About this role
Job summary
Location: East CambridgeStart date: January 2027
Are you an experienced MHST practitioner ready to take the next step in your career? We are excited to offer opportunities for passionate, skilled clinicians to join us as Senior Wellbeing Practitioners. This is a fantastic chance to influence local mental health provision, support EMHPs, and shape the growth of our developing MHSTs.
You'll be joining a forward-thinking, supportive service committed to improving outcomes for children and young people in education settings. Successful applicants will also be supported to complete the UEA MHST Supervisor Course in 2027.
You do not need to be registered at the point of applying.
Why not click on the link to the Job Description and find out more about the role.
We look forward to receiving your application!
Should we receive a high number of applications, we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 15th October 2026
Main duties of the job
As a Senior Wellbeing Practitioner, the successful candidate will work closely with the MHST Clinical and Team Lead and Senior Clinicians, to ensure success of the MHST
Support Trainee and Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) to deliver evidence-based intervention for children and young people in education settings with mild to moderate mental health difficulties
To deliver evidence-based support for children and young people in education settings, utilising skills and knowledge of CBT and child and adolescent mental health practice, and knowledge of Whole School and College Approach to mental health
Working with and within education environments to provide better access to specialist mental health services
Supervise Trainee and Qualified EMHPs
Practice in accordance with clinical governance processes and professional standards
About us
Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There's one reason why our services are outstanding - and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
Please be aware that East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust will never ask applicants to pay fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. All recruitment communications and job applications should only be made through our official careers website and published contact details.
If you receive a suspicious job offer or recruitment-related communication, do not make any payments, share personal information, or provide identity documents. We encourage you to report the matter to your local police or relevant law enforcement agency. Any concerns relating to potential recruitment fraud should also be reported to our Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) as soon as possible.
Job description Job responsibilities
Job Purpose:
To work in an exciting service which we are delivering across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: The Mental Health Support Team (MHST). MHSTs are based within schools, ensuring children and young people receive faster access to earlier mental health support. You will be one of the key team members in the expansion of this service.
In this role you will support and provide a high-quality service to students (and their families) experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. This will be done through the supervision and line management of Trainee and qualified Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), and through direct delivery of evidence-based interventions to support the recovery of young people referred to the service, utilising skills and knowledge of CBT and child and adolescent mental health practice, and knowledge of whole school approaches to mental health. This work will be in accordance with clinical governance processes and professional standards.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical
Under the direction of the MHST Senior Clinician, be accountable and responsible for a defined clinical caseload
Provide screening, assessment, psychosocial formulations and interventions (e.g. psycho-educational interventions, Guided Self Help, CBT, solution focused work, systemic work and group support), and to measure outcomes for all interventions, for mild to moderate mental health difficulties in educational settings
Provide a service that is comprehensive and accessible to the whole school community, targeting mild to moderate mental health problems in children and young people aged 4 to 19 years old
Provide a service that is equitable and non-discriminatory in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and disability or any other protected characteristic
Support professionals in making appropriate referrals and in carrying out the mental health aspects of their own roles. To liaise closely with other professionals including colleagues in the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service, YOUnited, Paediatricians, Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health services, school counsellors, Childrens Services and other voluntary agencies
Make appropriate referrals to other service providers in the statutory and voluntary sectors and redirect clients to other sources of appropriate support within the local community as required
To provide consultation as required to other professionals (such as teachers and Family Workers) around mental health issues in children and young people in educational settings
Clinically develop the provision of group work for children/young people and training for teaching staff, to include training and mentoring EMHP colleagues in order to improve the quality of the group work and training that we deliver
To work creatively with other members of the team to create training packages for teachers and support/awareness sessions for young people and parents/carers
Develop a local knowledge of the locality and its services and facilities, particularly in relation to mental health issues
To deliver psychoeducation and support to parents/carers and teachers, conveying formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language
To enhance emotional wellbeing and to promote or build resilience in children and young people through educational workshops, assemblies and PSHE lessons
Conduct risk assessments and formulations, prepare risk management plans and initiate appropriate action where indicated (including referrals to relevant secondary care services)
To actively contribute to team multi-disciplinary working
Demonstrate appropriate understanding of the legal and ethical issues in providing mental health care to children and/or adolescents
Demonstrate an understanding of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and the Care Act. The post holder will also understand Safeguarding Children and Adults and Child Protection procedures
The post holder will be required to work with young people whose behaviour is personally challenging and deal with frequent exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances
To support the rollout of further MHSTs across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Clinical Supervision and Training
Undertake appropriate clinical supervision on a regular basis in accordance with the relevant professional guidelines and policies
Provide clinical and case supervision to Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) and Trainee EMHPs. This will involve supervising two elements of their practice:a. Low intensity cognitive behavioural informed interventions and;b. Whole School Approach to mental health in education settingsc. Attend the EMHP Supervisors Course at the University of East Angliad. Offer training to Education staff and other agencies in CBT based interventionse. Attend locally organised and national training appropriate to the work role
Professional
Take personal (unprompted) responsibility for achieving agreed clinical activity
To develop an area of interest, in discussion with the Clinical & Team Lead to the level whereby the post holder could become a resource of information for the whole service
Adhere to the policies and procedures of the Trust and the Service
Maintain appropriate clinical records in keeping with service operational policy
Participate in setting and reviewing of objectives for the post on an annual basis
Participate in activities of continuing professional development (CPD) on an annual basis
Attend, organise and chair meetings as appropriate
Communication
Establish and maintain positive working relationships with professionals, agencies, charities and teams who also provide services to children and/or adolescents in the community. These relationships are a key part of the role in which you will be representing East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust and will benefit the child/adolescent and/or family
Be able to clearly and effectively communicate both clinical and non-clinical information with those receiving care, their families/carers and with other professional colleagues as appropriate
The post holder will be able to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, self-awareness and empathy in all communications
Represent the team at meetings as delegated by the Senior Clinician and/or Clinical & Team Lead and contribute effectively to the meeting agenda
People Management
Ensure that clinically supervised staff maintain appropriate clinical records, including outcome data, in keeping with service operational policy
Participate in regular audits of clinical activity, quarterly reporting, research projects and utilise data from the services Key Performance Indicators to enhance individual practitioners and the teams clinical practice
Take a lead or assist in the management and organisation of work as required, utilising the teams resources to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of high-quality patient care
Balance conflicting demands, including delegating work and understanding Service Key Performance Indicators
Participate in service development and make an active contribution to pursuing the aims, objectives and overall strategy of the EHWS and the Trust
Research & Development Activity
To lead and participate in regular audits, quarterly reporting, and research projects for the improvement of the teams clinical practice
To collaborate with other team members in the design and implementation of audit and research projects
Clinical and Practice Governance
Participate fully in providing quality care in line with local and national guidelines e.g. NICE Guidance & Quality Standards relating to children and/or young people with mental health difficulties and social care difficulties
Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection
Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies
The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes
The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures
It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the relevant professional body, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration
Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust
Provide patients and their families/carers with information on standards they should expect from the team
The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness processes and Business Continuity for their team and the EHWS
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training Essential
Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) Qualification Evidence of continued professional development Professional registration with either the BPS or BABC
Desirable
A qualification in provision of supervision Post Graduate qualification Registration with relevant professional body
Experience Essential
Two years+ experience as a Band 5 EMHP/CWP Able to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge of mental health practice from previous professional experience Demonstrate effective risk assessment and risk management experience Experience of providing supervision Experience of inducting staff members to an area with confidence Experience of screening, assessing and treatment prescribing Experience in the delivery of evidence-based interventions for children and young people Experience in working in a team and partnership working Experience of working within a service which has demanding targets and performance management Experience in delivering group-based interventions Experience in supporting service development
Desirable
Experience of delivering training Experience in developing others Experience of leadership Experience of providing mentorship Experience of working in a community environment Experience of working in an educational environment
Knowledge & Skills Essential
Excellent communication skills Competent assessment skills Effective analytical and decision-making skills, including care planning skills Risk assessment knowledge and skills Competent and effective psychological treatment skills Able to effectively prioritise own workload and use team resources effectively Respond flexibly and appropriately to unforeseen circumstances Good computer skills including use of email/internet and Microsoft software (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Excellent verbal and written communication skills Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively Ability to work cross-culturally Ability to use outcome measures for both clinical and audit purposes Ability to manage conflict and respond to complaints
Desirable
Good knowledge of national legislation and drivers and other legislation related to the care of children and young people, educational provision and mental health Knowledge of NICE, CQC standards and regulations
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship 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).
Employer details Employer name East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge)
Address East Cambs MHST - Princess of Wales Hosptial
The Princess of Wales Hospital
Ely
CB6 1DN
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.eastofenglandcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)