Qualified CWP/EMHP

Job summary

The MHST is looking for qualified Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) or Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs) to work as an autonomous practitioner (with appropriate supervision) within an MHST, delivering evidence-based mental health support to children and young people in educational settings. The post holder will assess and deliver outcome focused, evidence-based interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties, working at all times in collaboration with and giving respect to the education function of the setting.

The role focuses on early intervention, promoting emotional wellbeing, supporting school staff, and improving access to specialist services where needed.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver brief, evidence-based CBT informed interventions (e.g. guided self-help) for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs.
• Assess and deliver outcome focused, evidence-based interventions within educational settings in collaboration with education staff.
• Support early identification of mental health difficulties and facilitate referrals for more complex cases.
• Work collaboratively with children, families, education staff, and wider professionals to develop and implement care plans.
• Promote mental health awareness and wellbeing strategies within school settings.
• Provide advice, consultation, and training support to education staff.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and outcome data in line with Trust and national standards and timescales.
• Manage a defined caseload, working within scope of practice and escalating risk or complexity appropriately.
• Undertake and record accurate assessments, including formulation of risk, and operate clear risk management processes in line with local procedures and safeguarding guidance.
• Attend multi-agency meetings and contribute to integrated care planning.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

Essential

• Successful completion of the HEE commissioned 1yr ‘Education Mental Health Practitioner’ or the ‘Child and Young Persons Psychological Wellbeing Practice’ course with experience of working with child, young people and families.
• Experience of working clinically with children and young people in a setting such a CAMHS and/or within an educational setting

Desirable

• A further relevant degree qualification
• Teaching qualification

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Experience of working with children and young people, their families, and others.
• Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders.
• Experience working in a service which has agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
• Experience in using an electronic records and data collection system.
• Experience of working with children and young people who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, and those who have experienced a mental health problem
• Experience of working with anxiety disorders, affective (mood) disorders.
• Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people, or their families (e.g., CBT, solution focused brief therapy).
• Experience of working with children and their families in a healthcare and/or education setting.

Desirable

• Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for children’s emotional wellbeing.
• Experience of navigating complex social systems and environments, who may have conflicting priorities or agendas.
• Experience of working with looked after children.
• Experience of working with other vulnerable groups.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY

Essential

• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety, depression, and challenging behaviour and how it may present in universal services
• Demonstrates understanding of the need to use evidence based psychological models and how it relates to this post.
• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.
• Knowledge of educational environments.
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues.
• Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health interventions with children/families
• Ability to conduct group parenting programmes.
• Ability to work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness within the staff group.
• Ability to conduct mental health assessments of children and young people.
• Ability to assess risk and to record and communicate it appropriately
• Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.

Desirable

• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the stressors young people may encounter in an educationalsetting and the impact that these can have on mental health
• Knowledge of the school’s safeguarding procedures and who the Designated Safeguarding Lead, (DSL), is in each establishment that they work in.
• Knowledge of the functional operation of specialist CAMHS teams.
• Ability to teach others about mental health issues.
• Ability to conduct other group therapeutic interventions with children and their families.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Able to write clear reports and letters.
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Ability to use clinical supervision positively and effectively
• Ability to facilitate psychoeducation sessions to professionals (e.g. teachers)
• Ability to deliver interventions to groups (young people and parent/carer groups).
• Skills in delivering Guided Self-Help interventions.
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with young people

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Essential

• Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development andin supervision.
• Ability to assess risk assessments and understanding of the importance of assessing risk.

Closing Date: 2 August 2026