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 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. 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 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.

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 

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

Hold a current and in date core professional registration in Clinical / Educational / Counselling Psychologist, CBT Therapist or Family Therapist Professional training in an evidence-based therapeutic approach applicable to working with children, young people and families.

Experience

Essential criteria

High level knowledge of the theory and practice of evidence‐based psychological interventions including CBT and experience in responding to safeguarding concerns Minimum two years post-qualification experience and has experience of supervising CYPMHS clinicians and trainees Experience of working with children, young people and their parents/carers presenting with a range of mental health difficulties and challenging behaviour to provide assessment, formulation and treatment.

Desirable criteria

Experience of working with other agencies outside of the NHS schools Experience of whole school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Effectively manage a clinical caseload, complete outcomes measures routinely, update clinical records in line with team, service and Trust requirements Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health, education and the Children Act and Child Protection

Skills

Essential criteria

Ability to form good working relationships and work flexibly with others in multi‐disciplinary and multi‐agency settings Ability to apply psychological theory to understand complex interpersonal/organizational situations and to guide actions. Ability to effectively and safely manage waiting lists in line with service demands and expectations

Desirable criteria

Proficient in using Systmone

Other

Essential criteria

To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area

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.