Mental Health Practitioner in Colchester

Centre Academy East Anglia are looking fora Mental Health Practitioner to join our team based in Brettenham ?????? , Suffolk .The successful candidate will earn a competitive salary starting from £30,000 per annum.
Centre Academy East Anglia is a small SEN School and is a vibrant and inclusive educational institution dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for our students. We are seeking a dedicated and reliable Mental Health Practitioner to join our team.
Main purpose of the role
To promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing across the school.
To provide intervention and targeted support for pupils experiencing social, emotional or mental health difficulties.
To work collaboratively with staff, families and external professionals to help pupils feel safe, included and able to achieve their potential.
Duties and responsibilities
Direct support and interventions
Identify and support pupils experiencing social, emotional, mental health or behavioural difficulties
Deliver tailored one-to-one and small-group wellbeing interventions supporting with emotional regulation, self-esteem, coping skills, relationships and engagement with learning
Provide planned wellbeing interventions alongside flexible drop-in support sessions, offering pupils a safe space for check-ins, emotional regulation, and early intervention when needed
Adapt approaches and resources to meet a range of SEND needs
Liaise with staff and external professionals to ensure appropriate support and referrals where required.
Assessment, tracking, recording and evaluation
Gather appropriate pupil, staff and parent/carer views to understand needs, strengths, triggers and protective factors
Set achievable support goals to monitor progress
Keep accurate, timely and confidential records of sessions, concerns, interventions and progress
Produce concise written progress reports and practical recommendations for staff, pupils and families as appropriate.
Whole-school mental health and wellbeing
Work with all school staff to embed a consistent whole-school approach to mental health and emotional wellbeing
Help staff to recognise signs of emotional distress or emerging mental health needs
Develop or adapt accessible wellbeing resources, strategies and practical tools for use in classrooms and individual support.
Working with colleagues
Liaise regularly with the SENCo, teachers, teaching assistants and safeguarding staff to identify needs and agree realistic support strategies
Provide guidance and modelling to staff on strategies supporting regulation, wellbeing and engagement
Attend relevant pupil-support, pastoral, review and multi-agency meetings.
Working with parents/carers and external agencies
Communicate sensitively with parents/carers about agreed support, strategies and progress, in line with safeguarding and confidentiality requirements
Work alongside external agencies and specialist professionals as directed by the SENCo and/or Head of School.
Safeguarding and professional practice
Work in accordance with current statutory safeguarding guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and the Prevent duty, and all relevant school policies
Recognise, record and promptly report safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), following school procedures
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries, confidentiality, data protection and secure information-sharing practices
Participate in relevant training, supervision or reflective practice and keep professional knowledge up to date.
Essential
Relevant experience supporting children or young people with emotional wellbeing, mental health or social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. A recognised qualification, degree, or specialist training in a mental health, counselling, psychology, wellbeing, or related profession is highly desirable
Understanding of SEND and how neurodevelopmental, sensory and communication differences can affect wellbeing and access to learning
Ability to build trusting, professional relationships with pupils and to plan and deliver individual and small-group interventions
Ability to write clear records and communicate practical strategies to staff and parents/carers
Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities, confidentiality, professional boundaries and when to seek specialist support
Ability to work collaboratively with school staff, families and outside professionals.
Health and Safety
Ensure the environment is safe, organised, and conducive to learning and wellbeing
Follow risk assessments and individual pupil support plans
Undertake positive handling/restraint training where required and act in accordance with school policy.
General Responsibilities
Uphold the ethos and values of the school
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times
Participate in staff meetings, training, supervision, and professional development
Comply with all school policies and procedures
Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the role.
Safeguarding Statement
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, online searches, and all other safer recruitment checks in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).
Applicants are required to attend a face-to-face interview, reference checks, and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance is required for this position prior to commencement. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. CAEA is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
What we will offer you
CAEA is in a small and rural location convenient to Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Woolpit and Lavenham, a quiet environment with students who want to be at school and finally with the freedom to devise a curriculum that will provide the most benefit for the students.
Closing date: 11 December 2026
If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this Mental Health Practitioner ? role, even if you don't meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Onsite.