Mental Health Practitioners

West Sussex County Council; Chichester; Presencial; GBP 32 000 - 42 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Annual leave 27 days + Bank Holidays =

Travel discounts and schemes

24 Hour Wellbeing support

Retail and Holiday discounts

Training and Development

Flexible working options

Competitive Salary and pension

Resumo da oferta

West Sussex County Council is seeking Mental Health Practitioners to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health issues in schools. You will deliver CBT-based interventions, develop care packages with families and schools, and maintain thorough records in safeguarding-aligned processes.

The role involves collaboration with a range of professionals, ongoing professional development, and supervision responsibilities within a dynamic Mental Health Support Team.

Qualificações

• Experience in delivering CBT-informed, low- to high-intensity assessments.
• Ability to work with children and young people and families.
• Familiar with safeguarding protocols and data recording requirements.

Responsabilidades

• Provide evidence-based CBT interventions for children and young people in school settings.
• Develop care packages and liaise with schools, families, and external services.
• Maintain case records, assessments, and data in line with safeguarding guidance.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings and support supervision of trainees/Practitioners.

Conhecimentos

CBT-based assessments

Child and adolescent CBT interventions

Collaboration with families, schools,

Documentation and safeguarding

Descrição da oferta de emprego

As a Mental Health Practitioner, you will hold cases of children and young people with mild to moderate mental health problems within schools, being responsible for developing packages of care for them. You will deliver a variety of evidence-based interventions against a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model, working collaboratively with children, young people, their families, schools, and other mental health professionals. As part of this role, you will be required to complete the PGCert Supervision of Therapeutic Practice at the University of Sussex to be able to carry out supervision for a team of trainee and/or qualified clinical practitioners, depending on service need and capacity. Key areas of responsibility: Providing advice to schools and families, and liaising with external specialist services, to get the right support for children and young people. Keep clear records, case files, assessments, and data. Work in line with safeguarding protocols and follow the Local Safeguarding Board guidance. Attend and participate in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to the people you are supporting. You will need to be able to demonstrate personal resilience as some cases may be sensitive, traumatic, or potentially emotionally distressing.

We currently have opportunities for Mental Health Practitioners to make a real difference in supporting Mental Health in Children. You will be working within our Mental Health Support Team (MHST) on exciting new initiatives and an important strand of the Government's 2017 Green Paper 'Transforming Children and Young People's Mental Health Provision'.

We fulfil 3 core functions:

• Delivering evidence-based interventions in education settings (primary and secondary schools and colleges) for mild to moderate mental health issues.
• Supporting the senior mental health lead in each education setting to introduce or develop their whole school or college approach.
• Giving timely advice to school and college staff, and liaising with external specialist services, to help children and young people to get the right support and stay in education.

Our Mental Health Support Team is made up of over 70 professionals, and we are continuing to increase our service to support the growing needs of our communities.

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do. For a full list this can be found at our Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:

Benefits

• Annual leave: 27 days holiday + Bank Holidays = 35days Travel discounts and schemes 24 Hour Wellbeing support Retail and Holiday discounts Training and Development Flexible working options Competitive Salary and generous pension Staff Groups, We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

Key Skills

Ability to carry out low-intensity, CBT-informed 1:1 therapeutic mental health assessments and interventions with children and young people, and/or their families. Ability to carry out initial (mental health) assessments which will include thorough assessments of risk and safeguarding or where there may be additional complexities. Ability to work flexibly with a range of professionals and other adults including teachers, parents/carers, social workers and other mental health professionals in the best interests of the child or young person, communicating complicated or sensitive information effectively. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly build effective therapeutic rapport with a child, young person and / or their parents. Ability to effectively manage an allocated caseload including assessing, recording and communicating risk appropriately and taking necessary actions. Ability to positively make use of clinical and peer group support supervision. Ability to complete and maintain data recording and paperwork appropriate to the work undertaken.

If you are interested in making a difference and working in a friendly and supportive team with a role that offers variety and challenge, then this could be the role for you.

You will travel independently to carry out assessments, and there will be periodic physical requirements to the role.

Do you have experience of working with people with mental health difficulties? Have you trained in low or high intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? We are looking for someone who has carried out Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and has experience of low or high-intensity CBT mental health assessments.

Closing date: Sunday 15th November 2026 Interview date: Monday 23rd November 2026

Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council.

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our page.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, five years referencing, and an occupational health check.