MHST Neurodevelopmental Transition School Support Worker - Mid Essex

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to supporting neurodiverse children as they transition to secondary school. This exciting role involves providing evidence-based interventions and collaborating with schools to enhance mental health support. You will work within a multidisciplinary team to ensure that children receive the right support during this critical period. The Trust values its staff's development and well-being, offering a supportive and inclusive environment. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people and want to be part of a team striving for excellence, this opportunity is for you!

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Health and wellbeing support

Commitment to equality and diversity

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in relevant field and postgraduate mental health training required.
• Experience in CAMHS or educational settings preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support neurodiverse children during their transition to secondary school.
• Collaborate with schools to develop pupil plans addressing various needs.

Skills

Mental Health Support

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Psychological Interventions

Collaboration with Schools

Transition Support

Training and Development

Education

Graduate Degree in Psychology or Teaching

Postgraduate Mental Health Training

Tools

CYP-IAPT Training

CBT Training

Job description

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area: Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract: 24 months (Fixed Term Contract - 2 years)

Hours:

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Job ref: 395-EB930-24

Site: Chelmsford - Mid Essex

Salary: £37,338 - £44,962 per annum pro rata

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 01/01/2025 23:59

Interview date: 17/01/2025

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, and we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Job overview

Join Our Team: Support Neurodiverse Children in Their Transition to Secondary School!

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of neurodiverse children? We invite you to join our innovative two-year pilot study aimed at supporting Year 6 students as they transition to Year 7 and begin their secondary school journey.

About Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)

MHSTs are a new service designed to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing difficulties within educational settings. Our multidisciplinary team includes Children and Young People’s Mental Health Practitioners and Education Mental Health Practitioners.

• Support Children and Young People: Provide evidence-based interventions for mild to moderate mental health problems.
• Enhance School Mental Health: Assist schools in developing a comprehensive approach to mental health.
• Offer Timely Advice: Provide guidance to school staff and liaise with other services to ensure children and young people receive the right support and remain in education.

Join us in this rewarding role and be part of a team dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of neurodiverse children and their families. Apply now to be a catalyst for change!

Main duties of the job

Main Duties of the Neurodevelopmental Transition Support Worker:

• Work with Schools: Collaborate with identified primary and secondary schools in Chelmsford to support children and young people (CYP) in their transition from Year 6 to Year 7.
• Support Identified CYP: Assist CYP known to Mid Essex SET CAMHS and community paediatrics who present with neurodevelopmental conditions and would benefit from a tailored pupil plan around transition.
• Address Transition Challenges: Provide targeted support to CYP facing specific challenges related to change and transition due to neurodevelopmental presentations.
• Create Pupil Plans: Develop comprehensive pupil plans that include strategies to support CYP moving between schools, addressing emotional, social, sensory, and communication needs.
• Deliver Individual and Group Sessions: Conduct both individual and group sessions to support the young person, their families, and the new school setting, ensuring a smooth transition.
• Train and Develop School Staff: Work closely with teaching staff to provide training and development aimed at supporting CYP with neurodevelopmental presentations.

Qualifications:

• Educational Background: A graduate degree in a relevant field (e.g., psychology, teaching).
• Postgraduate Training: Completed postgraduate mental health training (e.g., CYP-IAPT).
• Preferred Experience: Experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or educational settings, and registration with a professional or regulatory body (e.g., HCPC, NMC, BABCP). Additional training in neurodevelopmental or developmental fields is desirable.

Person specification

Qualification

• Successful completion of a graduate training (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy, psychology, EMHP, CWP). The applicant must have 2 years post-qualification experience in an equivalent role.
• Successful completion of a post-graduate mental health course.
• To be eligible for registration as a full member of the appropriate professional body (e.g. HCPC, NMC) where appropriate.
• To have completed formal CBT training (e.g. CYP-IAPT).

Experience

• Experience running therapy groups and/or training events.
• Experience of working with YP with social emotional/sensory/social needs.
• Experience of working within school settings and/or CAMHS clinical settings.
• Experience of working with YP who have neurodevelopmental presentations.
• Ability to confidently liaise with a variety of professionals (Educational settings, Social Care, Charities etc.).

Knowledge

• High level of knowledge of the theory and practice of whole school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health.
• High level of knowledge of the theory and practice of psychological interventions including low-intensity CBT interventions.
• Ability to chair team meetings, undertake delegated management tasks and support the CYPMHS Service.

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

• A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long-term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
• A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work-life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our efforts to support our working parents and carers.
• Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part-time hours or another flexible pattern.

Equal opportunities employer

We are committed to equal opportunities and diversity and positively encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of any protected characteristic.

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.