Mental Health Practitioner
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is growing and changing. We provide specialist mental health, learning disability and community services across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. We’re looking for people who care about others, take responsibility, treat people with respect and have the confidence to speak up and shape what comes next.
We’re focused on the future, with a clear Trust Strategy and our Best for the Black Country programme driving improvement across our services and communities.
What we do
· Adult and older adult mental health
· Children and young people’s mental health
· Specialist learning disability services
· Community healthcare for children, young people and families in Dudley
Why join now
We’ve got real momentum. Clear priorities and our Best for the Black Country work mean things are moving in the right way, fast.
Our culture is built around being compassionate, accountable, respectful and empowering each other - you’ll see this in how teams support patients and colleagues every day.
You’ll be looked after. Flexible working, family-friendly policies, supportive teams, proper wellbeing support and opportunities to learn and develop.
There’s room to grow. A wide range of services, space to try ideas and a voice that’s heard.
It’s a great place to live. Diverse communities, good transport links, strong schools and green space, with a lower cost of living than many city regions.
What it’s like to work here
You’ll join friendly, skilled teams who look out for each other. We plan together, share pressures and celebrate wins. You’ll be encouraged to take ownership, speak up and learn from experience. New starters get a warm welcome and clear induction; early careers colleagues have preceptorship and buddying; experienced staff can lead, teach and innovate.
Who we are
We’re 4,000+ colleagues from many backgrounds, committed to improving health and wellbeing for our communities and for each other. If you’re interested in the role but don’t meet every requirement, please apply — we value potential, different perspectives and people who want to grow.
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.
Armed Forces Community
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from veterans, reservists, service leavers, military spouses and members of the wider Armed Forces community. We recognise the valuable skills, experience and attributes developed through military service and are committed to supporting the Armed Forces community in their careers.
Job overview
Vacancy for a Band 6 Mental Health CAMHS Practitioner to work in Dudley Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Based at The Elms Health Centre, Slade Road, Halesowen, B63 2UR
We have a vacancy for a Band 6 CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner within the Dudley CAMHS Service and are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to join our team.
Advert
We are seeking a highly motivated and dynamic individual with a keenness and ability to integrate your current skills and apply them in this context. Important qualities are excellent communication skills, working co-operatively and thinking creatively.
The post-holder will be joining a supportive and forward-thinking team who pride themselves on their commitment to the continual development and improvement of patient care. We offer clinical and leadership supervision as well as continued professional development. Additionally, there are opportunities to join peer supervision and other groups. We are able to offer great opportunities for career progression, with many members of the service seeking and successfully securing promotions. The post will have active links with, and support from, both the wider CAMHS Service and professionals within the Trust.
Working for our organisation
Our CAMHS Service is a multi-disciplinary team of Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, psychologists, specialist nurses, systemic child psychotherapists, play therapists, drama therapists, occupational therapists, social workers and support workers. Our team is passionate in their aim to work with children, young people and their families to develop creative solutions and improve their mental health difficulties. The BCHFT CAMHS Service currently operates across 4 geographical areas (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Walsall) with contracts in each area. Each of the teams have a specialist learning disability team dedicated to children and young people with a moderate to severe learning disability and specialist Children and Young People in Care Teams
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner you will be responsible for the care of a caseload of young people with various emotional and mental health needs. You will also undertake regular assessments of young people who are new to the service, and be responsible for making recommendations about their future care.
You will have a ‘can do’ attitude and work collaboratively with colleagues in the team and partner agencies.
You will be able to work creatively to meet the needs of young people and their families.
You will have a sound understanding of the principles of risk assessment and management.
To work with other members of the multi-disciplinary CAMHS Team and with colleagues from other services, providing expertise in the care of children and young people with severe and complex mental health needs and their families.
To provide expert advice, support and supervision on a regular basis to a wide ranging workforce on all aspects of safeguarding children where matters can be highly complex and in difficult, sensitive and emotive situations.
To provide professional expertise in the assessment, planning, implementation and review of your caseload of children and young people in CAMHS.
To provide professional advice and support to other agencies and members of the multi-disciplinary team.
To support he Dudley CAMHS duty rota and Black Country CAMHS Single Point of Access when required.
Applying and timelines
We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications, so please apply soon. We shortlist after the closing date and will contact shortlisted candidates usually within two weeks. If you haven’t heard by then, you haven’t been shortlisted. Please check your email for updates and contact Recruitment for feedback.
As part of our commitment to fairness, openness and accountability, 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.
Pay and contracts
Most NHS roles are paid under NHS Agenda for Change. With us, your starting point is set against the advertised band and your relevant NHS service, with progression through annual increments.
Medical and Very Senior Manager roles follow separate national pay frameworks, not Agenda for Change. Details are provided in each advert and during recruitment.
Standards and checks
· Clinical posts up to and including Band 4 are expected to hold the Care Certificate. If you don’t have it yet, we’ll support you to complete it in post.
· Some roles require a Standard or Enhanced DBS check under part V of the Police Act 1997. Having a criminal record won’t automatically prevent employment - we consider the role and individual circumstances.
· We are an equal opportunities employer, offer flexible working, and are a smoke-free Trust.
Inclusion, equality and adjustments
· We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating an environment where everyone is treated with dignity, feels respected and is able to thrive.
· We are an anti-racist, disability-inclusive and LGBTQ+-inclusive Trust.
· We welcome applications from under-represented groups and people with lived experience relevant to our services.
· Disabled applicants can request consideration under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme where essential criteria are met, and you can ask for reasonable adjustments at any stage.
Our culture and values
Best for the Black Country is our improvement journey. Our values Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful and Empowered guide how we work every day.
That means:
- taking time to understand people and respond with kindness
- being open and taking responsibility for our actions
- listening and valuing different perspectives
- supporting each other to speak up, improve and make a difference
You’ll see this in how teams work together and in the impact you can have on local people.