Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) Lowestoft

Do you want to be part of an exciting, dynamic & expanding children's & young people's Mental Health service, in an 'Outstanding' rated NHS Trust? We are looking for people who are as passionate about high quality, early intervention mental health care as we are. The role is an exciting opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions for children, young people & their families, working across both Educational & Healthcare settings. You will receive training in delivering Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) informed guided self‑help for mild to moderate mental health problems. You will gain their (funded) Diploma at the University of East Anglia, whilst working clinically within either a new or established Mental Health Support Team (MHST).

This is a two-part interview process, and both parts must be attended for consideration for successful appointment of this post.

• Part 1: 8th or 9th September (at Kirkley Family Hub)
• Part 2: 23rd Sept all day (in Norwich)

These roles are also available across various locations in Norfolk. If we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 14.08.2026.

Main duties of the job

Successful candidates will be employed by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust who deliver MHST services across Norfolk & Waveney. During the training year, post holders will participate in 64 University days. The method of delivery is likely to be a blend of face‑to‑face learning (requiring travel to the University of East Anglia in Norwich) and online delivery. Successful candidates will be employed on a full time one year training contract at Agenda for Change (AfC) Band 4. Upon successful completion of the training year (passing both UEA requirements and service requirement), a permanent AfC Band 5 EMHP contract will be offered.

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, psychology, mental health or education. Furthermore, experience of working with children and young people and an understanding of the educational system in England is highly desirable. All applicants must be able to demonstrate they can balance the conflicting demands of academic study and clinical work.

If the child is primary school aged, clinical work will mostly be with parents/carers. If the young person is secondary school aged, the clinical work will mostly be with the young person. You will work closely with education settings, supporting with their 'Whole School Approach' to Mental Health.

About us

Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives. There's one reason why our services are outstanding - and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.

Job responsibilities

Delivering evidence‑based intervention for children and young people in education settings with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Helping children and young people within these settings who present with more severe problems to access more specialist services. Supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to identify and where appropriate manage issues related to mental health and wellbeing. Working with and within education environments to provide better access to specialist mental health services.

Main Duties

• Therapeutic assessment and intervention
• Be educationally supervised, supported and reviewed to provide assessments and deliver outcome focused, evidence‑based interventions in educational settings for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• Developing skills in supporting children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and supporting their parents/carers, families and educators in the self‑management of presenting difficulties.
• Show evidence in a variety of forms that at all times assessment and intervention is provided from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.
• Discuss with supervisors and agree to accept appropriate referrals for children and young people in educational settings, according to agreed local and national referral routes, processes and procedures.
• Under supervision, undertake accurate assessments of risk to self, others and from others.
• Learn, understand, rationalise and adhere to the protocols within the educational service to which the postholder is attached.
• Engage along with more senior staff in the signposting of referrals for children and young people with more complex needs to the relevant service.
• To engage in robust managerial and clinical supervision to work safely within the scope of their practice.
• Gain and practice a range of skills to enable delivery of interventions related to provision of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self‑help.
• Practice, evidence, reflect on and demonstrate an ability to contribute to the management of one's own caseload in conjunction with the requirements of the team.
• Keep coherent records of all training and clinical activity in line with both health and education service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making.
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection.
• Show evidence of working within a collaborative approach, involving a range of relevant others when indicated.
• Specifically, work in collaboration with teachers and other educational staff, parents, children, young people and the wider community to enhance and broaden access to mental health services.
• Contribute to the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials and go on to develop further such materials as falls within own competence.

Training and Supervision

• Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post including practical, academic and practice‑based assessments.
• As well as attendance at UEA for training, you will also be required to fulfil private study requirements to enhance learning and prepare assignments for examination, for at least one day a week.
• Expectation will be that you will be required to study outside of contracted work hours.
• Apply academic learning from UEA directly into practice.
• Receive practice tutoring in relation to UEA course work to meet the required standards.
• Prepare and present case load information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor and service are delivered.
• Respond to and evidence the implementation of improved practice through supervisor feedback.
• Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and practice.
• Be involved in the evaluation of the course.
• Disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and supervisory discussions.

Professional

• Ensure the maintenance of standards of own professional practice according to both EEC and UEA in which they are enrolled.
• Ensure appropriate adherence to any new recommendations or guidelines set by the relevant departments.
• Ensure that confidentiality is always protected.
• Ensure that any risks or issues related to the safety and wellbeing of anyone the postholder comes into contact with, in the course of their professional duties, are communicated and shared with appropriate parties in order to maintain individual safety and the public interest.
• Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with supervisor and senior colleagues on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
• Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
• Keep all records up to date in relation to Continuous Professional Development and the requirements of the post.
• Attend relevant opportunities for further development in line with identified professional objectives.

Communication

Effective communication to a wide range of audiences, including colleagues, children, young people and families, both verbal and written communication.

Research & Development Activity

To utilise theory, evidence‑based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members. Participate in clinical and other audits as required.

Clinical and Practice Governance

Work collaboratively with your supervisor with other agencies in the health and social care system to ensure effective progress for clients through the care pathway. Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act/Data Regulations. To be accountable to the Service Manager for the delivery of an effective MHST service across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust. The post holder must participate in clinical and safeguarding audits as required. The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team. Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies. The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes. Ensure that any risks or issues related to the safety and wellbeing of anyone the postholder encounters, in the course of their professional duties are communicated and shared to appropriate parties in order to maintain individual safety and the public interest. The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures. Keep up to date with your Continuing Professional Development (CPD), participate in your annual appraisal and respond to clearly identified and agreed objectives, reviewed on a regular basis with line manager. Participate in clinical and management supervision as per Trust policy. Ensure appropriate recording of meetings, supervision and maintenance of clinical records. Keep all records up to date in relation to Continuous Professional Development and the requirements of the post and ensure personal development plans maintain up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments. Provide clients and their families/carers with information on standards they should expect from the service. Participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis.

Information Technology

To use a computer as necessary for clinical work, including literature searches, word processing, delivery of remote interventions and training. Inputting data, emailing, report writing and other tasks as necessary for the efficient running of the service. Input data on to SystmOne and other data collection platforms as needed in compliance with Trust Information Governance (and all relevant legislation) standards.

Quality and Patient Safety

Maintain awareness of and carry out responsibilities with regard to the safeguarding children and adults agenda and adhere to confidentiality, Trust and professional training requirements, data protection and sharing, information governance, risk management and reporting and all relevant legislation and Trust and local policy. To ensure day to day practice reflects the highest standards of governance, clinical effectiveness, safety and client experience. To ensure monitoring of quality and compliance with standards is demonstrable within the service on an ongoing basis. To be aware of the responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for clients, visitors and staff.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• Ability to study at degree level.
• Proven record of previous academic attainment.
• Good solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2.

Skills & Knowledge

• Ability to learn in a variety of settings and using a variety of learning methods.
• Computer Literate.
• Ability to study as a self‑motivated learner who can formulate their own progress towards learning objectives and negotiate pathways to achievement with supervisory teams.

Experience

• Experience of working with children and young people is desirable.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Employer name: East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge)

Address: Waveney - Kirkley Family Hub, Kirkley Street, Lowestoft, NR33 0LU, United Kingdom

Employer's website: East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust

For questions about the job, contact: Clinical & Team Lead Lowestoft and South Norfolk 2 Claire Rose claire.rose19@nhs.net