Senior Education Mental Health Practitioner

MFT; Salford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Salford Thrive in Education is a Mental Health Support Team (MHST) developed to increase access to psychological support for children and young people in education settings. We collaborate with partner agencies to provide CBT-informed interventions for mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

You will work autonomously within a structured supervision framework, delivering direct interventions and adapting to evolving service needs while supporting school-wide mental health initiatives.

Qualifications

• Up-to-date knowledge of child mental health and relevant legislation.
• Experience of risk assessment and safeguarding.
• Ability to work in education settings with children, young people and families.

Responsibilities

• Deliver CBT-informed interventions for mild to moderate mental health difficulties in education settings.
• Undertake needs-led, evidence-based assessments and provide therapeutic interventions.
• Collaborate with schools and partner agencies to support whole-school mental health.

Skills

Child mental health knowledge

Risk assessment

CBT-informed practice

Education

EMHP/CYWP/SWP Registration

NHS registered professional

Job description

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NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area CAMHS Salford Thrive in Education MHST Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent: Monday-Friday 9-5 including school holidays Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday) Job ref 349-SHCG-8299731-RL4

Site Salford Thrive in Education Town Salford Salary £39,959 - £48,117 Per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 18/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

Salford 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. We work closely with partner agencies as part of the getting help offer for child mental health.

The team work within education settings, including colleges to improve the whole setting approach to mental health & emotional wellbeing. We deliver CBT informed interventions for mild to moderate mental health difficulties individually and in groups.

Main duties of the job

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. As the post holder, you 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 evidencing 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 advise 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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading.

Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

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.

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.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS : Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS : Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person specification

Registration/ Accreditation

• You must be registered/accredited (or, if EMHP/CWP, in the process of becoming accredited) with a professional body.

Qualifications

• You must have a recognised qualification. Recognised qualifications are: EMHP/CYWP/SWP Registered Nursing: RMN/RSCN/RNMH Social Work (CQSW/DipSW) Occupational Therapy Other relevant accreditable qualification
• Qualifications in Psychological Therapies e.g. CBT / SFT/ IPT

Experience

• Proven experience of working effectively with people with mental health difficulties.
• Experience of assessing and managing risk: including safeguarding.
• Experience of developing and providing evidenced based assessments, formulations, and care plans.
• Experience of mentoring and informal supervision of others.
• Experience of liaison and working with a range of other relevant agencies and professionals.
• Experience of autonomously managing a caseload within a service.
• Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures
• Experience of working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.
• Experience of providing interventions for children and young people with mental health problems and their families
• Community mental health experience.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision and clinical skills.

Knowedge skills & ability

• Up to date knowledge of child mental health and relevant legislation.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice.
• The ability to assess, formulate and manage care appropriately, ensuring discharge is timely.
• The ability to use assessment tools and outcome measures / ROMs effectively and in collaboration with the child, young person, and family.
• To be able to function as a part of a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise effectively with other agencies i.e., education, GP’s, maintaining positive working relationships.
• The ability to reflect on and critically appraise own practice
• To have the ability to manage own caseload.
• Ability to manage and organise own time and diary.
• The ability to follow policy and make proposals for change.
• The ability to work independently with the support of clinical and management supervision.
• Ability to maintain clinical records both written and electronic.
• Experience of delivering training
• Demonstrable therapeutic skills
• IT competent
• Knowledge and understanding of the research process

Personal Attributes

• A commitment to undertake further relevant training and self-directed study.
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required.
• Ability to travel across the MFT footprint

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.