Senior Mental Health Practitioner/Team Leader Manchester

Job summary

Are you passionate about working with CYP's at the early intervention and prevention stage? We are looking for registered professionals including EMHP's, CYWP's, registered and accredited CBT therapists; ideally with experience in team leadership and supervisory skills and training.

Trafford Thrive in Education are an MHST presenting with a range of low to moderate mental health difficulties . This service is provided across Trafford in educational settings including FE colleges.We are looking for an experienced practitioner who has experience working in MHST's and can work autonomously. You must have significant domonstrable clinical experience of working with CYPF's, who present with mental health needs and may present with risks to self or others. As a team leader you will support the service manager and hold with line management/clinical supervision of team members. SWP or HIT CBT desirable qualifications

Main duties of the job

You must have a sound working knowledge of CAMHS or mental health that can be demonstrated at application and interview. You must have an understanding of assessing mental health needs and levels of risk, including safeguarding and self-harm. You must have a demonstrable range of clinical skills. You must be confident and competent to work as an autonomous practitioner within your own professional practice guidelines. Experience of delivering supervision using the CYP IAPT supervision framework, along with a sound working knowledge and ability in delivering low intensity CBT interventions, is required.

This is a dual role. You will manage your own small caseload, providing a range of high quality care appropriate to the CYP's needs which will include; mental state assessment, risk assessment/management, family and social assessment, consultation and CBT informed interventions. You will also be required to complete team leader duties, providing supervision to team members at all levels. The role involves providing consultation and training to education colleagues and support to improve the whole setting approach to mental health.

You must be confident and experienced in communication, due to the high level of liaison needed between MHST's and other services and be willing to work flexible hours in accordance with the needs of the young people and education settings.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Details

Date posted 14 September 2026

Pay scheme Agenda for change

Band Band 7

Salary £49,387 to £56,515 a year Per Annum (Pro Rata)

Contract Permanent

Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number 349-SHCG-8275242-RL3

Job locations MHST, Trafford Thrive in Education

Job locations Waterside House, Sale

Job locations Manchester

Job locations M33 7ZF

Job locations United Kingdom

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

• Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
• Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police thats considered relevant to the role.
• Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december

DBS Update Service

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person Specification

Registration

Essential

• You must be registered with or eligible for accreditation & registration with a professional body e.g. NMC, SW England, UKCP, HCPC, BACP,BPS or have an accreditable qualification

Qualifications

Essential

• You must have a recognised qualification. Recognised qualifications are: Education Mental Health Practitioner Doctoral degree in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or equivalent) as accredited by the BPS Registered Nursing: RMN/RSCN/RNMH Social Work (CQSW/DipSW) Occupational Therapy Speech & Language Therapy Post Graduate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Diploma, SWP or CYWP
• Low intensity CBT Certificate in supervision skills
• SWP or HIT CBT Therapist qualification

Desirable

• Additional post graduate training in psychological therapies and interventions

Knowledge, Skills and Ability

Essential

• Up to date knowledge of child mental health and relevant legislation
• The ability to assess, formulate and manage care appropriately, ensuring discharge is timely
• The ability to use assessment tools and outcome measures effectively and in collaboration with the child, young person and family
• Understanding of evidence based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice
• Demonstrable extensive therapeutic skills
• To be able to function as a part of a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise effectively with other agencies i.e., education, GP's, maintaining positive working relationships
• The ability to work independently and autonomously
• The ability to reflect on and critically appraise the performance of self and others
• To have the ability to manage own caseload and act as are co-ordinator
• The ability to follow policy and make proposals for and be part of local legislation change
• The ability to maintain clinical records both written and electronic
• Experience of delivering training
• Experience of supervision and team leadership

Desirable

• IT competent
• Knowledge and understanding of the research process
• Line management responsibilites

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of delivering CBT to children and young people.
• Proven experience of working effectively with people with mental health difficulties, including autonomous management of a complex caseload which frequently deals with distressing and emotional circumstances.
• Experience of working with hard to reach diverse community groups and individuals with emerging complex needs, people with additional disabilities and safeguarding.
• Experience of assessing and managing risk: including safeguarding.
• Experience of developing and providing evidenced based assessments, formulations, care plans, interventions/therapy and effective use of ROMS.
• Experience of liaison and working with a range of other relevant agencies and professionals, including managing difficult conversations and differences of opinion.
• Experience of mentoring and supervision of others using CBT, including supporting the mental health and wellbeing of junior staff and trainees.
• Understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and a willingness to follow Trust Policy and Procedures

Desirable

• Team Leader role experience
• Experience of working with children and young people with autism and social communication difficulties.
• Relevant experience and training in multi-disciplinary assessments of ASD in children and adolescents
• Community mental health experience across a variety of settings.
• Experience of providing a variety of interventions for children and young people with mental health problems and their families

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

MHST, Trafford Thrive in Education

Waterside House, Sale

Manchester

M33 7ZF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Service Lead/Manager

Lorna Taylor

lorna.taylor@mft.nhs.uk

01615496451

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.