Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

NELFT is the largest providers 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 Locality Clinical Lead will be responsible for the caseload management & supervision of MHST practitioners. The post holder will work with and support the MHST Operational Manager in developing teams across the locality to support the delivery of Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) skills and facilitate wider service transformation within the local children’s mental health system. The training, supervision and service experience will equip the MHST staff with the necessary knowledge, attitude and capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service.

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

Main duties of the job

To oversee the assessment, formulation and intervention plans for children, young people (CYP) and families/carers being supported by the MHSTs drawing on a range of psychological theories and guided by evidence-based practice.

Working in partnership with schools to support CYP and families in the context of mild to moderate mental health difficulties, to work towards agreed goals.

To undertake accurate assessment of risk to self and others.

To be able to design, adapt and modify clinical materials ( guided self-help interventions, group content) to meet the needs of different clinical populations for approval of the senior team ( SEN, ASC).

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 to schools for evidence-based psychological treatments in a variety of medias.

To provide joint specialist mental health assessments and interventions for schools, parents, CYP with the EMHP supervisees. 

Demonstrating excellent leadership, communication and collaboration throughout the service.

To support the strategic and practical development of the MHST initiative within the service and wider children’s mental health system, under the direction of the Clinical Lead, Education Lead & Head of Service.

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.

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The 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 review the attached job description and specification for full details.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working in community mental health settings. Minimum two years post-qualification experience

Desirable criteria

Experience of working with / in schools Experience of clinical leadership Minimum of 2 years experience of supervising staff Trained as a NELFT safeguarding supervisor

Qualification

Essential criteria

Qualified & Registered Mental Health Practitioner, Psychologist, Family Therapist, Psychotherapist, Nurse, CBT Therapist, Educational Psychologist. Registered with the relevant governing body (, NMC, BABCP, UKCP, HCPC) Professional training in an evidence-based therapeutic approach applicable to working with children, young people and families.

Desirable criteria

Successful completion of CYP-IAPT Supervision course Post graduate qualification in Mental Health

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Ability to form excellent working relationships with colleagues and work flexibly with others in multidisciplinary and multi ‐agency settings Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice

Desirable criteria

Has an excellent understanding around MHSTs and Education settings

Skills

Essential criteria

Confident speaking with a range of audiences in different settings including education settings Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of multi‐media materials suitable for presentations with clients and /or professionals Ability to adapt, prioritise and effectively manage allocated caseload and service needs.

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.