What staff say

Sam Wild, Lead Clinical Specialist, says:

Background

As a statutory Social Worker some years ago, the demands of my job meant that I had become increasingly distant from direct work with children and their families, and I longed for opportunities to practice more therapeutically.

At the time, I was unaware that my profession was sought after by CAMHS. When this was brought to my attention, new possibilities opened up for me in my career.

Joining CAMHS provided me with opportunities to integrate my knowledge and skills within the mental health context, allowing me to grow in the direction of my therapeutic interests.

I was fortunate to spend my initial years in an outreach setting, which afforded me protected time and space to prioritise a truly relationship-based practice with young people and their parents / carers.

Continuing to grow alongside colleagues in Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has helped me identify further areas of curiosity and develop my expertise.

Training

I have since managed to take advantage of invaluable training opportunities and Health Education England (HEE) funding within the Trust to train in Family Therapy.

I feel privileged to have found a means of synthesising my professional training, skills and experience.

Career Progression

I am now employed in a specialist role at the interface between CAMHS and Social Care, where I find myself working with children and their families in exactly the way I set out to.

I feel there is a culture of progression within the service, and the investment the Trust has made in me has helped me invest in my own development.

I am fortunate to say I feel incredibly passionate about the work I do and the role I am commissioned to provide.