Assistant EMHP

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High Cost Area Supplement

Job summary

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Band 3 Assistant Education Mental Health Practitioner (A-EMHP) for the Havering Mental Health Support Team. This fixed-term contract (2 years) offers the opportunity to gain experience in children's mental health services within educational settings.

The role supports delivery of evidence-based early intervention services, promotes emotional wellbeing in schools, and helps implement the Whole School Approach to mental health across Havering.

Job description

Band 3 Assistant Education Mental Health Practitioner (A-EMHP)

Fixed-Term Contract: 2 Years

Are you passionate about supporting children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties? Do you enjoy working collaboratively with educational settings to strengthen emotional wellbeing and mental health support through a Whole School Approach?

If so, we would welcome your application for this exciting opportunity.

An opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Assistant Education Mental Health Practitioner (A-EMHP) to join the Havering Mental Health Support Team (MHST), known locally as the Havering Emotional Support Team (HEST).

This newly established Assistant EMHP role has been designed to provide valuable experience for individuals interested in pursuing a career within children's mental health services. The post offers an excellent opportunity for applicants who may not yet hold the qualifications required for a Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) position, enabling them to gain practical skills, knowledge, and experience within a Mental Health Support Team. This experience may support future applications for Trainee EMHP roles.

We actively encourage applications from people within our local communities and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the population we serve.

About Havering Emotional Support Team (HEST)

HEST was established in January 2022 with two Mental Health Support Teams. Following successful expansion, a third team was introduced in September 2023 and a fourth team was established in 2026. Over the next two years, the service will continue to grow, expanding to a total of six teams across the borough.

We are an innovative, highly motivated, and supportive service, committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people through close partnership working with schools and educational settings. Our multidisciplinary and multicultural workforce brings a wealth of experience, perspectives, and cultural understanding, which enriches both our team and the communities we support.

The service has successfully undertaken several Quality Improvement (QI) projects aimed at enhancing service delivery, improving accessibility, and increasing engagement with underrepresented populations. We are proud that one of our partner schools was recently visited by the Secretary of State for Education, who observed a workshop facilitated by HEST and saw first-hand the impact of our work.

HEST has a strong commitment to service evaluation and continuous improvement. We regularly monitor outcomes and service performance using data collected from a range of platforms to ensure we deliver high-quality, evidence-based interventions. We have also collaborated with Edge Hill University on research initiatives, contributing to the wider evidence base for mental health support within educational settings.

About the Role

Aligned with the Government's ambition to improve access to mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, this role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the delivery of evidence-based early intervention services.

Working as part of the Mental Health Support Team, the Assistant Education Mental Health Practitioner will support the delivery of interventions, promote emotional wellbeing across educational settings, and contribute to the implementation of the Whole School Approach to mental health.

The role will involve working across a range of educational settings within the London Borough of Havering, supporting children, young people, families, and school staff to improve mental health outcomes and build resilience within school communities.

This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual seeking to develop their knowledge and skills within children's mental health services while making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people.

The successful post holder will work within the Havering Mental Health Support Team, delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions as part of the national Mental Health Support Team programme. The role is centred on providing accessible, timely mental health support within schools and educational settings, helping children and young people receive the right support at the earliest opportunity.

You will undertake group programmes and psychoeducation delivered in partnership with families, carers and education staff.

Working closely with schools and other agencies, you will contribute to creating mentally healthy educational environments by offering consultation, advice, training and support to school staff where appropriate. You will promote early identification of mental health needs and support preventative approaches that reduce the likelihood of difficulties escalating.

HEST is proud of its culture of innovation and continuous learning. The team has successfully delivered a number of Quality Improvement (QI) projects, collaborated with academic partners including Edge Hill University, and has been recognised nationally, including a visit from the Secretary of State for Education to observe our work within local schools. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to contribute to future service developments and play an active role in shaping the continued growth of the service.

The role requires flexibility to work across educational settings throughout Havering and a commitment to delivering compassionate, person-centred care that reflects NELFT's values and commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and their families.

NELFT places a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period of six months. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME)

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Working for Us

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.