🌟 Join Barnardo's as a Children's Services Manager – Operational Lead (MHST, Solar) 🌟

Location: Solihull Borough

*Please ensure you read the additional information sheet as this includes the essential and desirable criteria for this post. The CSM JD is a generic JD used throughout the organisation and therefore doesn't include all criteria*

Are you a passionate, experienced clinical leader ready to shape the future of children's mental health services? Barnardo's is seeking a dynamic Children's Services Manager (CSM) to lead our Mental Health Support Team (MHST) within the Solar CAMHS partnership service in Solihull.

This is one of two new management opportunities that have arisen at Solar. This is a unique opportunity to combine clinical expertise, strategic leadership, and operational management in a fast-paced, innovative environment that puts children, young people, and families at the heart of everything we do.

If you're driven, culturally aware, and ready to take on a rewarding challenge, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Join Us?

Be part of a progressive, integrated CAMHS service with rich learning opportunities. Lead a creative, evolving team with scope to shape service delivery. Work in a supportive, values-driven organisation that prioritises staff wellbeing and development. Enjoy a blended working model with flexibility across clinics, schools, and remote settings.

As the Operational Lead, you will:

Lead and manage the MHST service to deliver safe, effective, and accessible mental health support across 79 schools. Link into the Solar PMHT and champion interoperability throughout the service. Influence local strategy, engage with commissioners, and represent Barnardo's in strategic forums. Champion co-production and ensure the voice of children and young people shapes service delivery. Work within a blended NHS-Barnardo's partnership, using NHS systems and collaborating closely with multi-disciplinary teams. Hold a small clinical caseload and provide supervision and guidance to staff. Drive continuous improvement through data analysis, quality assurance, and service development.

Solar is a partnership project between Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) and Barnardo's. We work together to provide emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people in Solihull who are aged between 0-19, based on the principle of children and young people only needing to tell their story once.  Solar utilise one clinical record and a single user led care plan, ensuring children and young people shape the service that they receive.

Rated “good” by the CQC in January 2018, the service was peer reviewed by West Midlands Quality Review Service who said they “were impressed with the level of integration across the services - the feedback from service users and their families and carers was that the pathway was seamless between the various services.”

This is an exciting opportunity to be based within a dynamic NHS service but employed and supported by a charity with a long history of working with and for children and young people (over 150 years!). Solar is a multi-disciplinary service which provides a rich learning environment for all staff. Our work is holistic, and evidence based, and we actively encourage the participation of children and young people in their assessment, care plan and treatment.

What are the essentials that we need from you?

We're seeking a qualified and registered clinician (e.g. CBT Therapist, Counsellor, Social Worker) with:

A supervision qualification (essential) and management training (desirable). At least 3 years' experience in leading/managing within a mental health setting. Strong knowledge of CYP IAPT, safeguarding, and therapeutic interventions. Proven ability to manage teams, services, and projects with strategic insight. A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and reducing health inequalities. Experience working in education settings and with multi-agency partners.

(Please see all additional sheets for further breakdown)

What can Barnardos offer you?

26 days holiday plus bank holidays and the option to purchase 5 days Free DBS check (if required) 4% or 6% matched pension contribution Staff discounts at a variety of places (retail, cinema, theme parks, holidays, hotels) Access to ‘Bluelight' discount card Paid carers and bereavement leave Access to extensive professional training and support via the Barnardo's University Access to paid training in house A work environment which supports and celebrates their staff via events such as excellence awards A work environment dedicated to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Please see all attachments within the job advert for further information about the service, the post and the person specification. Please ensure you read and utilise the ‘additional information' sheet, as this gives you vital, specific information about the role in detail.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.