Achieving for Children
Families First Mental Health Specialist
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Mental Health Specialist for Families First Service
We are seeking an experienced Mental Health Specialist to join our Families First Service, supporting children and families across Kingston and Richmond. You will provide specialist mental health interventions, consultation, and advice to families and professionals, helping to address parental mental health needs that impact on child wellbeing and safety.
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a multi-disciplinary, strengths-based service focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
About the Role
The Mental Health Specialist role sits within the Families First Service in Achieving for Children, providing specialist mental health expertise to support families where parental mental health is impacting on parenting capacity and child safety. You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary, strengths-based team supporting children and families affected by the Trio of Vulnerabilities, working closely with social workers and partner agencies to deliver coordinated, effective interventions. The role is central to maintaining specialist mental health input within the service and ensuring families receive timely and appropriate support.
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- Provide specialist mental health consultation to social workers and partner agencies.
- Deliver direct work and evidence-based interventions with adults with complex mental health needs.
- Contribute to risk assessment, safeguarding planning, and multi-agency decision making.
- Support families affected by domestic abuse, substance misuse, and mental health difficulties.
- Contribute to group work, training, and service development within the Families First model.
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact the hiring manager Dan Clark via: dan.clark@achievingforchildren.org.uk
About You
You will be a qualified and experienced practitioner with a strong background in mental health and working with adults with complex needs. You will have the ability to assess risk, provide specialist advice, and work collaboratively across multi-agency systems. You will be confident working independently, managing a complex caseload, and contributing to safeguarding and family support planning. A strong commitment to strengths-based practice, partnership working, and improving outcomes for children and families is essential.
- Relevant professional qualification in mental health or related discipline.
- Significant experience working with adults with mental health and complex needs.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment, and care planning.
- Experience of multi-agency working and providing consultation to professionals.
- Excellent communication, organization, and case management skills.
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About Our Benefits
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work-life balance
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- A range of staff benefits and discounts
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
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