Education Mental Health Practitioner/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner

TN United Kingdom; Colchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team focused on improving mental health outcomes for children and young people. This role offers the opportunity to provide expert emotional wellbeing support within educational settings. As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will assess and deliver tailored interventions, ensuring that children receive the help they need. With a strong emphasis on professional development, you will be supported in your growth while contributing to transformative mental health initiatives. This role is perfect for passionate individuals eager to make a positive impact in the community.

Qualifications

• Completion of the Education Mental Health Practitioner course is essential.
• Registration with BABCP or BPS required for practice.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based interventions for mental health difficulties.
• Work collaboratively with children and families for effective outcomes.

Skills

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Oral and Written Communication

IT Skills

Risk Assessment

Education

Education Mental Health Practitioner Course

Registration with BABCP or BPS

Tools

Systmone

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

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Client:

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

Location:

Colchester, United Kingdom

Job Category:

-

EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

5b7728ecf3f4

Job Views:

4

Posted:

02.05.2025

Expiry Date:

16.06.2025

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Job Description:

Job overview

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 in Colchester on the 2nd May

Main duties of the job

• 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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The North East Essex Mental Health Support Team (MHST) covers a large geographical area incorporating the districts of Colchester and Tendring. We are an early intervention and prevention evidence-based service and as a team we are supportive and passionate in what we deliver. We are a friendly team of professionals who come from multidisciplinary backgrounds. We recognise the needs for a healthy work life balance, and we will consider flexible working applications in line with the trust policies and process. We encourage Continual Professional Development (CPD) and are keen to support our staff to grow and progress.

Please see person specification and job description for full details.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points based system.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Successful completion of the HEE/NHSE commissioned 1yr Education Mental Health Practitioner’ course/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner course.
• Appropriate registration with either the BABCP or BPS as a low intensity practitioner.
• Applicant can demonstrate they are in process of their application with the BABCP or BPS

Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Good level of IT and IT skills
• Ability to tolerate anxiety without recourse to premature action whilst appreciating the role of the supervisor.

Experience

• Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people, or their families ( CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
• Ability to conduct mental health assessments, risk assessments and communicate appropriately with children, young people and parents
• Ability to work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness within the staff group
• Applicant has 1 year post qualification experience
• Worked within an educational setting

Knowledge

• Knowledge of safeguarding issues
• An awareness of NHS priorities
• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence
• Knowledge of educational environments
• Knowledge of electronic record systems, ie Systmone

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• NELFT Application - Hints and Tips (PDF, KB)
Apply online now

Job overview

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 in Colchester on the 2nd May

Main duties of the job

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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The North East Essex Mental Health Support Team (MHST) covers a large geographical area incorporating the districts of Colchester and Tendring. We are an early intervention and prevention evidence-based service and as a team we are supportive and passionate in what we deliver. We are a friendly team of professionals who come from multidisciplinary backgrounds. We recognise the needs for a healthy work life balance, and we will consider flexible working applications in line with the trust policies and process. We encourage Continual Professional Development (CPD) and are keen to support our staff to grow and progress.

Please see person specification and job description for full details.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points based system.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Successful completion of the HEE/NHSE commissioned 1yr Education Mental Health Practitioner’ course/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner course.

Appropriate registration with either the BABCP or BPS as a low intensity practitioner.

Desirable criteria

Applicant can demonstrate they are in process of their application with the BABCP or BPS

Skills

Essential criteria

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Good level of IT and IT skills

Ability to tolerate anxiety without recourse to premature action whilst appreciating the role of the supervisor.

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people, or their families ( CBT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

Ability to conduct mental health assessments, risk assessments and communicate appropriately with children, young people and parents

Ability to work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness within the staff group

Desirable criteria

Applicant has 1 year post qualification experience

Worked within an educational setting

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Knowledge of safeguarding issues

An awareness of NHS priorities

Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of educational environments

Knowledge of electronic record systems, ie Systmone

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Education Mental Health Practitioner/ Children's Wellbeing Practitioner JD (PDF, KB)

NELFT Application - Hints and Tips (PDF, KB)

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

NameSarah McGuinnessJob titleOperational Manager - North East Essex MHSTEmail addressTelephone number07745107010