Education Mental Health Practitioner/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner

Job overview

NELFT is the largest provider of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in England. Our Southend, Essex and Thurrock services cover 144 schools currently. We currently cover 48% of secondary and primary school within Southend, Essex and Thurrock. 

The MHST deliver evidence-based individual and group interventions in educational settings for children experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties aged 4 to 18 years old. The teams also have a strong focus on whole school approaches to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people.

The Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)/ Children's Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) role will work with schools and colleges as part of a Mental Health Support Team (MHST) to provide expert emotional wellbeing and mental health support as part of plans to transform children and young people’s mental health through the NHS Long-Term Plan.

The teams will build on the support already in place from school counsellors, nurses, educational psychologists, and the voluntary sector to support those with mild to moderate mental health issues in school and will help children and young people with more severe needs to access the right support and provide a link to CAMHS.

Main duties of the job

Assess and deliver outcome focused, evidence-based interventions to children and

young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties recognising own

limitations and seeking advice when necessary.

Work in partnership with children, young people, and families in the development of plans

for the intervention and agreed outcomes. This will include continuously evaluating and

acting on outcomes and activity.

Undertakes accurate assessment of risk to self and others.

Through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes beyond scope, or more severe ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.

Provide a range of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help. This work may be face-to-face or by telephone.

Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to CYP in treatment, where appropriate.

Initiate referrals to other health professional specialist services and agencies.

Act as an autonomous, registered practitioner who is legally and professionally accountable for their own unsupervised actions. Practitioners will be guided by the professional code of conduct

Communicate complex patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working.

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 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. 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).

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Mid Essex Mental Health Support Team (MHST) covers a large geographical area incorporating the districts of Braintree, Chelmsford and Maldon. We are an early intervention and prevention evidence-based service and as a team we are supportive and passionate in what we deliver. We are a friendly team of professionals who come from multidisciplinary backgrounds. We recognise the needs for a healthy work life balance, and we will consider flexible working applications in line with the trust policies and process. We encourage Continual Professional Development (CPD) and are keen to support our staff to grow and progress. 

Please see person specification and job description for full details.

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.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Successful completion of the HEE/NHSE commissioned 1yr Education Mental Health Practitioner’ course/Children's Wellbeing Practitioner course. Appropriate registration with either the BABCP or BPS as a low intensity practitioner.

Desirable criteria

Applicant can demonstrate they are in process of their application with the BABCP or BPS

Skills

Essential criteria

Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence Excellent oral and written communication skills Basic awareness of IT and IT skills

Other

Essential criteria

To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people, or their families ( CBT, solution focused brief therapy) Ability to conduct mental health assessments, risk assessments and communicate appropriately with children, young people and parents Ability to work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness within the staff group

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Knowledge of educational environments Knowledge of safeguarding issues

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

JD Band 5 EMHP/CWP (PDF, KB) NELFT Application - Hints and Tips (PDF, KB)

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

NameMel KempJob titleOperational Manager - Mid Essex MHSTEmail address