MHST EMHP / Mental Health Practitioner in London

The Harrow Mental Health Support Team is looking for a qualified EMHP or Generic Mental Health Practitioner who has experience of working with Children and Young People in Mental Health Services in the provision of individual and group treatments. We seek to appoint an enthusiastic and vibrant individual who is passionate about improving health outcomes for children and young people. Mental health professionals with postgraduate training in a recognised therapy modality and experience of working with CYP may also apply. We are open to applications from newly qualified occupational therapists, mental health nurses, social workers or other relevant therapy postgraduate qualifications. You will work alongside other EMHPs, Mental Health Practitioners and a Senior Practitioner to support the wellbeing and mental health needs of schools and colleges in the borough of Harrow.

Job Responsibilities

• Undertaking assessments and delivering evidence-based, low-intensity, brief intervention for children and young people, with mild to moderate mental health problems, in an education setting.
• Helping children and young people within these settings who present with more severe problems to rapidly access more specialist service.
• Supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to identify, and where appropriate, manage issues related to mental health and wellbeing.
• Working with and within educational environments to afford better access to CYP mental health services.
• Training and consultation to schools and other agencies about mental health in children and young people.
• Support schools in developing their Whole School Approach to mental health.

Job Description — Responsibilities (condensed)

• Assess and deliver outcome focused, evidence-based interventions in educational settings for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties, working in collaboration with the education function of the setting.
• Work in partnership to support children and young people and their parents/carers, families and educators in the self-management of presenting difficulties.
• Develop plans for intervention and agreed outcomes in partnership with children, young people, families and educators.
• Empower children, young people, their parents/carers and families and their educators to make informed choices about the interventions offered.

Person Specification

Essential — Education and Qualifications

• Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner or CYP Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, or Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Social Worker with additional CBT or other relevant therapy postgraduate qualification.

Desirable — Education and Qualifications

• Any other relevant degree qualification.

Essential — Previous Experience

• Experience of working with children and young people, their families and others in a healthcare or school setting.
• Experience of working with children and young people who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.
• Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders.
• Experience of working with children and young people experiencing anxiety and/or low mood.
• Experience of delivering specific low intensity therapeutic interventions (e.g., CBT, solution-focused brief therapy).
• Ability to conduct other group therapeutic interventions with children and their families.

Desirable — Experience

• Experience navigating complex social systems and environments with conflicting priorities or agendas.
• Experience of working with vulnerable groups of children and young people (e.g., looked after children, neurodiverse children, children with speech and language needs, or English as a second language).

Essential — Skills/Competencies

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Effective communication with the team via face-to-face, video, telephone and email; including case discussion and action tracking.
• Proficiency with electronic patient records and Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Care planning: assess, develop, implement and evaluate a care plan.
• Empowering and working in partnership with children, young people and families.
• Safeguarding and advocacy of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Infection prevention and control protocols adherence.
• Maintaining confidentiality and obtaining consent to share information where possible.
• Ability to deliver 1:1 therapeutic interventions with children, young people and with families; also able to conduct group work and workshops.
• Ability to work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness among staff.
• Ability to conduct mental health assessments and assess risk, communicating it appropriately.

Desirable — Skills/Competencies

• Experience delivering trainings and psycho-educational workshops about mental health issues.
• Experience of providing mental health consultation and signposting to education staff and other professionals.
• Experience of conducting group parenting programmes.

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of how the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards affect work with people.
• Understanding of the Mental Health Act and its impact on work.
• Understanding the concept of quality and the role in safety, clinical outcomes and patient experience.
• Knowledge of educational environments.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policies and procedures for children and young people.
• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the functional operation of specialist CAMHS teams.

Attitudes, Aptitudes, Personal Characteristics

• Work well with other team members, communicating effectively, being kind, reliable and enthusiastic.
• Help others in the team achieve objectives and deliver safe, effective care.
• Mentor, teach and support others in the team.
• Contribute to a culture that is inclusive, kind and hard-working.
• Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload.

Other

• Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post.
• Desirable: Access to a car or other motor vehicle for work purposes.

Employer details

Employer: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Ash Tree Clinic, Northolt Road, South Harrow, HA28EQ