MHST Neurodevelopmental Transition School Support Worker - Mid Essex

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, and we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of neurodiverse children? We invite you to join our innovative two-year pilot study aimed at supporting Year 6 students as they transition to Year 7 and begin their secondary school journey.

Main Duties of the Neurodevelopmental Transition Support Worker:

• Work with Schools: Collaborate with identified primary and secondary schools in Chelmsford to support children and young people (CYP) in their transition from Year 6 to Year 7.
• Support Identified CYP: Assist CYP known to Mid Essex SET CAMHS and community paediatrics who present with neurodevelopmental conditions and would benefit from a tailored pupil plan around transition.
• Address Transition Challenges: Provide targeted support to CYP facing specific challenges related to change and transition due to neurodevelopmental presentations.
• Create Pupil Plans: Develop comprehensive pupil plans that include strategies to support CYP moving between schools, addressing emotional, social, sensory, and communication needs.
• Deliver Individual and Group Sessions: Conduct both individual and group sessions to support the young person, their families, and the new school setting, ensuring a smooth transition.
• Train and Develop School Staff: Work closely with teaching staff to provide training and development aimed at supporting CYP with neurodevelopmental presentations.

Qualifications:

• Educational Background: A graduate degree in a relevant field (e.g., psychology, teaching).
• Postgraduate Training: Completed postgraduate mental health training (e.g., CYP-IAPT).
• Preferred Experience: Experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or educational settings, and registration with a professional or regulatory body (e.g., HCPC, NMC, BABCP). Additional training in neurodevelopmental or developmental fields is desirable.

Person specification:

• Successful completion of a graduate training (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy, psychology, EMHP, CWP). The applicant must have 2 years post-qualification experience in an equivalent role.
• Successful completion of a post-graduate mental health course.
• To be eligible for registration as a full member of the appropriate professional body (e.g. HCPC, NMC) where appropriate.
• To have completed formal CBT training (e.g. CYP-IAPT).

Experience:

• Experience running therapy groups and/or training events.
• Experience of working with YP with social emotional/sensory/social needs.
• Experience of working within school settings and/or CAMHS clinical settings.
• Experience of working with YP who have neurodevelopmental presentations.
• Ability to confidently liaise with a variety of professionals (Educational settings, Social Care, Charities etc.).

Knowledge:

• High level of knowledge of the theory and practice of whole school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health.
• High level of knowledge of the theory and practice of psychological interventions including low-intensity CBT interventions.
• Ability to chair team meetings, undertake delegated management tasks and support the CYPMHS Service.

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

• A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long-term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
• A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work-life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our efforts to support our working parents and carers.
• Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
• As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part-time hours or another flexible pattern.

We are committed to equal opportunities and diversity and positively encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of any protected characteristic.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.