Educational Mental Health Practitioner

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust; Hetton-le-Hole; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust is seeking qualified Educational Mental Health Practitioners to support children’s mental health across schools in South Tyneside and Sunderland. The role includes delivering evidence-based interventions and providing training to educational staff. Ideal candidates must hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Studies, with registration to relevant professional bodies encouraged. This position is a unique opportunity for those passionate about improving children's mental well-being in educational settings.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Access to high-quality training and support

Fitness Centre amenities

Qualifications

• Must be qualified as an Education Mental Health Practitioner.
• Registered with appropriate governing body like BABCP/BPS.
• Must have experience in delivering low-intensity psychological interventions.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based interventions to children and families.
• Work collaboratively with schools to promote mental health.
• Deliver training and support to other education professionals.

Skills

Knowledge of universal and specialist children's mental health service provision

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Proven organisational skills

Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Ability to engage vulnerable populations

Education

Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Studies in the Education Environment

Additional postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Job description

Educational Mental Health Practitioner

Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Closing date: 18 December 2025

We are looking for qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners to work within our Mental Health Support Teams across South Tyneside and Sunderland.We have 8 posts available: 1 for Healthy Minds Team (South Tyneside) and 7 for Healthy Heads Team (Sunderland).

If you have a passion for working to support children's mental health, focusing on early intervention and prevention within an education setting and working within the National MHST model, this might be the opportunity for you.

We are looking for qualified EMHPs. The post holder must hold the PostGraduate Diploma in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Studies in the Education Environment. We welcome applications from those who will qualify in the 2025 cohort. The post holder must be registered with the BABCP/BPS or who will achieve this within the first six months of employment.

The post holder will be expected to work to fulfil all 3 functions of the Mental Health Support Team and work positively within their identified schools to build and create a positive mental health culture throughout the education setting.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to fulfil all 3 functions of the Mental Health Support Team as per the national MHST Model. The main aims of the Healthy Minds and Healthy Heads Team is to:

• Support children and young people within an education setting by delivering Low‑Intensity CBT (LICBT) evidence‑based interventions in particular around anxiety and low mood.
• Work collaboratively with schools to deliver a Whole School Approach to mental health, to build a positive mental health culture, to build awareness and emotional resilience through workshops, assemblies, and whole school activities.
• Support school professionals with the provision of regular consultation and timely advice around children and young people's mental health.

The post holder will be expected to deliver a high‑quality general and targeted training offer to both parents and professionals, as well as delivering groups to children, young people and parents.

The post holder will have successfully completed the PostGraduate Diploma in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Studies in the Education Environment.

The Healthy Minds Team and Healthy Heads Team are located in schools across South Tyneside and Sunderland, and any intervention or service will be delivered from schools, NHS sites and other community bases.

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Lisa Mundell (Clinical Lead) on 0191 2832936 or [e-mail]

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust – There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award‑winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture and working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and particularly those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforce's health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high‑quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

To work as a member of the Mental Health Support Team in South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust providing an Education based mental health service to children and young people.

This includes the direct provision of evidence‑based interventions and outcome‑focused standards of care to children and families/carers.

The delivery of high‑quality training, consultation, and support to other Education staff.

To deliver a Whole School Approach to developing a positive culture of mental health within the school environment.

The service will be delivered from Education bases as an integral part of an agreed iTHRIVE multi‑agency model of Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service provision.

Work collaboratively with multi professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective, evidence based and safe.

This will be achieved by:

• Listening to and understanding the community.
• Bringing people together to develop a shared local vision with service users as equal partners.
• Assessing community assets, resources, needs and issues.
• Empowering community members to identify local issues and articulate solutions.
• Linking in with Community Mental Health Services (i.e. CYPS, IAPT, CTT).

The post holder will ensure they uphold our Trust vision, values and behaviours.

To promote at all times a positive image of children and young people with mental health conditions.

To promote at all times a positive image of the specialist service area and the wider Trust.

FOR FULL JOB DESCRIPTION SEE ATTACHMENT

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner (Post Graduate Diploma Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Studies in the Education Environment).
• Registered with appropriate governing body for example BABCP/BPS, as an Educational Mental Health Practitioner or working towards registration and successfully registered within the first 6 months of appointment.
• Additional postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of universal and specialist children's mental health service provision.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.
• Proven organisational skills.
• Proven time and caseload management skills.
• Able to write clear reports and letters. Demonstrates a high standard in both written and oral communication.
• Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
• Ability to work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Ability to undertake risk assessments.
• Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
• Ability to work under supervision and make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development.
• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how this may present in children and young people.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the need for evidence based psychological therapies.
• A working knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health.
• Knowledge of relevant guidance policy and good practice.

Physical skills

• Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
• Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements and demands of the training course and work within the service.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk as required across the full duration of the working day.
• Ability to – on occasion, to move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
• The ability to work flexibly sometimes working additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service and ensure a complete understanding is had in relation to care delivery.

Experience

• Experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Experience of working within a community/education context.

Experience of delivering low intensity psychological interventions.

Experience of working collaboratively within a multi‑agency context.

Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.

Facilitation the teaching or delivering training.

Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.

Experience of working to support the mental health needs of CYP and their families.

Experience of working with in the community and or education settings.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust