Mental Health Practitioner Manchester Thrive in Education

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Manchester is seeking an autonomous practitioner to enhance mental health support for children and young people. You will deliver direct interventions in educational settings, collaborate with schools to implement comprehensive mental health approaches, and lead various projects aimed at improving emotional wellbeing. The role requires relevant professional qualifications and a passion for promoting mental health within communities. Join a supportive environment dedicated to clinical excellence and innovation.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Collaborative multidisciplinary community

Qualifications

• Proven experience in mental health support for children and young people.
• Strong understanding of therapeutic interventions.
• Ability to work autonomously within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Deliver direct interventions for young people with mild/moderate mental health issues.
• Support schools in developing a Whole School Approach to mental health.
• Lead specific projects within the mental health support team.

Skills

CBT informed interventions

Assessment skills

Partnership working

Education

Relevant professional qualification in mental health

Job description

A Vacancy at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Manchester Thrive in Education is a Mental Health Support Team (MHST) developed as part of the national project to increase access to psychological support in education settings for children & young people. The service was established in 2020 and works closely with partner agencies as part of the getting help offer for child mental health.

The team works within education settings, including colleges, to improve the whole setting approach to mental health & emotional wellbeing. Practitioners deliver CBT informed interventions for mild to moderate mental health difficulties individually and in groups. We are an innovative team involved in a variety of exciting projects across the city, including Neurodiversity in Schools and the Alternative Provision targeted task force.

As an autonomous practitioner you will play a key part in the delivery of high-quality service provision that promotes and improves the mental health and well‑being of children and young people, their families, and carers. In an education‑based team you will provide direct intervention for young people presenting with mild/moderate mental health difficulties within professional practice guidelines and a structured supervision framework. The post holder will be required to adapt to and undertake different or new duties in line with professional and service developments.

Within a systemic and holistic framework, you will undertake needs‑led, evidence‑based, skilled assessments and provide therapeutic interventions, ensuring this is done with evidence‑based shared decision making and partnership working with children and young people, their families and carers.

As part of working together you will offer quality consultation and advice to schools and support schools in developing their Whole School Approach to mental health and emotional wellbeing. You will actively liaise and support robust partnership working arrangements between MHST and community partners. You will undertake lead responsibilities for specific projects in the service.

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000‑plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward‑thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation and continuous improvement.

Whether you’re beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working—empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.

You’ll be part of a collaborative, multi‑disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.

At MFT, you’ll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.

Your journey at MFT is more than a job—it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’ll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading. So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the ‘Candidate Essentials Guide’ that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how ‘we care for you as you care for others’. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you’ll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application. Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU—for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role‑specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Diversity Matters. MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

This advert closes on Wednesday 24 Dec 2025