Poole CAMHS are looking for a 12 month fixed-term Family Practitioner .

As a Family Practitioner you will provide practical help, support & guidance to children, young people and their families. You will assist identification of families who would benefit from receiving support & promote the importance & relevance of the parenting care pathway to families whose child display emotionally disrupted behaviours where parenting support would be the key intervention.

The service is entering an exciting period of growth, with new investments and initiatives underway. This role will evolve alongside the development of our service; initially, you may support existing teams while new structures are implemented. All positions are pan-Dorset and will involve having a temporary base during the transitional phase. As our service develops, some roles may involve working flexibly within extended hours to reflect our commitment to being there at the moments that count most. This is more than just a role - it’s a chance to help shape a growing service and be part of something that really matters. We are looking for compassionate, adaptable and positive individuals who are inspired by the idea of making a genuine difference and who want to help shape the future of care in our community.

This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.

To provide practical help and support where there is evidence of extreme emotionally disrupted behaviours which warrant specific evidence-based parenting programmes.

To encourage parents to recognise their skills and strength as a highly effective strategy in supporting their child/children.

Ensure the highest standards of service are provided; to ensure that services to young people and their carers are delivered and developed accordingly to Trust, Social and Healthcare departmental policies.

We currently provide the following CAMHS services across Dorset:

CAMHS Gateway

6 Community CAMHS teams

10 Bed adolescent inpatient unit

Connections service

Peer specialists working within our community and inpatient team

We are proud to be part of the wider CAMH service in Dorset and all it has achieved in recent years, with its progress and developments being demonstrable. Currently our CAMHS community services are rated Good and our CAMHS inpatient unit is rated as Outstanding. We have been fast tracked by NHSE to deliver New Care Models providing a closer to home crisis home treatment service. We are also part of the national trailblazer to deliver Mental Health Support Teams in schools across a number of sites in Dorset. In addition, NHSE have commissioned Dorset Healthcare to build a new state of the art 8 bed PICU.

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.


This advert closes on Wednesday 8 Oct 2025