Education Mental Health Practitioner/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner

Job overview

This is an exciting new role within the NHS that offers an opportunity to progress within an operational capacity. We are seeking enthusiastic registered professionals who can undertake the role of Team Lead within the Mental Health Support Teams (MHST). This particular role is based within Mid Essex.

The MHST’s work in partnership with schools and colleges to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people. We achieve this through offering 1:1 CBT interventions and whole school approaches (WSA). 

As a Team Lead you will work closely with the Operational Manager and Clinical Lead. The Team Lead’s role will be split into two, with 50% of your time being focused on clinical interventions and oversite and 50% of your time spent with operational responsibilities. A key part of this role be ensuring that we are meeting both operational and clinical targets. You will be responsible for line managing clinical staff whilst also holding a small caseload and having oversite of the delivery of service with in your area.

Main duties of the job

1) To provide an efficient, effective, comprehensive and specialist MHST experience for children and adolescents

2) To contribute to multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with emotional and mental health problems, their carers/parents and families

3) To undertake a range of generic clinical work, guided self help, targeted group work and workshops under Whole School Approach.

provide consultation on MHST cases to EMHP’s/CWP’s and lead by example in promoting the NELFT 5p’s 

5) To monitor and guide the team in ensuring we meet safety benchmarks set by NELFT and the CQC, as well as ensuring delivery of interventions are carried out in line with NICE, guidance with Routine Outcome measures to monitor efficacy of intervention.

6) To support Operational manager with day to day running of the service, including support with recruitment, sickness, Healthroster management, organising and chairing meetings and undertaking audits. 

7) To act as an autonomous professional fully registered with the appropriate professional or regulatory body ( HCPC, NMC).

Working for our organisation

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 in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

COVID-19 Vaccination

We continue to encourage all staff to ensure that they have been double vaccinated and received their booster. We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. The post-holder will provide operational and clinical leadership within the MHST and will support the other clinicians within the MHST. They will be responsible for ensuring their named area is meeting operational and clinical targets and seeking support from senior staff when targets are not being met. 

2. The post-holder will line manage clinical staff within the MHST but will not hold a budget.

3. The post holder will actively promote the core functions of MHST alongside the IAPT Principles.

4. The post holder will facilitate the development of a positive and ‘supportive’ team culture by taking responsibility for dealing effectively with potential conflict

5. The post holder will take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines

6. The post holder will participate in the audit process, linking in with the clinical governance agenda

7. The post holder will advise, encourage and share knowledge utilising the latest research and practice development, through literature and peer reviews

8. They will ensure that a high quality, timely, accessible and evidence-based service is available to all service users who need it and who use the MHST.

The post holder will join supportive and well established teams in Mid Essex. 

For a full description please see the attached job description and person specification. 

If you are an overseas qualified nurse and wanting to start your journey to becoming a UK based registered nurse with the NMC, you can check whether you are eligible to be supported through our Capital Nurse consortium. Please visit; . Whilst NELFT is happy to welcome overseas nurses we are unable to consider your application directly. You should submit your interest and apply through the Capital Nurse London group.

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for some job roles, and this will be identified through filtering questions at the start of any job application on the Trac recruitment system.

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Person specification

Essential Qualifications

Essential criteria

Successful completion of a graduate training ( nursing, social work, occupational therapy, clinical psychology) with appropriate registration of a professional body ( HCPC, NMC). Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes ( CYP- IAPT training).

Essential Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working with children/young people with Mental Health or Learning Disability’s providing specialist, evidence based individual interventions with a wide variety of children and young people, from 3 to 19 years old Experience in delivering evidence-based interventions (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

Desirable criteria

Experience working with and in educational settings

Essential Knowledge

Essential criteria

Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and adolescents and safeguarding procedures and policies Knowledge of risk management and ability to monitor and assess risk and act accordingly to ensure safety.

Desirable criteria

Applicant is proficient in using Systmone.

Skills

Essential criteria

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively highly complex and sensitive matters to service users, families, and other professionals. Capacity to write clear records and observe policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

MHST Team Lead (PDF, KB) NELFT Application - Hints and Tips (PDF, KB)

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

NameMelanie KempJob titleOperational Manager Mid EssexEmail address