Senior Mental Health Practitioner - South-West Essex MHST

NHS; Basildon; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join their team in Basildon. This role involves delivering mental health support to children and young people in educational settings, conducting assessments, and providing clinical interventions. The ideal candidate will have relevant qualifications, substantial clinical experience, and a commitment to enhancing emotional wellbeing in children and young people.

Benefits

High Cost Area Supplement

Continuous Professional Development opportunities

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Must be fully registered with a relevant professional body.
• Experience working with children and young people with emotional wellbeing needs.
• Willingness to complete additional training.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based interventions in schools.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments and care planning.
• Provide clinical supervision and support development of Whole School Approach.

Skills

Education Mental Health Practitioner

Clinical experience with children

Ability to conduct comprehensive assessments

Education

Graduate training in nursing, social work, or occupational therapy

Low intensity EMHP/CWP qualification

Job description

Overview

Senior Mental Health Practitioner - South-West Essex MHST

The closing date is 13 October 2025

At NELFT, we're proud to be the largest provider of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in England.

Our MHSTs deliver evidence-based individual and group interventions within educational settings, supporting children and young people aged 4 to 18 who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. We also champion whole-school approaches to promote positive mental health across entire school communities.

Job summary

At NELFT, we're proud to be the largest provider of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in England.

Our MHSTs deliver evidence-based individual and group interventions within educational settings, supporting children and young people aged 4 to 18 who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. We also champion whole-school approaches to promote positive mental health across entire school communities.

Integrated, Holistic Support

MHSTs work alongside existing school-based services — including counsellors, nurses, educational psychologists, and voluntary sector partners — to strengthen the support available for children and young people. For those with more complex needs, we provide a vital link to CAMHS services, ensuring timely access to the right care.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a passionate and experienced practitioner who is:

• A qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner
• A candidate who has already completed further training or is willing to complete the SWP postgraduate diploma.

You must be fully registered with a relevant professional or regulatory body (BPS or BABCP) and have extensive clinical experience working with children and young people with emotional wellbeing and mental health needs.

Main duties of the job

As a valued member of our Mental Health Support Team (MHST), you’ll play a key role in delivering high-quality mental health support to children and young people across schools and colleges in SW Essex. Your responsibilities will include:

Clinical Delivery & Support

• Delivering evidence-based interventions in schools
• Conducting comprehensive assessments, including risk assessments, care planning, and reviews for children and young people
• Making referrals to specialist services and external agencies when needed
• Provision of high quality clinical supervision
• Working with schools to support the development of the Whole School Approach

Professional Practice

• Acting as an autonomous, registered practitioner, accountable for your own clinical decisions in line with your professional code of conduct and NELFT policies
• Supporting the transformation of children and young people\'s mental health as part of the NHS Long-Term Plan

Quality & Outcomes

• Routinely measuring clinical outcomes using Routine Outcome Measures (ROMs) to guide and improve practice
• Ensuring all care is delivered via NICE-compliant pathways.

Teamwork & Leadership

• Providing leadership, promoting initiative, creativity, and motivation
• Communicating complex clinical information effectively to ensure collaborative working
• Contributing to a positive team culture while working independently and collaboratively with other professionals and agencies

About us

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

At NELFT, we are committed to building a workforce that reflects and supports the diverse communities we serve. As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen local employment and deliver high-quality, person-centered care, we will prioritise applications from individuals living in our local boroughs and surrounding areas.

High Cost Area Supplement - Fringe

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £1,303 and a maximum payment of £2,198 per annum, pro rata for part time).

Job description

Job responsibilities

Join the South-West Essex MHST covering Basildon, Thurrock and Brentwood and Billericay

The South-West Essex Mental Health Support Team (MHST) delivers early intervention and prevention-focused mental health support across a wide geographical area, including Basildon, Thurrock and Brentwood and Billericay. We’re a passionate, multidisciplinary team committed to improving the emotional wellbeing of children and young people in educational settings.

We pride ourselves on being a friendly, supportive team that values collaboration, compassion, and continuous learning. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance, and we welcome flexible working applications in line with Trust policies.

Professional Development & Training

We actively encourage Continual Professional Development (CPD) and are committed to helping our staff grow and progress. Successful candidates will either:

• Have completed (or are willing to complete) the Senior Wellbeing Practitioner (SWP) course or
• Have completed the CBT recruit to train or the systemic family therapy course

For full details, please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Certificates of SponsorshipAlthough we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AIPlease see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Successful completion of a graduate training (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy) or have completed a low intensity EMHP/CWP Qualification.
• To be eligible for registration as a full member of the appropriate professional body (e.g. HCPC, NMC, BABCP, BPS)
• Attended/willing to attend SWP course or CYPIAPT Supervisor training

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with moderate presentations and neurodivergence.
• At least 1 year as a registered practitioner delivering low intensity CBT-informed interventions

Desirable

• 2 years post qualification experience in children's mental health services

Travel

Essential

• To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address: Phoenix House, Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, SS14 3EZ

Employer's website: https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/

£38,682 to £46,580 a year (per annum, pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working