5 February 2025
Meet Maxine
Children’s wellbeing practitioner (CWP), Maxine, has worked for our Trust for two years. She works in our North Durham CAMHS team and describes her job as interesting, exciting and rewarding. We asked her a few questions to find out more.
Why did you choose this job as a career?
I love working with children and young people. I feel passionate about helping them to work through their difficulties enabling them to be the best version of themselves.
Tell us briefly about your training and experience that helped you to get the job you’re doing now.
I worked as an assistant head teacher for many years before deciding to retrain in children’s mental health. I did a children’s wellbeing practitioners course at Northumbria University with the Trust which allowed me to complete a post-graduate diploma whilst gaining work experience in a paid role.
What’s a typical day at work like?
In a typical day at work, I work with children, young people and/or their families to offer low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). We complete some learning and activities in the sessions and set tasks or experiments for them to work on in between sessions. I also complete assessments to help determine whether the low intensity CBT is the right intervention to meet the needs of young people or their families. I also receive and offer supervision sessions, attend consultations, and case discussions with other professionals.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The thing I enjoy most about my job is helping children and young people to face their fears and grow in confidence and independence and seeing them flourish and feel proud of themselves. I love delivering group sessions too.
What do you like least about your job?
There is nothing I don’t like about my job, but I enjoy the parts that I do on my own, like admin tasks, the least enjoyable. I love being with people the most.
What has been your proudest moment in your job so far?
The young people I work with make me feel proud every day. Especially when they challenge themselves to give things a go as I know that can be really difficult at times.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to work in your profession?
If you feel this is your passion, absolutely go for it. Look out for trainee children’s wellbeing practitioner opportunities and apply. You can work as you train giving valuable opportunity to put theory into practice and earn as you train.
Meet Laura
Our nursing associate, Laura, works in the Hartlepool CAMHS Getting More Help team. She’s been working at our Trust since 2017 and has progressed her career with us through a nursing associate apprenticeship.
Why did you choose this job as a career?
I began my journey at the Trust as a healthcare assistant on an inpatient ward. When I moved to Hartlepool Community CAMHS, I decided I wanted to progress my career and with the support from the team, I applied for the nursing associate apprenticeship. I wanted to increase my skills and knowledge whilst having autonomy in a role that would continue to support my colleagues.
Describe your job in three words.
Versatile, rewarding, invaluable.
Tell us briefly about your training and experience that helped you to get the job you’re doing now.
I completed a two-year foundation degree at Teesside University as part of an apprenticeship. My current workplace was my base placement and I spent time shadowing colleagues. I also went on placement to different areas within the Trust that included ward and community based placements. I enjoyed going out on placements and learning about different aspects of care.
What’s a typical day at work like?
I am lucky that my role is varied – I offer emotional regulation work such as the Decider Skills and I co-facilitate DBT (dialectic behaviour therapy) skills group. I support my colleagues with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) screening. I monitor young people who are prescribed ADHD medication by obtaining physical observations and feedback to the consultants. I am also involved in the participation group.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The most enjoyable part is working with the young people in our care and seeing the progress that they have made by attending sessions and using new skills that they have learnt.
What has been your proudest moment in your job so far?
Listening to a young person who I have recently worked with who was referred into CAMHS with low mood and anxiety, tell me that they successfully went to the cinema with a friend. This is such a massive achievement for them. I was able to feedback to them that I was absolutely over the moon with their progress, and I was proud of what they had accomplished.
How does the work you do make a difference?
My role allows me to work independently whilst collaborating with other registered professionals and contribute to the care of our children and young people.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to work in your profession?
Go for it!! It’s a great opportunity to learn new skills and knowledge whilst increasing your confidence.
Meet Steph
Our brand-new whole school approach practitioner, Steph, has been working for our Trust for four year but has only been in her new role for one week! She works for our Wellbeing in Mind School Support Service.
Why did you choose this job as a career?
To help support the mental health of children and young people.
Describe your job in three words.
Every day different!
Tell us briefly about your training and experience that helped you to get the job you’re doing now.
My experience is working within the educational and health care sector.
What’s a typical day at work like?
Every day is different – from supporting class lessons, small group activities, to stalls and preparation work.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Supporting children to find ways to help cope with stress.
What do you like least about your job?
Not been able to be in every school every day.
What has been your proudest moment in your job so far?
Overcoming my own personal stress of starting a new job role.
How does the work you do make a difference?
It helps to educate children and young people about mental health.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to work in your profession?
Check our website for job vacancy and see what requirements and qualifications are required for the many different roles.
Visit our CAMHS homepage
