Job overview

NELFT is the largest providers of Mental Health Support Teams (MHST’s) in England. Our Southend, Essex and Thurrock services cover 144 schools. The service is developing and expanding with an aim to cover all secondary schools in locality by September 2025. The MHST’s deliver evidence-based individual and group interventions in educational settings for children experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties aged 5 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.

This vacancy is for South West Essex team.

South West Essex Mental Health Support Team (MHST) covers Basildon, Brentwood and Billericay and Thurrock. 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 and are keen to support our staff to grow and progress.

We are a welcoming, compassionate and considerate team, that work incredibly hard to support one another to improve the mental health of our community.

Our localities cover large areas so you will need access to a vehicle and have the ability to travel efficiently across the county.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work in partnership with schools, to support children, young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and their families in the self-management of presenting difficulties.

They will work in partnership with schools, children, young people, and families in the development of plans for the intervention and agreed outcomes.

Practitioners will work as autonomous and responsible clinicians within their scope of practice, alongside education colleagues. They will be experienced in the delivery of interventions to support CYP in primary, secondary and higher education settings.

The practitioner will complete comprehensive assessments, risk assessments, care plans and reviews.

They will be proficient in using Routine Outcome Measures (ROMS) and clinical tools to gather feedback and guide clinical practice, with opportunities for service provision planning and mapping with schools to inform the delivery of support to CYP.

The post holder will be supported to work alongside other EMHPs/CWPs in educational settings, as well as working alongside more Senior Mental Health Practitioners to support learning and development. There will be opportunities for individual work, group work and consultation.

We offer all staff a robust supervision framework to support with their clinical development.

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.

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).

High Cost Area Supplement 

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £1,258 and a maximum payment of £2,122 per annum pro rata).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are looking for a Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners or a Qualified Children's Wellbeing Practitioners to join the teams and work with us to develop the service further and ensure we meet the core components.

·Whole School Approach

·Targeted Treatment (main evidence base is low intensity CBT individual and group)

·Consultation and Liaison

You will be providing:

·Assessment and Treatment of Children and Young People under MHST 3 core functions (Targeted intervention, Whole School approach and Consultation and Liaison)

·Work as part of a team with a set number of schools to deliver the core components of the service.

·Actively participate in local and county wide meetings and supervision forums

Our senior Clinical Team are passionate about the careers of EMHP's and CWP's and we have exciting CPD program happening in service and are working closely with Health Education England (HEE) and NHS England to look at the career pathways of this new work force.

We have good working relationships with our universities and are looking at developing our staff to progress into senior positions and consider senior EMHP/CWP training opportunities and supervisor training.

Please see person specification and job description for full details and responsibilities required for this role.

Base

This post requires the successful applicant to work agilely between NELFT sites and educational settings. For applicant to have the ability to work independently is an important factor. Some travel around the county is also expected. The nominated base for South West Essex is Phoenix House in Basildon.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points based 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

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

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

Desirable criteria

Experience working within educational settings

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Knowledge of educational environments Knowledge of safeguarding issues

Skills

Essential criteria

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

Other

Essential criteria

To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area

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

NameZoe HouchinJob titleOperational Manager - South-West MHSTEmail address