Meet Samantha

Samantha is a Team Co-Ordinator and Non-Medical Prescriber in LD CAMHS West Cheshire.
"I initially joined the team in 2019 on a part-time temporary contract covering maternity leave for 9 months. Alongside this, I also worked bank shifts for Tier 4 CAMHS inpatient services. When my contract ended, I moved into a full-time role within Tier 4 for approximately 18 months, which gave me valuable experience in more acute settings, developing skills in mental health and risk management.
In 2021, I successfully applied for a Band 6 position and returned to LD CAMHS, where I have remained and progressed within the team. I am currently undertaking a part-time secondment as the Autism Clinical Specialist and Training Lead for the Trust, meaning I currently work in LD CAMHS two days per week. This secondment has significantly broadened my clinical perspective and leadership skills.
Throughout my time with the service, I have been supported to undertake extensive professional development. This includes completing PBS Level 4, qualifying as a Sleep Practitioner, Safeguarding Supervision, Non-Medical Prescribing, EMDR training, and a PGCert in Neurodevelopmental Conditions. These opportunities have enabled me to develop a diverse and highly specialised skill set, which I bring into my clinical practice every day.
As a Learning Disability Nurse with a strong interest in Children and Family Services, this post really stood out to me. I had previous experience in CAMHS PICU, but I was keen to return to a role where I could fully utilise my skills within Learning Disabilities.
At the time, I was working outside of the NHS in a completely different field. Although there were many roles available, LD CAMHS appealed to me because of its focus on behavioural interventions and supporting children and young people with severe learning disabilities. The opportunity to work closely with families and make a meaningful, long-term impact was a key factor in my decision to apply.
One of the things I love most about my role is the variety; no two days or weeks are ever the same. Every family I work with has their own unique story, and the role allows for a high level of creativity and professional autonomy in how I support them.
I manage my own diary, which gives me flexibility to balance clinical work, documentation, care planning, and training. Some days I am office-based, reviewing cases and updating plans, while other days I am out visiting families at home, in clinics, or in schools. I also regularly work in a hybrid way, combining face-to-face appointments with virtual consultations via Teams or telephone, and maintaining ongoing contact with families through email.
My workload is diverse and includes delivering sleep interventions, Positive Behavioural Support, EMDR, non-medical prescribing, and fulfilling managerial responsibilities. The training I’ve received within the service has been instrumental in enabling me to deliver these specialist interventions confidently and effectively.
I am incredibly proud of the team we have built within LD CAMHS West Cheshire. We have a strong, supportive culture and excellent joint working across LD CAMHS Cheshire. Personally, my greatest achievements are the relationships I build with families. Many of the young people we support remain within the service from early childhood through to age 18, which allows us to provide consistency and continuity of care.
I am particularly proud of the transition cases I have supported; young people who I have worked with over many years and helped successfully transition into adult services with a significant reduction in behaviours. Receiving positive feedback from parents and carers, and seeing the long-term impact of our work, is incredibly rewarding.
Working within CWP LD CAMHS is hugely rewarding. It offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people aged 0–18 with severe learning disabilities, as well as their families.
The role requires creativity, resilience, motivation, and strong organisational skills. You need to be able to deliver truly person-centred care and adapt your approach to meet the needs of each individual and family.
If you are passionate about making a difference, open to continuous learning, and keen to develop a wide range of specialist skills through training and professional development opportunities, then this is an incredibly fulfilling career path."