Senior Mental Health Practitioner - South-West Essex MHST

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust; Basildon; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health organization in Essex seeks an experienced Education Mental Health Practitioner to support children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties. You will deliver evidence-based interventions within educational settings, conduct assessments, and collaborate with school staff. Candidates must be registered with a relevant professional body and have clinical experience. This role includes a comprehensive induction and training for successful integration into the team.

Benefits

Comprehensive induction training

Support for professional development

Qualifications

• Extensive clinical experience working with children and young people with emotional wellbeing.
• Full registration with a relevant professional body (BPS or BABCP).

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based interventions in schools.
• Conduct risk assessments and comprehensive care planning.
• Measure clinical outcomes using Routine Outcome Measures.

Skills

Clinical decision-making

Intervention delivery

Team leadership

Collaboration with school services

Education

Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner

Willingness to complete SWP postgraduate diploma

Job description

Overview

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 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. 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.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Delivery & Support: Deliver evidence-based interventions in schools; conduct comprehensive assessments, including risk assessments, care planning, and reviews for children and young people; make referrals to specialist services and external agencies when needed; provision of high-quality clinical supervision; work with schools to support the development of the Whole School Approach.
• Professional Practice: Act as an autonomous, registered practitioner, accountable for your own clinical decisions in line with your professional code of conduct and NELFT policies; support the transformation of children and young people\'s mental health as part of the NHS Long-Term Plan.
• Quality & Outcomes: Routinely measure clinical outcomes using Routine Outcome Measures (ROMs) to guide and improve practice; ensure all care is delivered via NICE-compliant pathways.
• Teamwork & Leadership: Provide leadership, promote initiative, creativity, and motivation; communicate complex clinical information effectively to ensure collaborative working; contribute to a positive team culture while working independently and collaboratively with other professionals and agencies.

Induction & Probation

NELFT places a great deal of importance on welcoming new starters and inducting them into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, including mandatory training, systems training, and the allocation of equipment. The induction will include opportunities to meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing, and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex. This post will be subject to a probationary period. We are committed to building a workforce that reflects and supports the diverse communities we serve and will prioritise applications from individuals living in our local boroughs and surrounding areas.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 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.

Context

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