Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner

Overview

We have an exciting training opportunity for people who wish to make a major contribution to child and adolescent mental health services in Berkshire. The Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) role is an opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people up to the age of 18, working across both educational settings and healthcare sectors.

Each MHST is co-located in schools, with services delivered across the cluster of schools in each locality. We work with schools to develop or enhance their whole school approach to emotional health and wellbeing and mental health. As a trainee EMHP you will be expected to work under supervision as part of a dynamic integrated mental health team. This approach requires creativity, flexibility and adaptability, and a passion for working with children and young people in educational settings. Successful candidates will be offered a full-time educational programme specifically for the role, gaining credits towards either a degree or diploma level qualification (depending on level of previous academic study), plus guaranteed B5 EMHP employment upon completion of training. Trainees will be employed by Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust for the duration of the training at the University of Southampton and will be on placement during this time.

All applicants must demonstrate in their application the ability to work at degree level or have an equivalent level of relevant experience, with a proven record of previous learning or formal study in child development, wellbeing or mental health and a desire to work in children\’s mental health. The training programme for this post starts in January 2025, is 12 months in duration and will consist of academic and supervised practice learning across mental health services and educational settings, such as primary and secondary schools, and further education colleges. Delivery of the programme will be provided through a combination of taught days within a university, independent self-guided study days and experience gained in education wellbeing and mainstream mental health services. During training, the post-holder will work under supervision to gain experience across healthcare and educational settings to enable them to gain the level of competence required to deliver high-quality, evidence-based early interventions for CYP experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems. On successful completion of training, trainee EMHPs will be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and capabilities to work as a qualified EMHP as autonomous and responsible practitioners within their scope of practice, alongside education colleagues.

Responsibilities / What you will do

• Deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people up to age 18, working across educational settings and healthcare sectors.
• Work as part of a dynamic integrated mental health team under supervision.
• Collaborate with schools to develop or enhance whole-school approaches to emotional health, wellbeing and mental health.
• Train within a full-time educational programme to gain credits towards a degree or diploma, with guaranteed B5 EMHP employment upon completion.
• Be employed by Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust for the duration of the training, with placement at the University of Southampton.
• Gain experience across healthcare and educational settings to achieve competence for autonomous practice as an EMHP.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Ability to work at degree level or equivalent level of relevant experience, with a proven record of learning or formal study in child development, wellbeing or mental health.
• Desire to work in children\’s mental health.
• Programme starts January 2025; duration is 12 months; includes academic and supervised practice learning across mental health services and educational settings (primary/secondary schools and further education colleges).
• Delivery through a mix of university-taught days, independent study days, and practical experience in education wellbeing and mainstream mental health services.

About Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust / Benefits

• Specialist mental health and community health services trust, rated \’outstanding\’ by the CQC.
• Committed to an inclusive and compassionate environment with a sense of belonging.
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance.
• 27 days\’ annual leave rising with service, plus option to buy and sell leave.
• Generous NHS pension scheme.
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities.
• Cycle to Work and car leasing schemes including electric vehicles.
• Wellbeing tools and services, discounts at retailers and restaurants.
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality.
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
• Free parking across Trust sites.