Education Mental Health Practitioner/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in mental health is seeking passionate practitioners to join their team. This role focuses on providing expert emotional wellbeing and mental health support to children and young people in educational settings. You will assess and deliver tailored interventions, collaborate with families, and ensure that children with severe needs access appropriate support. With a strong emphasis on professional development and support, this position offers a meaningful opportunity to impact young lives positively. Join a dedicated team committed to transforming mental health outcomes through innovative approaches and comprehensive training.

Benefits

Comprehensive Induction

Mandatory Training

Equipment Allocation

Health and Wellbeing Sessions

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering mental health support to children and young people.
• Ability to work collaboratively with families and other professionals.

Responsibilities

• Assess and deliver evidence-based interventions for mental health difficulties.
• Provide information and support for psychological treatments.
• Communicate complex patient-related information effectively.

Skills

Emotional Wellbeing Support

Mental Health Interventions

Risk Assessment

Communication Skills

Collaborative Working

Education

Relevant Degree in Mental Health or Psychology

Professional Registration

Job description

NELFT is the largest provider of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in England. Our Southend, Essex and Thurrock services cover 144 schools currently. We currently cover 48% of secondary and primary school within Southend, Essex and Thurrock.

The MHST deliver evidence-based individual and group interventions in educational settings for children experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties aged 4 to 18 years old. The teams also have a strong focus on whole school approaches to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people.

The Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)/ Children's Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) role will work with schools and colleges as part of a Mental Health Support Team (MHST) to provide expert emotional wellbeing and mental health support as part of plans to transform children and young people’s mental health through the NHS Long-Term Plan.

The teams will build on the support already in place from school counsellors, nurses, educational psychologists, and the voluntary sector to support those with mild to moderate mental health issues in school and will help children and young people with more severe needs to access the right support and provide a link to CAMHS.

Interviews will take place face-to-face on either the 20th or 21st March 2025.

• Assess and deliver outcome focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties recognising own limitations and seeking advice when necessary.
• Work in partnership with children, young people, and families in the development of plans
• for the intervention and agreed outcomes. This will include continuously evaluating and acting on outcomes and activity.
• Undertakes accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
• Through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes beyond scope, or more severe ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.
• Provide a range of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help. This work may be face-to-face or by telephone.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to CYP in treatment, where appropriate.
• Initiate referrals to other health professional specialist services and agencies.
• Act as an autonomous, registered practitioner who is legally and professionally accountable for their own unsupervised actions. Practitioners will be guided by the professional code of conduct
• Communicate complex patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working.
  
  

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place 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. 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).

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Melanie Kemp Job title: Operational Manager - Mid Essex MHST Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 0300 300 1683