Whole School Approach Practitioner

Strategic Advocacy; Swindon; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional mental health support organization in Swindon seeks a full-time Whole School Approach (WSA) Practitioner to enhance emotional wellbeing in schools. This role includes developing wellbeing strategies, collaborating with mental health professionals, and managing a caseload focused on children and young people. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and experience working in educational or health settings. The position offers a salary of £29,970 annually and requires flexibility in travel and working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Ability to travel independently across the service footprint.
• Experience of working with children, young people, and families.
• Willingness to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.

Responsibilities

• Develop and embed wellbeing approaches in schools.
• Collaborate with education mental health practitioners.
• Facilitate social prescribing frameworks.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Time management

Ability to manage sensitive caseload

Education

NVQ3, HNC, HND or equivalent

Further relevant degree qualification

Job description

Job Summary

An exciting opportunity has become available within the Be U Swindon Mental Health Support Team for a full time Whole School Approach (WSA) Practitioner, under expert supervision and as part of a dynamic and evolving mental health support team. The successful post holder will offer support to our partnership schools across Swindon by using the Whole School/College Approach to improve the emotional wellbeing of children and young people within education. As a WSA Practitioner you will be joining a diverse team offering both clinical and non-clinical support to children, young people and their families across Swindon.

Details

Date posted: 05 September 2025
Salary: £29,970 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time

Location

6 Darby Close, Nexus Business Centre, Cheney Manor, Swindon, England, United Kingdom

Job Description

Job responsibilities

• Key Responsibilities: Helping to develop and embed new system wellbeing approaches through a menu of packages to school staff, parents, young people and families alongside other members of the MHST team.
• Lead alongside the WSA coordinator in the development and implementation of a social prescribing framework to facilitate education settings with the tools to signpost CYP to appropriate meaningful activity and social wellbeing resources.
• You will work in collaboration with Education Mental Health Practitioners, Childrens Wellbeing Practitioners and mental health professionals to deliver whole school approach interventions including psychoeducation group work, workshops, assemblies and staff training.
• To support the whole school approach coordinator by giving advice to other professionals regarding mental health and wellbeing and to attend and represent Be U Swindon at regular signposting and promotional events. This includes delivering group-based sessions and linking with system partners to attend promotion events.
• To promote social inclusion, community access and participation through the provision of whole school interventions and in collaboration with stakeholders.

Therapeutic Responsibilities

• Work in effective, evidence-based partnership with children, young people, their families and their educators in the development of delivering a system led whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
• Support and empower children, young people, their parents/carers and families and their educators to make informed choices about the interventions being offered.
• Operate from an inclusive values base, recognising and respecting diversity.
• Support in developing and embedding the EBSA (emotional based school avoidance) model across educational settings as part of the wider service remit.
• Work with education providers to evaluate the whole school culture towards mental wellbeing and to develop and implement coproduced action plans.
• Undertake and record accurate assessments of risk and operate clear risk management processes in line with procedures including safeguarding protocols.
• Adhere to regulations, processes, and procedures within the educational service and organisation, including HR policies, training, referrals, and emergency procedures.
• Lead on whole school approach group activities for CYP and professionals of different age groups and audience sizes.
• Manage a caseload in line with team requirements and engage in ongoing evaluation of intervention plans.
• Maintain clear, professionally coherent records and use data to inform decision making. Complete all data collection requirements.
• Plan and deliver a range of whole school approach interventions and contribute to development of materials, under the direction of the wider team.
• Support education settings to embed place led ITHRIVE Getting advice signposting models, and contribute to a WSA monthly forum.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries with all stakeholders and partners and support strategic representation with DFE and senior MH leads.

Professional

• Maintain standards of professional practice and confidentiality.
• Communicate risks or issues related to safety and wellbeing to appropriate parties.
• Set and review objectives with supervisors and senior colleagues as part of continuing professional development.
• Participate in performance/appraisal reviews, supervision, and keep records up-to-date for CPD.
• Attend relevant educational opportunities and promote inclusive communication.

Person Specification

Essential

• The ability to travel independently across the service footprint.
• Work flexibly and adapt to service needs.
• Willingness to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage a sensitive and potentially emotionally distressing caseload.

Qualifications

• Essential: NVQ3, HNC, HND or equivalent qualification relevant to health or education.
• Desirable: A further relevant degree qualification.

Experience

• Essential: Experience of working with children, young people and their families in education or health care; safeguarding CYP; delivery of therapeutic interventions (e.g. CBT, solution-focused brief therapy); liaising with multiple agencies.
• Desirable: Knowledge of low intensity CBT; monitoring/outcome measures for children’s emotional wellbeing; working with other vulnerable groups.

Notes

Disclosure and Barring Service checks and UK professional registration are required where applicable. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. See NHS Careers for details.