Education Mental Health Practitioner/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

North East London NHS Foundation Trust; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional NHS mental health service in Basildon seeks qualified EMHP or CWP practitioners to support children aged 4-18 with mental health challenges. Responsibilities include delivering interventions, conducting assessments, and collaborating with schools. The role offers a supportive team environment and a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Ongoing professional development opportunities

High Cost Area Supplement

Qualifications

• Experience in supporting children and young people in educational environments.
• Ability to travel across specified locations with vehicle access.

Responsibilities

• Delivering evidence-based interventions in educational settings.
• Conducting comprehensive assessments, including risk assessments.
• Collaborating with schools to tailor service delivery.

Skills

Compassion

Clinical skill

Collaborative spirit

Education

Qualified EMHP or CWP

Job description

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.

We’re Growing — And We Want You on Our Team

Our South-West Essex Team is looking for two passionate, qualified practitioners to join our service. If you hold a qualification in one of the following, we’d love to hear from you:

• Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)
• Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP)

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

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

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

What You’ll Be Doing

• 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 fellow EMHPs/CWPs and Senior Mental Health Practitioners to support your development

What We’re Looking For

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.

You must be able to travel across Basildon, Thurrock and Brentwood and Billericay (vehicle access required).

What We Offer

• A supportive, multidisciplinary team
• Opportunities for Continual Professional Development (CPD)
• Support to register with BABCP or BPS during your probationary period

Our values 2025‑2030: We are kind. We are respectful. We work together with our communities.

Starting with NELFT, we 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.

Base: This post requires the successful applicant to work agilely between NELFT sites and educational settings therefore a divers licence is required. Some travel around the county is also expected. The nominated base for South West Essex is Phoenix House Basildon.

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).

Ready to Apply? Here’s What You Need to Know: For full details about this role and what it’s like to work at North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), please refer to the attached job description and person specification. We strongly encourage you to use these documents to guide your application.

Important Information Before You Apply: 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. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High‑Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Application Checklist: 1. Have you completed the EMHP or CWP training course? 2. Please confirm the university where you completed your training. 3. Let us know which organisation you are seeking professional accreditation through.

If you have not completed the EMHP/CWP course or cannot provide evidence of this, unfortunately, you will not be shortlisted.

This advert closes on Wednesday 10 Dec 2025.