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 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.
- 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.
The post holder must meet the following Key Requirements:
- At least three years' experience of managing children's mental health services
- Management of health contracts commissioned via ICB / PCN or other health bodies.
- Experience of designing and implementing waiting list management and reduction strategies.
- Experience of working in a fast-paced environment linking in with community partners, e.g. CAMHS and Children's Social Care
- Experience of taking a clinical governance lead role within mental health services.
- Knowledge of the key issues in relation to children's mental health.
- Experience of using Data Management Systems and the utilisation of associated reporting tools.
Additional desirable requirements include:
- Knowledge of the Barnardo's CSSO Service Delivery Framework and experience of implementing the Framework in services.
- Diploma level qualification in counselling, child and adolescent psychotherapy, art, play, CBT, drama, or music therapy which has included a practicum / placement of at least 100 hours of supervised practice
- Registration with a relevant professional body e.g. BACP, PTUK, HCPC, UKCP
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.
