Job summary
Education Mental Health Practitioner
Allianceare the leading independent provider of mental health and psychologicalwellbeing services across Teesside and the North-East. With a growingworkforce of 160 committed and enthusiastic staff we deliver qualitydrivenevidence-basedtherapies and support toover20,000peopleeach year. Commissioned through the TeesValley CCGs and overseen through the Mental Health & Learning DisabilityPartnership we lead both on the delivery of IMPACTon Teesside and theHartlepool and Stockton National Trailblazer for Mental Health Support Teams.We do this through our commitments to working collaboratively with partners,including third sector organisations, local authorities, educational settingsand other health and social care providers to ensure the best possible outcomesfor those who need our support. We also provide more specialist support inparticular areas that have been funded from elsewhere. We have a successful anddeveloping employee support and wellbeing service, that provides unique supportto the public and private sector across the North-East.
Doyou want to improve the lives of young people and families facing mental healthdifficulties and deliver support in a dynamic and creative childrens team? Ifso, we would love to hear from you as we have an exciting career opportunityavailable in our Children, Young Peoples Mental Health Support Team. We arecurrently recruiting for an Education Mental Health Practitioner.
Main duties of the job
Youwill share our service vision & organisation values for understanding andmeeting the different needs of individuals, families, and communities acrossTeesside.
Thepost holder will be part of a Mental Health Support Team (MHST) deliveringevidence-based interventions to children, young people, parents & carers inan educational/community setting who are experiencing mild to moderate mentalhealth difficulties. Helping children & young people within these settingswho present with more severe problems to rapidly access more specialistservices. The post holder will also be responsible for supporting andfacilitating staff in education settings to identify and where appropriatemanage issues related to mental health and wellbeing.
The post requires working fromvarious schools and locations across Stockton and Hartlepool, where multiplevenues may be visited each day. Access to a car is therefore essential forthis post, as some locations are not easily accessed via bus routes.
We are happy to accept applicationsfrom candidates who are awaiting ratified results and due to finish the TraineeEMHP course early 2025.
ClosingDate: 28 November 2024
InterviewDate: 2 December 2024
Toarrange an informal chat about the post, please contact Kaye Hooker viatelephone on 01642 352747 or via email CYPF
Youmust have right to work in the UK as we are currently unable to offer workingvisa opportunities.
About us
Allianceoffers first rate training and development opportunities, 38 days annual leavepro rata, rising 1 day every 5 years of service (as well as the option topurchase additional annual leave) EAP health scheme including costs towards eyetests/glasses, dental treatment, physio treatment and shopping discountsalongside a 3% contributory pension scheme. We also offer lots of health andwellbeing initiatives for our staff and promote flexible working for a positivework life balance.
Alliance Psychological Services Limited is committed to promoting equalopportunities in our employment practice and service delivery. We aresignatories to the Mindful Employers Charter. Alliance also has Investors inPeople status and is committed to the National Living Wage.
Alliance Psychological Services follows safer recruitment of staff forall appointments. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is eachpersons individual responsibility and are committed to promoting andsafeguarding the welfare of clients. Please note that due to the nature of theduties of these roles, an enhanced criminal records disclosure will besoughtinthe event of a successfulapplication.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Alliance is a leading local childrens mental healthprovider delivering psychological support and emotional well-being services inprimary and secondary schools and supporting a whole school approach toimproving childrens mental health and wellbeing. We also provide psychological therapies to childrenand families with multiple and complex needs. Through the Children and YoungPeoples Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) Programme ourservice transformation is through the delivery of evidence-based therapies, useof routine outcome measures and in full collaboration with children, young people,and families.
Job Purpose
The post holder will be part of a MentalHealth Support Team (MHST) delivering evidence-based interventions to children,young people, parents & carers in an educational/community setting who areexperiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Helping children andyoung people within these settings who present with more severe problems torapidly access more specialist services. The post holder will also beresponsible for supporting and facilitating staff in education settings toidentify and where appropriate manage issues related to mental health andwellbeing.
DBS Check required (level of disclosure):Enhanced
Main Duties andResponsibilities
Therapeutic practice
Delivera range of outcome focused, evidence-based interventions in educationalsettings to children, young people experiencing mild to moderate mental healthdifficulties.
Undertakeand complete assessments including accurate assessment of risk to self andothers.
Supportingchildren and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental healthdifficulties and their families and educators in the self-management ofpresenting difficulties.
Workingin partnership with children, young people, their families, and educators inthe development of treatment plans for specific interventions.
Demonstratean inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.
Identify/acceptappropriate referrals for children and young people in educational settings,according to agreed treatment pathways, processes, and procedures.
Adhereto the policies and protocols within Alliance and the educational service towhich the postholder is attached.
Haveknowledge and understanding of the local services and be able to signpost childrenand young people with more complex needs to the relevant service.
Engagein robust managerial and clinical supervision, identifying the scope ofpractice of the individual postholder within the role, and working safelywithin that scope.
Delivera range of interventions related to the provision of information and supportfor evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help.
Abilityto manage ones own caseload in conjunction with the requirements of the team.
Attendmulti-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to referrals for childrenand young people in treatment.
Keepcoherent records of all clinical activity in line with Alliances serviceprotocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making.
Completeall requirements relating to data collection.
Showevidence of working within a collaborative approach, involving a range ofrelevant others when indicated. Specifically, work in collaboration withteachers and other educational staff, parents, children, young people and thewider community to enhance and broaden access to mental health services.
Contribute to the development ofindividual or group clinical materials or training materials and go on todevelop further such materials as falls within own degree of competence.
Training and supervision
Prepareand present case load information to supervisors within the service on anagreed and scheduled basis, to ensure safe practice and the governanceobligations of the trainee, supervisor, and service.
Engagein and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences andpractice.
Professional
Ensurethe maintenance of standards of own professional practice according to AlliancePsychological Services Ltd.
Ensureappropriate adherence to any new recommendations or guidelines set by therelevant departments.
Ensurethat confidentiality is always protected.
Ensurethat any risks or issues related to the safety and wellbeing of anyone thepostholder comes into contact within the course of their professional dutiesare communicated and shared with appropriate parties, in order to maintainindividual safety and the public interest.
Ensureclear objectives are identified, discussed, and reviewed with supervisor andsenior colleagues on a regular basis as part of continuing professionaldevelopment.
Participatein individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
Keepall records up to date in relation to Continuous Professional Development andthe requirements of the post and ensure personal development plans maintains upto date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service deliverymodels/developments.
Attendrelevant educational opportunities in line with identified professionalobjectives.
To work within Data Protection Act 1998 and AllianceInformation Governance policies and procedures
Partnership Working
To create and maintain effective working relationships withHeadteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCOs, Pastoral Team, and wider teaching staff byproviding advice and consultative support on emotional and mental healthissues, and in relation to appropriate referral pathways for children, youngpeople and families with mental health needs.
To liaise effectively with other local providers, includingstatutory, voluntary sector organisations and on behalf of the child, young person,or family.
To build effective working relationships with other localchildrens mental health providers including CaMHS and support the developmentof pathways of support.
Attend multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating toreferrals for children, young people, and families in treatment.
With support ensure information sharing is achieved within partnershipsto ensure young people and their families receive appropriate and timelysupport.
Safeguarding
Responsible for safeguarding children and always promotingthe welfare of children & young people and operating within local policiesand procedures.
Taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children& young people at risk of significant harm.
To identify and support families in accessing Early HelpServices
To share appropriately information with parents/carers orother agencies regarding the childs wellbeing and progress keeping within theboundaries of Confidentiality and Information sharing protocols.
This jobdescription is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible indeveloping the role in accordance with changes in Alliances organisationalobjectives and priorities.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
1. Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health intervention with children.
2. Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health intervention with families.
3. Ability to work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness within the staff group.
4. Ability to conduct mental health assessments of children and young people.
5. Ability to assess risk and to record and communicate it appropriately.
6. Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
7. Knowledge of educational environments
8. Knowledge of safeguarding issues
9. Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.
10. Knowledge of the functional operation of specialist CAMHS teams
11. Experience of working with children and their families in an educational setting.
12. Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders
13. Experience of working with children who have social, emotional and/or behavioral difficulties.
14. Experience of working with anxiety disorders.
15. Experience of working with affective (mood) disorders.
16. Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for childrens emotional wellbeing.
17. Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people, or their families (, CBT, Parent Led CBT, Parent Led Conduct Difficulties)
18. Full, enhanced, and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role
19. Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic, and potentially emotionally distressing caseload.
20. Excellent oral and written communication skills
21. Member or willing to be a member of a registered Professional Body eg. BABCP, BPS
Desirable
22. Ability to teach others about mental health issues.
23. Ability to conduct group therapeutic interventions with children and their families
24. Experience of navigating complex social systems and environments, who may have conflicting priorities or agendas.
25. Experience of working with looked after children.
26. Experience of working with other vulnerable groups
27. Experience of being involved in multi-Agency meetings
28. Proven commitment to continuous professional development.
Qualifications
Essential
29. Successful completion of the HEE commissioned 1yr Education Mental Health Practitioner course.
Desirable
30. Teaching qualification
31. Youth Mental Health First Aid trained
Other Skills & Qualities
Essential
32. Self-motivated
33. Full Clean Driving license required-Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post.
34. Team player
35. Excellent time management and organisational skills
36. Able to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for any illness or disability.