As this is a school-based service delivery, the post holder will be expected to take their annual leave in the school holidays other than in urgent circumstances. We are looking for an enthusiastic, suitably qualified and experienced person with the ability, commitment, and passion to support children and young people with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
In line with the government's priority to increase access and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, the MHST delivers evidence-based early interventions for children and young people, working across educational and healthcare sectors. The Mental Health Practitioner will work in educational settings, schools, and colleges, as part of NHS-led Mental Health Support Teams and will be based in either East Lancashire or Blackburn with Darwen.
The post holder will undertake appropriate mental health assessment and short-term clinical intervention of children and young people referred to the service and provide a range of appropriate, evidence-based clinical interventions informed by assessed individual need. Assess and deliver, under supervision, outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people in education settings experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
Working in partnership, support children, young people, and their families in the self-management of presenting difficulties, principally anxiety and low mood. Supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to identify and where appropriate manage issues related to mental health and wellbeing whilst improving access to mental health services. To support schools in developing strategies/activities to promote emotional well-being and positive mental health to the school community. Operate at all times from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity. Signpost referrals to the relevant service. Undertake assessments of risk to self and others.
To use the acquired skills, knowledge, and abilities to deliver a service based within education settings that builds on and reinforces but does not replace those initiatives that already exist within these environments.
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health, and forensic services including low and medium secure care. The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria, and Sefton area.
At ELCAS (East Lancashire Child and Adolescent Services), our vision is to be a centre of excellence providing high-quality Child and Adolescent psychological and mental health services that exceed people's expectations. We have been accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Quality Network for Community CAMHS (QNCC) since 2016. In 2019 the CQC rated us as Outstanding in providing Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led services, and as Outstanding overall.
Essential Responsibilities:
* 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 of working with children and young people who have social, emotional, behavioral difficulties, neurodiversity, and/or learning difficulties/disabilities.
* Experience of working with anxiety disorders & affective (mood) disorders.
* Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people, or their families.
* Access to private transport for work purposes.
Desirable:
* Experience of working with children and their families in a healthcare and/or education setting.
* 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.
Education Essential Criteria:
* Successful completion of relevant IAPT Course.
* Membership with an accredited body and hold accreditation.
Desirable:
* Specialist qualification in other appropriate therapy (e.g., FT/DBT).
* Qualification in clinical supervision.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Essential:
* Knowledge of educational environments.
* Knowledge of safeguarding issues.
* Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.
* Ability to carry out 1:1/group therapeutic mental health interventions with children and/or families.
* Ability to deliver presentations and to teach others about mental health issues.
* Ability to conduct mental health assessments of children and young people.
* Ability to make an assessment of risk and to record and communicate it appropriately.
* Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
Desirable:
* Knowledge of the functional operation of specialist CAMHS teams.
* Knowledge of educational environments including Specialist Learning Environments (SEN/PRU's).
* Ability to conduct group parenting programmes.
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