Roles in CAMHS
CAMHS practitioner
About the role...
CAMHS practitioner is often an umbrella term used to describe a registered professional working in CAMHS. This might include a social worker, registered therapist, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or another allied health professional. CAMHS practitioners work with children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties to provide specialist support. They will often work with families too. Depending on the specific role, the work of a CAMHS practitioner may involve assessment, therapy, care co-ordination or support with practical aspects of their recovery. CAMHS also employs specialist neurodevelopmental practitioners (sometimes referred to as ‘behavioural practitioners’). They work with young people who display challenging behaviours that are linked to a mental health difficulty or neurodevelopmental condition such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism (ASD).
What qualifications do I need?
CAMHS practitioners are registered in a ‘core profession’ which is nursing, social worker, psychology, therapy, health science type of degree and will have undertaken academic and clinical qualifications as appropriate for that profession.
What experience do I need to bring?
CAMHS practitioners come from a range of healthcare backgrounds. Many will have worked in either children’s services or mental health before, but it can be possible to transfer your skills from another healthcare profession such as acute or primary care.