Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner (Emhp)

East Of England Community Health And Care Nhs Trust; Cambourne; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge) is recruiting for an EMHP trainee to deliver CBT-informed, early intervention mental health support for children, young people and families in educational settings.

The role is a full-time, 1-year training contract (AfC Band 4) with progression to a permanent Band 5 on successful completion and probation; requires degree-level study or equivalent experience and driving access for school visits across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Qualifications

• Ability to study at degree level or equivalent with active learning.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills as a minimum requirement.
• Proven academic attainment relevant to child development or education.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessments and evidence-based interventions in educational settings for children and young people.
• Support parents, carers and educators in self-management of presenting difficulties.
• Demonstrate inclusive practice and diversity-aware approaches.
• Manage referrals and prioritise work with supervisors within local processes.
• Undertake risk assessments under supervision and maintain documentation.
• Engage in clinical supervision and performance reviews to ensure safe practice.
• Collaborate with teachers and schools to enhance access to mental health services.

Skills

Degree level learning

Ability to learn

Computer literate

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

Do you want to be part of an exciting and dynamic children's and young people's Mental Health service, in an 'Outstanding' rated NHS Trust? We're looking for people who are passionate about high quality, early intervention mental health care.

The role is an exciting opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions for children, young people and their families, working across Educational and Healthcare settings.

You’ll receive training in delivering Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) informed guided self-help for mild to moderate mental health problems. You’ll gain a (funded) Diploma at the University of East Anglia, whilst working clinically within a new or established Mental Health Support Team (MHST).

Clinical work will be with parents/carers and secondary school aged young persons. You’ll work closely with education settings, supporting their 'Whole School and College Approach' to Mental Health.

You’ll be employed on a full-time one-year training contract, Band 4. On completion of the training year (passing UEA and service requirements), a permanent Band 5 EMHP contract will be offered. You’ll be required to successfully complete a probation period of 6 months.

Positions will be available across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

We encourage you to watch these two short videos which give an insight into the role.

https://vimeo.com/1025188355/1f4f81358c

https://vimeo.com/1025187857/26f100bb55

Interviews will take place in person on the 4th and 5th November 2026.

Main duties of the job

The interview process will involve completing a short practical task followed by an interview. Further details of the task and copies of the interview questions will be issued 24hrs prior to the interviews. Please note some questions will be withheld until your interview. This must be attended in person for consideration for appointment.

Successful candidates will be employed by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust who deliver MHST services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

During the training year you will need to attend 64 University days, mostly in person at UEA.

Successful candidates will be employed on a full time 1-year training contract at Agenda for Change (AfC) Band 4. Once passing UEA requirements, service requirements and probationary period, a permanent AfC Band 5 EMHP contract will be offered.

Applicants must demonstrate in their application the ability to work at degree level or have an equivalent level of relevant experience, with a record of previous learning or formal study in child development, wellbeing, psychology, mental health or education.

Experience of working with children and young people and an understanding of the educational system in England is highly desirable. Applicants must be able to demonstrate they can balance the conflicting demands of academic study and clinical work.

You must hold a FULL valid driving licence (not a provisional) and have access to a motorised vehicle as regular travel is required to multiple schools.

About us

Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.

There's one reason why our services are outstanding, and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.

If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.

Details

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum, pro-rata
Contract: Fixed term, 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 448-CCYP-8218706-A
Closing date: 29 October 2026

Job responsibilities

The MHSTs are part of the EEC NHS Trust and sit within the Getting Advice and Getting Help iThrive model. The iThrive model provides an integrated approach to the delivery of person-centred and needs-led services for children, young people and families.

The MHSTs work with education settings to provide early intervention for mild to moderate mental health difficulties on a one-to-one and group basis. They provide support to staff in schools and colleges on their Whole School and College Approach (WSCA) to mental health as well as to other professionals in other services.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Be educationally supervised, supported and reviewed to provide assessments and deliver outcome focused, evidence-based interventions in educational settings for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties
• Developing skills in supporting children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and supporting their parents/carers, families and educators in the self-management of presenting difficulties
• Show evidence in a variety of forms that at all times assessment and intervention is provided from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity
• Discuss with supervisors and agree to accept appropriate referrals for children and young people in educational settings, according to agreed local and national referral routes, processes and procedures
• Under supervision, undertake accurate assessments of risk to self, others and from others
• Engage in robust managerial and clinical supervision to work safely within the scope of their practice
• Keep coherent records of all training and clinical activity in line with both health and education service protocols
• Work in collaboration with teachers and other educational staff, parents, children, young people and the wider community to enhance and broaden access to mental health services

Training and Supervision

• Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post including practical, academic and practice-based assessments
• Fulfil private study requirements for at least one day a week, outside of contracted work hours
• Apply academic learning from UEA directly into practice
• Prepare and present case load information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis
• Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and practice

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training (Essential)

• Ability to study at degree level
• Proven record of previous academic attainment
• Good solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2

Skills and Knowledge (Essential)

• Ability to learn in a variety of settings and using a variety of learning methods
• Computer Literate
• Ability to study as a self-motivated learner who can formulate their own progress towards learning objectives

Experience (Desirable)

• Experience of working with children and young people

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 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.

Employer details

Employer name: East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge)
Address: Across Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Peterborough, CCS Head Office, Huntingdon/Cambridge, PE27 4LG, United Kingdom
Contact: Jen Perna, [e-mail]

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge)'s privacy notice is available on request.