Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Job summary This is an exciting opportunity to join our Mental Health Support Team (MHST), supporting children and young people within schools, colleges and community settings. As a Band 6 MHST Senior Mental Health Practitioner, you will provide evidence-based early interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties. Working closely with education settings, families, CAMHS and wider partner agencies, you will support early identification of mental health needs and help ensure children and young people receive the right support at the right time. You will also play an important role in supporting the development of the MHST, providing consultation and training to education staff and contributing to the supervision and development of Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs). Main duties of the job Hold and manage a caseload of children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Undertake assessments, care planning, risk assessment and evidence-based interventions. Work collaboratively with children, young people, families, carers and education staff. Provide consultation, specialist advice and training to schools and partner agencies. Use routine outcome measures to monitor the effectiveness of interventions. Support and supervise EMHPs and contribute to their professional development. Work closely with CAMHS and wider services to ensure appropriate pathways and onward referrals. Contribute to service development, clinical governance and continuous improvement. About us NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex. We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care. Details Date posted 06 October 2026 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £39,959 to £48,117 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number CHC-3HL-002120 Job locations Cranham Health Centre Upminster essex RM14 1RG United Kingdom Job description Job responsibilities Detailed job description and main responsibilities The Senior Practitioner will be expected to work as part of a dynamic mental health team in a creative environment where evidence-based interventions, new ideas, ways of working and supporting children and young people are actively encouraged. This approach requires flexibility and adaptability, and above all a passion for working with children and young people in educational settings. To routinely measure clinical outcomes and deliver evidence-based clinical interventions, both in-line with the CYP-IAPT programme within CAMHS. To work with a defined caseload of service users as part of a multi-disciplinary team, providing assessment, care planning and care delivery for service users with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. This will include the provision of highly skilled professional care, psychological interventions, group work, clinical assessment, risk assessments / risk management, and promoting recovery and inclusion and ensuring co-production with service users, families and carers and the education staff. Promoting the mental and emotional health of children, young people, and families in the community through clinical interventions in the care pathway/crisis team/SPA To improve the knowledge and understanding of emotional and mental wellbeing services among school staff where appropriate. To undertake initial school based and community-based assessments and to deliver a range of early interventions to children and young people with a range of emotional and psychological difficulties where appropriate. To prevent more serious mental health problems in children and young people by early identification of the development of mental health problems in children and young people Providing a direct service to children and young people and their families, in an accessible and less stigmatizing environment, based on the best available research evidence, within clinical governance. Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities The successful post holder will work within the Havering Mental Health Support Team, delivering high-quality, evidence-based interventions as part of the national Mental Health Support Team programme. The role is centred on providing accessible, timely mental health support within schools and educational settings, helping children and young people receive the right support at the earliest opportunity. You will undertake comprehensive assessments, formulate care plans and deliver evidence-based psychological interventions for chi