Education Mental Health Practitioner/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner

NELFT NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Basildon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS mental health organization is seeking qualified EMHPs or CWPs to deliver mental health support to children and young people in educational settings. The role involves conducting individual and group sessions while collaborating with schools to enhance students' well-being. Candidates should have clinical experience, compassion, and be prepared to travel within the Basildon area. Flexible working options are offered to ensure a work-life balance.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Ongoing CPD opportunities

Supportive workplace culture

Qualifications

• Confident in working independently within your scope of practice.
• Experienced in supporting children and young people in educational environments.
• Ability to conduct comprehensive assessments including risk assessments.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with schools to provide mental health support.
• Conduct one-on-one and group therapeutic sessions.
• Collaborate with colleagues in mental health teams.

Skills

Compassionate approach to mental health support

Clinical skills

Collaboration with educational institutions

Education

Qualified EMHP or CWP

Job description

Overview

As a practitioner, you'll work in close partnership with schools, helping children and young people (CYP) aged 4-18 manage mild to moderate mental health difficulties. You'll also support their families in building confidence and resilience through:

• 1:1 therapeutic sessions
• Group interventions
• Whole-school mental health initiatives
• Delivering evidence-based interventions in primary, secondary, and higher education settings
• Conducting comprehensive assessments, including risk assessments, care plans, and reviews
• Using Routine Outcome Measures (ROMs) and clinical tools to guide and improve practice
• Collaborating with schools to map and plan service delivery tailored to their needs
• Working alongside EMHPs/CWPs and Senior Mental Health Practitioners to support your development

We are a registered sponsor organisation, but we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Responsibilities & Requirements

You’ll be a qualified EMHP or CWP, confident in working independently within your scope of practice, and experienced in supporting CYP in educational environments. You’ll bring compassion, clinical skill, and a collaborative spirit to everything you do.

Additional requirements: travel across Basildon, Thurrock, and Brentwood and Billericay (vehicle access required). This post requires the successful applicant to work agilely between NELFT sites and educational settings. Some travel around the county is also expected. The nominated base for South West Essex is Phoenix House Basildon.

About NELFT & MHSTs

At NELFT, we’re proud to be the largest provider of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in England. Our services across Southend, Essex, and Thurrock currently support over 150 schools, delivering vital mental health care to children and young people aged 4 to 18.

Our MHSTs offer evidence-based individual and group interventions within educational settings, helping children manage mild to moderate mental health challenges. We’re deeply committed to whole-school approaches that foster lasting, positive mental health outcomes across entire communities.

Why join us

• Early intervention & prevention at the heart of everything we do
• Friendly, inclusive culture where your voice matters
• Flexible working options to support your work-life balance
• Ongoing CPD opportunities to help you grow and thrive
• A supportive environment where we lift each other up and work together to improve mental health in our community

How to apply

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact and be part of a team that truly cares, we’d love to welcome you.

Probationary Period: This post will be subject to a probationary period.

High Cost Area Supplement - Fringe: This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £1,303 and a maximum payment of £2,198 per annum, pro rata for part time).