Senior Practitioner MHST

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

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in Stevenage seeks a Supervisor for Children's and Young People's Mental Health. This role involves supporting the Team Leader and providing clinical supervision, delivering evidence-based interventions, and fostering strong relationships within schools. The ideal candidate should have a health care or social work background, experience with young individuals facing mental health challenges, and a commitment to equity and diversity. The contract is full-time, and the salary ranges from £38,682 to £46,580 per annum.

Qualifications

• Graduate qualified health care, social work or psychological professional.
• Some level of formal CBT training (e.g. CYP-IAPT).
• Previous consolidated postgraduate experience of working with young people.
• Knowledge of legislation related to child and adolescent mental health.
• Ability to travel independently across the Trust.

Responsibilities

• Support Team Leader in a dynamic mental health team environment.
• Deliver clinical supervision to trainee practitioners.
• Operationalise delivery of evidence-based interventions.
• Provide consultations to education colleagues.
• Develop evidence-based time-limited interventions.

Skills

Clinical skills to assess young people

Comprehensive risk assessment skills

Effective oral and written communication

Ability to deal sensitively with stressful situations

Confidence to work autonomously

Education

Graduate qualification in health care, social work or psychology

HEE Postgraduate Diploma in Education Mental Health Practice

Job description

As part of Hertfordshire CYPMHS transformation, our priority is simple: to increase access and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people.

Driven by this goal and in line with NHS long term plans, we have exciting new opportunities for Supervisors to work at the forefront of innovation in Children's and Young Peoples Mental Health and to play an instrumental role in a forward-thinking service delivering interventions into schools and other settings in Hertfordshire.

This role is a chance to make a difference in young lives, and as such duties will include elements of operational management in support of the Team Leader as well as clinical activity.

Responsibilities

• Support the Team Leader and contribute to the team with a unique opportunity to be part of a dynamic mental health team in a creative environment where evidence-based interventions, new ideas, ways of working and supporting children and young people are actively encouraged.
• Demonstrate flexibility, dynamism and passion for working with children and young people in educational settings, while motivating, inspiring and supporting your team to do the same.
• Operationalise the delivery of evidence-based interventions within Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in schools and colleges, whilst providing supervision for EMHPs.
• Work in schools closely with school staff to support CYP, their families and staff to foster a whole school approach to mental well‑being, committing to travel within the aforementioned areas.
• Form strong working relations with a variety of stakeholders.
• Provide consultations to education colleagues and support education settings to embed a whole school approach to wellbeing.
• Develop and deliver evidence-based time‑limited interventions to young people within education settings.
• Evidencing the outcomes of the MHST service.
• Provide clinical supervision to trainee Education and Mental Health practitioners.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduate qualified health care, social work or psychological professional.
• Some level of formal CBT training (e.g. CYP-IAPT).
• Previous consolidated postgraduate experience of working with young people with emotional and mental health issues.
• Completed the HEE Postgraduate Diploma in Education Mental Health Practice or the HEE Postgraduate Certificate Community Wellbeing Practice for children and young people (with significant experience).
• Experience delivering evidence-based CBT interventions for mild to moderate mental health issues such as anxiety, low mood and behavioural problems to CYP individually and in groups.
• Significant post‑qualification experience working in a range of settings relevant to the post.
• Knowledge of legislation related to child and adolescent mental health and social care (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Child Protection and Safeguarding of Vulnerable Children).
• Knowledge of recent developments in mental health/learning disability provision for young people, including government initiatives.
• Knowledge of current developments in research and its application with respect to children and young people's mental wellbeing.
• Experience of implementing safeguarding procedures for children and adults, and working in a multi‑ethnic community.
• Experience of teaching and training in practice, and of peer supervision, supervising colleagues in the multi‑disciplinary team and consultation in other agency settings.
• Ability to travel independently across the Trust and to work outside office hours when required.
• Car driving competence (unless a disability prevents driving).

Skills & Competencies

• Deliver care with respect, dignity, compassion and recovery-focused approach.
• Clinical skills to assess young people in a variety of settings who have an acute mental health presentation.
• Comprehensive risk assessment skills; ability to assess and manage risks.
• Specific clinical skills applicable in a community or educational setting (brief therapy, cognitive therapy, anxiety management, de‑escalation).
• Confidence to work autonomously and make decisions in complex situations.
• Ability to deal sensitively with stressful situations, staff and organisational problems, child abuse, family breakdown, mental ill‑health and risk of self‑harm.
• Effective oral and written communication at an age‑appropriate level, inclusive of complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to children and/or adolescents as well as to carers and colleagues.
• Flexibility to work across service boundaries and liaise with other agencies.
• Respectful approach to service users, families, carers and colleagues.
• Maintenance of high standards of record keeping, data entry and reporting.
• Commitment to equality and diversity, treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Employer

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Stevenage MHST (Longmeadow Primary), Oaks Cross, Stevenage, SG2 8LT

Job reference: 367-CYP-9954

Contract & Location

Contract: Secondment

Working pattern: Full-time

Location: Stevenage MHST (Longmeadow Primary), Oaks Cross, Stevenage

Pay

Band 6 – £38,682 to £46,580 per annum (Agenda for change)

Notice

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. A submission for Disclosure will be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.

Applications from job seekers requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.