Primary Mental Health Specialist

SCCYPMHS

is delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for an exceptional Early Years

Specialist to join our team as a Primary Mental Health Specialist (Early

Years). The successful candidate will deliver high-quality, evidence-based

interventions and support the development of skills, knowledge and confidence

among universal children Practitioners. The service offers Video Interaction Guidance

alongside a range of evidence-based interventions to strengthen parent-child

relationships, build resilience and promote positive emotional wellbeing.

Working

within a skilled multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to the development

and delivery of interventions that identify mental health difficulties at the

earliest opportunity and facilitate timely access to support. The post holder

will work across health, education, social care and voluntary sector services

to promote resilience, positive mental health and improved outcomes for

children and families.

The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge

of infant, child and adolescent mental health, significant experience of

working with children, young people and families within the early years, strong

leadership skills, and experience of delivering evidence-based interventions

and supporting workforce development. This is an excellent opportunity to join

a forward-thinking service committed to early intervention, innovation and

improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children, young people

and families.

Main duties of the job

This Vacancy is only available to current employees of STSFT.

The successful

candidate will have a strong understanding of child and adolescent mental

health and experience of supporting the mental health needs of children, young

people and families. They will hold a professional qualification in Health

Visiting, Nursing, Teaching, Social Work or an Allied Health Profession,

together with a postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental

Health or a recognised CYP-IAPT course. They will demonstrate specialist

knowledge of child development, developmental delay and developmental

disorders, and be skilled in undertaking comprehensive mental health

assessments and delivering evidence-based interventions. The ability to provide

individual, family and group-based therapeutic support, alongside consultation

and advice to a range of professionals, is essential.

The post holder will be

able to work autonomously whilst building effective relationships across

health, education, social care and voluntary sector services, contributing to

outcomes for children and families at the interface between universal and

specialist services.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI,

and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we

may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Details

Date posted

13 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year

pro-rata (22.5 hours per week)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9155-CMAHP-1026-25

Job locations

Monkwearmouth Health Centre

Dundas Street

SUNDERLAND

SR6 0AB

United Kingdom

Wessington Primary School

Lanercost

WASHINGTON

Tyne And Wear

NE38 7PY

United Kingdom

Valley Road Community Primary School

Corporation Road

Hendon

SUNDERLAND

SR2 8PL

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

To

work as a member of the Community Children and young peoples mental health service

(CYMHS), providing focused assessment

and evidence based interventions using evidence based interventions for

children , Young People and families with

moderately severe mental health needs

To

build relationships with key stakeholders with the aim of embedding infant

mental health interventions, and promoting early intervention and preventative

emotional wellbeing, and developing positive mental health across the systems.

To

provide consultation advice and signposting. To deliver high quality evidence

based training to partners across the city of Sunderland in line with our

training offer.

To

provide support to students and junior staff developing their clinical skills,

competence and practice, including supporting trainee with relevant clinical

experiences.

The role of the Early Years Specialist

includes working in partnership with existing services, including:

Universal Services including Education, Voluntary, Public and Health

sectors.

Targeted Services such as, Sexual Health, Early Help, Adult Mental Health

and Drug and Alcohol Prevention.

Specialist Services: instance Children and Young Peoples Service.

Providing individual and group work using therapeutic tools and models

Contributing to development of clear referral pathways that support the

emotional health and wellbeing of infants, children and their families

Developing an evidence based approach to prevent children from developing

mental health issues.

Developing testing and reviewing innovative education and training

concepts, models and practices to support the Emotional Health and Wellbeing

of, infants, children, parents, carers and the wider community.

Providing education and raising awareness of emotional and mental health

issues to key stakeholders and promoting systemic practice in systems.

Involving children and their families in reviewing current service

provision and delivery

Identifying children who are at risk of developing mental health issues

and in doing so ascertaining the needs of children and young people.

Identify how coping strategies for, young people and their families, who are

considered to be at risk.

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

To

work as a member of the Community Children and young peoples mental health service

(CYMHS), providing focused assessment

and evidence based interventions using evidence based interventions for

children , Young People and families with

moderately severe mental health needs

To

build relationships with key stakeholders with the aim of embedding infant

mental health interventions, and promoting early intervention and preventative

emotional wellbeing, and developing positive mental health across the systems.

To

provide consultation advice and signposting. To deliver high quality evidence

based training to partners across the city of Sunderland in line with our

training offer.

To

provide support to students and junior staff developing their clinical skills,

competence and practice, including supporting trainee with relevant clinical

experiences.

The role of the Early Years Specialist

includes working in partnership with existing services, including:

Universal Services including Education, Voluntary, Public and Health

sectors.

Targeted Services such as, Sexual Health, Early Help, Adult Mental Health

and Drug and Alcohol Prevention.

Specialist Services: instance Children and Young Peoples Service.

Providing individual and group work using therapeutic tools and models

Contributing to development of clear referral pathways that support the

emotional health and wellbeing of infants, children and their families

Developing an evidence based approach to prevent children from developing

mental health issues.

Developing testing and reviewing innovative education and training

concepts, models and practices to support the Emotional Health and Wellbeing

of, infants, children, parents, carers and the wider community.

Providing education and raising awareness of emotional and mental health

issues to key stakeholders and promoting systemic practice in systems.

Involving children and their families in reviewing current service

provision and delivery

Identifying children who are at risk of developing mental health issues

and in doing so ascertaining the needs of children and young people.

Identify how coping strategies for, young people and their families, who are

considered to be at risk.

Person Specification

Skills / Attributes / Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
• Specialist knowledge of early years mental health, normal development, developmental delay and developmental disorders
• Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work.
• Proven ability to design and deliver training to a broad range of professionals.
• Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals and work co-operatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.
• Ability to engage vulnerable and hard to reach groups.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
• Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist childrens service provision.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Excellent time and caseload management.

Physical Requirements

Essential

• Good IT skills.
• Car Driver with UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable

• IT qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Experience of working within a community context.
• Proven record in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training with own specialism.
• Experience of leading in the development of specific aspects of service delivery.
• Extensive experience of working collaborately within a multi-agency context.
• Experience of working within an early years context.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
• Experience in supervising professional colleagues from non-specialist backgrounds.
• Experience of working in the area of research or audit
• Experience of working within an adult mental health/peri-natal service
• Experience of management within a CAMHS context

Qualifications

Essential

• Appropriate professional qualification/registration e.g. HV,RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed, PGCE or equivalent.
• Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area

Desirable

• Higher level qualification in infant mental health/child observational studies
• Teaching qualification
• Video Interactive Guidance
• Higher degree in relevant area
• Leadership qualification

Person Specification

Skills / Attributes / Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
• Specialist knowledge of early years mental health, normal development, developmental delay and developmental disorders
• Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work.
• Proven ability to design and deliver training to a broad range of professionals.
• Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals and work co-operatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.
• Ability to engage vulnerable and hard to reach groups.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
• Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist childrens service provision.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Excellent time and caseload management.

Physical Requirements

Essential

• Good IT skills.
• Car Driver with UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable

• IT qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Experience of working within a community context.
• Proven record in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training with own specialism.
• Experience of leading in the development of specific aspects of service delivery.
• Extensive experience of working collaborately within a multi-agency context.
• Experience of working within an early years context.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
• Experience in supervising professional colleagues from non-specialist backgrounds.
• Experience of working in the area of research or audit
• Experience of working within an adult mental health/peri-natal service
• Experience of management within a CAMHS context

Qualifications

Essential

• Appropriate professional qualification/registration e.g. HV,RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed, PGCE or equivalent.
• Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area

Desirable

• Higher level qualification in infant mental health/child observational studies
• Teaching qualification
• Video Interactive Guidance
• Higher degree in relevant area
• Leadership qualification

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Monkwearmouth Health Centre

Dundas Street

SUNDERLAND

SR6 0AB

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Monkwearmouth Health Centre

Dundas Street

SUNDERLAND

SR6 0AB

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

To

work as a member of the Community Children and young peoples mental health service

(CYMHS), providing focused assessment

and evidence based interventions using evidence based interventions for

children , Young People and families with

moderately severe mental health needs

To

build relationships with key stakeholders with the aim of embedding infant

mental health interventions, and promoting early intervention and preventative

emotional wellbeing, and developing positive mental health across the systems.

To

provide consultation advice and signposting. To deliver high quality evidence

based training to partners across the city of Sunderland in line with our

training offer.

To

provide support to students and junior staff developing their clinical skills,

competence and practice, including supporting trainee with relevant clinical

experiences.

The role of the Early Years Specialist

includes working in partnership with existing services, including:

Universal Services including Education, Voluntary, Public and Health

sectors.

Targeted Services such as, Sexual Health, Early Help, Adult Mental Health

and Drug and Alcohol Prevention.

Specialist Services: instance Children and Young Peoples Service.

Providing individual and group work using therapeutic tools and models

Contributing to development of clear referral pathways that support the

emotional health and wellbeing of infants, children and their families

Developing an evidence based approach to prevent children from developing

mental health issues.

Developing testing and reviewing innovative education and training

concepts, models and practices to support the Emotional Health and Wellbeing

of, infants, children, parents, carers and the wider community.

Providing education and raising awareness of emotional and mental health

issues to key stakeholders and promoting systemic practice in systems.

Involving children and their families in reviewing current service

provision and delivery

Identifying children who are at risk of developing mental health issues

and in doing so ascertaining the needs of children and young people.

Identify how coping strategies for, young people and their families, who are

considered to be at risk.

Skills / Attributes / Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
• Specialist knowledge of early years mental health, normal development, developmental delay and developmental disorders
• Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work.
• Proven ability to design and deliver training to a broad range of professionals.
• Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals and work co-operatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.
• Ability to engage vulnerable and hard to reach groups.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
• Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist childrens service provision.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Excellent time and caseload management.

Physical Requirements

Essential

• Good IT skills.
• Car Driver with UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable

• IT qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Experience of working within a community context.
• Proven record in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training with own specialism.
• Experience of leading in the development of specific aspects of service delivery.
• Extensive experience of working collaborately within a multi-agency context.
• Experience of working within an early years context.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
• Experience in supervising professional colleagues from non-specialist backgrounds.
• Experience of working in the area of research or audit
• Experience of working within an adult mental health/peri-natal service
• Experience of management within a CAMHS context

Qualifications

Essential

• Appropriate professional qualification/registration e.g. HV,RGN, RMN, OT, DipSW, B.Ed, PGCE or equivalent.
• Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area

Desirable

• Higher level qualification in infant mental health/child observational studies
• Teaching qualification
• Video Interactive Guidance
• Higher degree in relevant area
• Leadership qualification