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 deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people, working across educational and healthcare sectors.
The Senior 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.
Experienced in IAPT, the post holder will undertake appropriate mental health assessment of children and young people referred to the service and provide a range of appropriate, evidence based clinical interventions informed by assessed individual need. The post holder will provide support, advice and consultation to families/carers and other professionals involved in the life of the child/young person This post will supervise the Emotional Health Team in Schools as appropriate and provide evidence based supervision.
The post will work in partnership with the Team Manager and ELCAS Operational Lead and will further develop the partnership working that is currently taking place between education, health and primary care.
Assess and deliver, outcome focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties, in primary, secondary, Specialist Learning Environments and College education settings.
Provide leadership and be involved in the development of the MHST alongside the team manager and other senior colleagues in the service.
Experience or interest in working with children and families with complex needs, additional educational needs, learning disabilities and neurodiversity.
Working in partnership, support children, young people and their families in the self-management of presenting difficulties, principally anxiety and depression.
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 secondary 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.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role
Experience
Essential criteria
· 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 behavioural, 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.
· Proven ability to analyse situations, evaluate options and produce effective solutions and outcomes
· A minimum of 3 years CAMHS experience
· 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 accredited body and hold accreditation · Post graduate qualification in IAPT clinical supervision
Desirable
· Specialist qualification in other appropriate therapy eg. FT/DBT Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Essential
· Knowledge of educational environments including Specialist Learning Environments (SEN/PRU’s)
· 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 families
· Ability to conduct group parenting programmes
· 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
· Ability to conduct other group therapeutic interventions with children and their families · Knowledge about national and local CAMHS targets
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.
This advert closes on Sunday 23 Feb 2025