Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner

NHS North East London; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners to join local Mental Health Support Teams in Gillingham. This role offers a fully funded training program with placement in schools, where candidates will deliver evidence-based interventions to support children and young people. Successful applicants will start at Band 4 and will rise to Band 5 upon completion of the program, making a meaningful impact in the community.

Benefits

Fully funded training

Salary support during training

High Cost Area Supplement

Qualifications

• Must have good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with children or young people is desirable.
• Understanding of mental health issues in children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based interventions for mental health difficulties.
• Support children, young people, and families in various settings.
• Collaborate with schools and agencies to provide comprehensive care.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Education

Relevant Level 4 qualification

Job description

Overview

In line with the governments priority to expand access to mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, we are recruiting Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) to join local Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in Havering and Waltham Forest.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a national programme combining academic study with hands-on experience in schools and community settings. The training year is fully funded, with employment at NHS Agenda for Change Band 4, rising to Band 5 on successful completion.

About the Programme

EMHPs deliver low-intensity, evidence-based interventions for children and young people with common mental health difficulties, as well as offering support to parents and carers. Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approaches and guided self-help, interventions are delivered individually and in groups. Teaching is provided by UCL in partnership with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, alongside supervised practice within MHSTs and educational placements. The programme includes a mix of face-to-face and digital delivery.

On graduation, EMHPs will be equipped with the skills and confidence to work as autonomous practitioners within MHSTs, making a meaningful difference to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in their communities.

What you will do

• Work under supervision as part of a multidisciplinary Mental Health Support Team.
• Deliver a range of evidence-based early interventions to children, young people, and families.
• Provide direct support in both group and individual formats.
• Contribute to holistic and child-centred assessments, including risk assessments.
• Collaborate closely with schools, colleges, families, and other agencies to ensure joined-up support.
• Record outcomes and contribute to the national dataset on what works in improving CYP emotional wellbeing and mental health.
• Attend academic teaching at UCL, self-directed study days, and supervised practice sessions.
• Travel between educational settings, community sites, and the university as required.

Training and Study

Teaching is provided by UCL in partnership with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, alongside supervised practice within MHSTs and educational placements. The programme includes a mix of face-to-face and digital delivery.

Values 2025 - 2030

They Are

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

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.

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,714 and a maximum payment of £5,941 - per annum, pro rata for part time).

Training and Employment Details

Successful candidates will be offered a full-time educational programme specifically for the role. The course fees are fully funded, and the salary support for the job post will be funded at NHS AfC beginning Band 4. You will gain credits towards completing the course with a postgraduate degree diploma level qualification, plus guaranteed employment on successful completion of training and registration with a professional body with a starting salary projected to be based on the NHS AfC Band 5 scale. For the training year, successful candidates will be employed by Havering MHST, and you will be located in educational settings for your placement schools.

Contact for questions

For any questions, more information and a confidential discussion please contact:

Diana Daniel-Dawson - Havering MHST
Rebecca Scalzo - Waltham Forest MHST

Please Note

Dual Application Process

To apply for the Education Mental Health Practitioner Programme, it is essential that you secure a place on the Educational Mental Health Practitioner PG Dip course at UCL. Therefore, you are required to complete a separate application for the university course via the provided portal link

Direct UCL application link: https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login_enc?0qhYzuG1h9udTFM8i9sPhtGiUgIR6D6iP0QBDHq24aUE7Anl4FtDGBDmc3LlBtzaVi6cWmaNYWo=

Application guidance document for candidates with direct application link included https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17bbinRzAlIfH8SKe3t18I2m14L7sli5e?usp=drive_link We urge you to submit your course application as soon as possible.

Data Protection Notice

PRIVACY NOTICE : As part of your application process for the training course delivered by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families and UCL, please be aware that your data may be shared with them. This is necessary to facilitate the processing of your application, including shortlisting and enrolment onto the Education Mental Health Practitioner Programme.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although 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 AI

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

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