Trainee Educational Mental Health Practitioner

Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom

Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months)

Working Hours: 37 hours a week

Worker Type: Hybrid Worker

Salary: Starting Salary is £28,598 (Level one) rising to £31,022

Location: Southglade Access Centre, Southglade Road, Bestwood, Nottingham, NG5 5GU

Are you passionate about improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people? Nottingham City Council's Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) are delighted to be recruiting five Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) to join our established and supportive service. This is an exciting opportunity to earn whilst you train, gaining a nationally recognised postgraduate qualification whilst developing the skills and experience needed to make a lasting difference to children, young people and their families.

As a Trainee EMHP, you will learn to deliver evidence-based, low intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges that could include anxiety, low mood and behavioural presentations. You will also work alongside schools to promote whole-school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Nottingham City MHST is a well-established service supporting over 80 primary, secondary schools and specialist education provisions across the city. We work collaboratively with education, health and wider children's services to improve outcomes for children and young people and pride ourselves on being a supportive, forward thinking team that values learning, development and staff wellbeing.

Joining Nottingham City MHST means becoming part of a supportive, ambitious and innovative service that is committed to improving the mental health of children and young people across the city. We are passionate about developing our staff through excellent supervision, high-quality training and opportunities for ongoing professional development. Our aim is not simply to support you through your training year, but to help you build a rewarding and long-term career within children's mental health services.

If you are enthusiastic about working with children and young people, enjoy learning and want to make a real difference in schools and communities across Nottingham.

About the Role

• Deliver evidence-based guided self-help interventions using Low Intensity CBT approaches.
• Undertake assessments with children, young people and families under clinical supervision.
• Support children, young people and parents through structured interventions.
• Deliver psychoeducation, workshops and therapeutic groups within schools.
• Promote positive mental health through consultation and whole-school approaches.
• Work closely with school staff and partner agencies.
• Receive regular clinical supervision and reflective practice.
• Study towards the Postgraduate Diploma in Education Mental Health Practice at the University of Northampton.

About the training

This role combines employment with intensive academic study. Successful applicants will commence employment in September 2026. The Postgraduate Diploma in Education Mental Health Practice is delivered by the University of Northampton, with the course due to commence on 28 September 2026. The programme includes:

• Face-to-face and online teaching.
• Clinical practice within the MHST.
• Presentations.
• Observed role plays.
• Reflective practice.
• Competency assessments.

Teaching is intensive during the first few months of the programme (approximately four full days per week) before reducing as clinical practice increases. This is a demanding but highly rewarding programme requiring commitment, resilience and excellent organisational skills. Successful trainees should expect to undertake independent study outside of normal working hours.

About you

We are looking for people who:

• Are passionate about improving children's mental health and wellbeing.
• Have experience of working with children, young people and/or families.
• Can develop positive therapeutic relationships.
• Are organised and able to manage competing priorities.
• Demonstrate empathy, creativity and curiosity.
• Are reflective and able to learn from supervision and feedback.
• Can work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Are comfortable assessing and managing risk with appropriate support.
• Can apply learning and theory to practice.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Are motivated to successfully complete an intensive training programme.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to study successfully at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
• A Levels (or equivalent Level 3 qualifications) or higher education qualifications.
• Experience of working with children, young people and/or families.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to travel regularly to the University of Northampton.
• Commitment to completing the full training programme.

University attendance

Attendance at the University of Northampton is a mandatory requirement of the programme. Please note: Successful candidates will be required to travel regularly to the University of Northampton throughout the course. Nottingham City Council does not fund overnight accommodation or hotel stays associated with university attendance. Reasonable travel expenses to and from the University of Northampton will be reimbursed in accordance with Nottingham City Council travel policies. Applicants should therefore ensure they are able to meet the travel requirements of the programme.

Future opportunities

This is a training post designed to develop the next generation of Education Mental Health Practitioners. Our ambition is to build and retain a highly skilled workforce of qualified EMHPs within Nottingham City MHST. Subject to service need, funding and successful completion of the training programme, trainees will be encouraged to apply for substantive qualified EMHP vacancies within our service. Please note that appointment to a qualified EMHP role is not automatic. Successful trainees will be required to participate in a competitive recruitment process following qualification.

Recruitment process

The selection process may include:

• Interview.
• Presentation.

We are looking not only for academic ability, but also interpersonal skills, resilience, reflective practice and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.

Important recruitment information

Due to the short timescales associated with the University intake, this recruitment process will move quickly, and pre-employment checks will begin immediately following conditional offers. To avoid unnecessary delays, applicants are strongly encouraged to:

• Speak to their referees before applying so they are aware that a reference request may be received at short notice.
• Ensure referees are available to respond promptly.
• Pay particular attention if using a school-based referee, as recruitment will take place during the school summer holidays when many schools operate with reduced staffing or are closed.

Delays in receiving satisfactory references or other pre-employment checks may affect our ability to confirm a place on this year's training programme.

This post is covered by the statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) (English Language Requirement for public sector workers) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English, is an essential requirement for the role.

A DBS enhanced check for a regulated activity is required for this post.

At Nottingham City Council we believe that work is what you do, not where you do it. We offer different working arrangements, depending on the role, including hybrid working. Further information on Worker Types and what these mean in terms of how and where you work can be found on the additional information for applicants page.

For informal enquiries please contact Corina Benjamin and Natasha McDonald, MHST Service Managers by email at corina.benjamin@nottinghamcity.gov.uk/ natasha.mcdonald@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

Closing Date: 11th August 2026

Please note there may be occasions where we close the advert before the closing date. Interviews will be held within 10 days of the closing date.

Thank you for your interest in working for Nottingham City Council. As one of the largest employers in Nottingham we offer a wide range of roles across a range of services. In return for your skill, drive and commitment to serving the people of Nottingham, we can help you to develop an exciting and rewarding career, with access to the following benefits:

• 26 days annual leave (rising to 33 days after 5 years’ service) + bank holidays with the ability to buy additional leave annually.
• Access to a generous, defined benefit pension scheme offering 17.9%.
• Smart Working – to support your work life balance.
• Health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres, cinema, shopping and much more!

Nottingham City Council is committed to recruiting a talented workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and with different abilities. We recruit for diversity and value difference. We particularly want to hear from you if you are from Minority Ethnic communities, identify within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer+ community (LGBTQ+) and if you are Disabled - these groups of people are underrepresented in our workforce, and we’d like to reflect our local population more through our recruitment processes. We are supportive of flexible working arrangements wherever possible and we would encourage you to discuss this with us during the selection process, should this be something you are interested in.