Job Summary
We have an exciting opportunity to be part of Sunderlands Mental Health Support Team (MHST) The Health Heads Team as a Senior Education Mental Health Practitioner / Senior Wellbeing Practitioner. The post holder will work collaboratively with our education sites across the city to provide early intervention and preventative evidence-based interventions to children and young people to promote resilience and support their emotional wellbeing. The post holder will be responsible for working in a timely fashion, building sound and positive relationships with schools, aid in delivering consultation and training, and be a positive and professional role model for the service. The post holder will have a specific role in supporting trainees, newly qualified and existing qualified EMHPs through clinical and caseload supervision, training, and providing clinical leadership.
The post holder will be expected to work with their school settings to build and develop a positive mental health ethos through a whole school approach model, and will identify individual needs of the school and work collaboratively to develop and implement an action plan.
The post holder will be an experienced (Senior) / Education Mental Health Practitioner/ Senior Wellbeing Practitionr, who understand the aims and objectives of the national Mental Health Support Team initiative set out in the Mental Health Green Paper.
Main duties of the job
Support children and young people within an education setting by delivering clinical evidence-based therapeutic interventions based on a Low Intensity CBT model.
Delivering evidence-based group work programmes of low-level and preventative support for children and young people in accordance with their needs and age.
Deliver evidence-based support to parents
Support school professionals with the provision of advice, consultation and training
Work collaboratively with schools to deliver Whole School Approach to mental health, such as workshops, assemblies, class based activities.
Be able to reach those children and young people who find it hard to access services.
Deliver clinical and caseload supervision
Oversee junior members of the team
Offer support and guidance to team
Engage in further training as required to support the role and clinical delivery of the service.
Take a lead role in overseeing and coordinating activity within your locality base
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working as an EMHP / low intensity therapist within an MHST
- Experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
- Experience of working within a community/education context.
- Experience of delivering low intensity psychological interventions
- Experience of working collaboratively within a multi-agency context.
- Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
Desirable
- Facilitating teaching or delivering training
- Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.
- Experience of working to support the mental health needs of CYP and their families.
- Experience of working with in the community and or education settings
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner (Post Grad Diploma Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing studies in the Education Environment) or equivalent low intensity qualification.
- Registered with appropriate governing body for example BABCP/BPS.
- To have a recognised EMHP Supervision qualification or willingness to work towards and complete training programme at Northumbria University or
- To have completed the Senior Wellbeing Practitioner course or be willing to attend and complete training programme at Northumbria University.
Desirable
- Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
- Evidence of further study to enhance practice
- Evidence of providing supervision
- Evidence of leadership responsibilities
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of universal and specialist childrens mental health service provision.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.
- Proven organisational skills.
- Proven time and caseload management skills
- Able to write clear reports and letters. Demonstrates a high standard in both written and oral communication.
- Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
- Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Ability to undertake risk assessments.
- Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
- Ability to work under supervision and make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development.
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how this may present in children and young people.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the need for evidence based psychological therapies
Desirable
- A working knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health
- Knowledge of relevant guidance policy and good practice
Physical skills
Essential
- Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
- Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements and demands of the training course and work within the service.
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk as required across the full duration of the working day.
- Ability to – on occasion, to move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
- The ability to work flexibly sometimes working additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service and ensure a complete understanding is had in relation to care delivery.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 13 May 2026
