Exploring Clinical Psychologists' experiences of being leaders in CAMHS

Introduction: The NHS is facing ongoing pressures that impact service provision and workforce wellbeing. Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in particular has struggled to meet the growth in prevalence and complexity of children and young people’s (CYP) mental health needs. Leadership is considered important to protect staff wellbeing and develop organisational resilience during times of challenge. Leadership is becoming an increasing part of Clinical Psychologists’ roles, however, little is understood about what effective leadership looks like in practice. The current study aimed to provide an in-depth exploration of Clinical Psychologists experiences of being leaders in CAMHS. This was in consideration of the challenges leaders faced, how they responded, and the effects that being a leader had on them. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven qualified Clinical Psychologists working within community CAMHS and undertaking leadership responsibilities. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology was used to analyse the transcript data. Results: Four General Experiential Themes (GETs) with subthemes emerged from the analysis. These themes reflected the challenges leaders faced and highlighted the ways participants were able to navigate and cope with these roles. Strategies included building relationships, being supported and finding balance. Additionally, the results showed how participants identify with leadership and how this impacts their engagement with and development in the role. The findings of the study also reflected the rewards and benefits that participants felt they gained from being a leader. Discussion: The results were discussed in line with the relevant literature and psychological theory around leadership and the role of relationships in navigating organisational challenges and developing resilience. Finally, the strengths and limitations of the study were considered, as well as the key clinical implications and recommendations for future research.