Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist mental health and community health services trust in Reading seeks to train an Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP). This role involves delivering mental health support in schools and collaborating with educational staff. Candidates should have a relevant degree or equivalent experience in child development. Benefits include flexible working, generous annual leave, and good career development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days’ annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Career development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounts at retailers and restaurants

Generous maternity, paternity, adoption leave

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work at degree level or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with children and young people is highly desirable.
• Understanding of educational system in England is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based interventions to children and young people.
• Work collaboratively in school settings to promote emotional wellbeing.
• Gain experience across healthcare and educational settings under supervision.

Skills

Ability to work at degree level

Experience of working with children and young people

Understanding of the educational system in England

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Interview will be held on 4th Nov 2025.

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to train as an Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP), supporting the development and delivery of early intervention mental health services for children and young people across the West of Berkshire. This training post is part of the national initiative to expand access to mental health support in educational settings. As a trainee EMHP, you will work under supervision within our Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), delivering evidence-based interventions to children and young people aged up to 18, helping to shape emotionally healthy school environments and provide direct support to those who need it most.

You will be co-located in schools across your locality, working collaboratively with education staff to promote a whole-school approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health. The role requires creativity, flexibility, and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for young people.

You’ll be based in Thatcham or Reading. You will be embedded in clusters of schools, co-located with MHSTs, supporting whole-school approaches to emotional wellbeing, working under supervision as part of a dynamic, integrated mental health team and engaging in academic and clinical training as part of the EMHP programme based at The University of Reading.

Responsibilities and qualifications

• All applicants must demonstrate in their application the ability to work at degree level or have an equivalent level of relevant experience, with a proven record of previous learning or formal study in child development, wellbeing or mental health as well as a desire to work in children’s mental health. Experience of working with children and young people and an understanding of the educational system in England is highly desirable.
• During training, the post-holder will work under supervision to gain experience across healthcare and educational settings to enable them to gain the level of competence required to deliver high-quality, evidence-based early interventions for CYP experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems.
• On successful completion of training, trainee EMHPs will be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and capabilities to work as a qualified EMHP as autonomous and responsible practitioners within their scope of practice, alongside education colleagues.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our Values At Berkshire Healthcare Are

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Jo Cocksey Job title: Consultant Clinical Psychologist Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 07866787757