Alliance Service. Extensive post qualifying experience working within multidisciplinary CAMHS settings which includes experience working at Band 8a, advanced clinical skills and evidence of credible continuing professional development in child and adolescent mental health practice are essential criteria for this post.

As Principal Social Worker you will also help to embed a culture of evidence-based practice and partnership working within the Social Work structure and West London CAMHS. You will conduct and lead complex audit, quality improvement and research projects that examine professional practice, and improve client outcomes, whilst supporting the team to develop excellent social work student placements.

Job description

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.