The Opportunity
Salary: NJC Grade 12 £49,817 to £53,051 per annum
Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, full time, 09:00-17:00 Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent
Location: Broadfield Family Hub, Crawley. (To include Crawley weighting allowance of £561 per year)
Please note: There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public. You must be able to travel throughout the county including to locations that are not always accessible by public transport.
Closing date: Monday 30th November 2026
Interview date: Thursday 17th December 2026
Do you have experience of working with children and young people with mental health difficulties?
Have you trained in low or high intensity CBT?
Do you enjoy supporting, supervising, and training colleagues?
This is a great time to join WSCC as we have new opportunities for Senior Mental Health Practitioners in Thought-Full: Mental Health Support Team.
In this role, you will work closely alongside Advisory Teachers and senior members of the Thought-Full team, as well as with multi-disciplinary teams, outside agencies, clinicians, and other mental health and education professionals, to help develop and deliver the Thought-Full core functions to the schools in your area.
You will deliver clinical skills and caseload management supervision to Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHP) and Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CWP), supporting with their training and role modelling best practice.
You will also hold a caseload of young people with mild to moderate mental health problems, where you will deliver a variety of brief evidence-based interventions, primarily using a CBT model. You will use your skills and knowledge to provide specialist advice on mental health to ensure services are working closely to meet the needs of young people with a person-centred approach.
As part of this role, you will be required to complete the PGCert Supervision of Therapeutic Practice at the University of Sussex to be able to supervise EMHPs and CWPs employed within MHSTs.
Key Responsibilities Of The Role Include
- Clinical work to provide psychological assessment, therapy, advice and consultation, promoting carer involvement and delivering evidence-based interventions.
- Contribute to the triage process by reviewing and screening referrals, applying clinical judgement to determine presenting need and suitability, and making informed decisions regarding appropriate care pathways, ensuring timely and effective access to the most appropriate support.
- Teaching, Training and Supervision to oversee the supervision and development of EMHP’s and CWP’s and receiving supervision to support with your own Continuous Professional Development.
- Research and Service Evaluation to collect routine outcome data and support the evaluation and development of the service.
- Management and Leadership to work alongside Senior Leadership to support the clinical delivery and oversight of your team and support with more complex clinical issues.
- General role responsibilities to follow codes of conduct, safeguarding, risk assessments, and working with professionals to promote inclusion and recovery.
About You
We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting the mental health of children and young people and who is self-motivated and organised, as you will need to manage your own workload and that of others.
Integrity, openness, emotional resilience and an awareness of yourself and others is vital, as you may be dealing with distressing or emotional circumstances.
You will travel independently to carry out assessments, and there will be periodic physical requirements to the role.
Key Skills
- Supervision: The post holder will be expected to supervise junior staff (Educational Mental Health Practitioners and Children's Wellbeing Practitioners) and support trainees within the team. This supervision will give clinical and caseload oversight of low-intensity CBT interventions, as well as managerial support.
- Assessment & Intervention: To work with a defined caseload of service users as part of a multi-disciplinary team, providing assessment, care planning and care delivery for service users with mild to moderate mental health difficulties, in schools. This will include the provision of highly skilled professional care, psychological interventions, mostly using low-intensity CBT, group work, clinical assessment, risk assessments / risk management, and promoting recovery and inclusion and ensuring co-production with service users, families and carers and the education staff.
- Specialist advice: To provide specialist advice to other members of staff and trainees and act as a role model.
- Evidenced based: To ensure that care activities are research based and in keeping with changes in the field of activity.
- Creative & Innovative: To contribute to the development of ideas and innovative practice and propose changes to protocols and procedures within Thought-Full and related services where required and support embedding a research culture within the service and has an ongoing commitment to developing practice through research within the team.
- Analytical: To support in the evaluation of the service and service development tasks using appropriate audit, evaluation and research tools.
About Us
Our Mental Health Support Team is made up of over 70 professionals, and we are continuing to increase our service to support the growing needs of our communities.
We currently have opportunities for Mental Health Practitioners to make a real difference in supporting Mental Health in Children. You will be working within our Mental Health Support Team (MHST) on exciting new initiatives and an important strand of the Government’s 2017 Green Paper ‘Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision’.
We Fulfil 3 Core Functions
- Delivering evidence-based interventions in education settings (primary and secondary schools and colleges) for mild to moderate mental health issues.
- Supporting the senior mental health lead in each education setting to introduce or develop their whole school or college approach.
- Giving timely advice to school and college staff, and liaising with external specialist services, to help children and young people to get the right support and stay in education.
For more information, please visit our Instagram WS Thoughtfull page and our Thriving in Education Thought-Full website
Rewards and Benefits
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.
For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.
Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:
Annual leave: 30 days holiday + Bank Holidays = 38 days
Further Information
The reference number for this role is 234.
For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact thought-full@westsussex.gov.uk.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, five years referencing, and an occupational health check.
Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact Kerry Joad, Recruitment Specialist, at kerry.joad@westsussex.gov.uk
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Mental Health Practitioner in Crawley employer: West Sussex County Council
West Sussex County Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises community impact and employee wellbeing. With opportunities for professional development and a focus on strengths-based approaches, you will be empowered to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents while enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid working model in the beautiful surroundings of West Sussex.
Contact Details:
West Sussex County Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Mental Health Practitioner in Crawley
✨Join Medical Networks
Get involved in local and national medical associations, like the Royal College of Physicians. These networks can help you connect with mentors and colleagues who might know of openings, plus they're great for staying updated on the latest in medicine and clinical practices.
✨Attend Healthcare Conferences
Make it a habit to attend medical conferences and seminars. These events are fantastic for networking and often feature job boards where hospitals and clinics post their openings. Plus, it’s a good way to get your face recognised in the industry.
✨Leverage Your Medical School's Resources
Don’t forget to use your medical school’s career services! They usually have great connections with hospitals and clinics looking to fill full-time physician positions and can help you with mock interviews or networking events.
✨Apply Directly Through Hospital Websites
When you're ready to apply, make sure to check the careers section of hospital websites directly. Hospitals like West Sussex County Council often post their job openings there first, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge over other applicants.
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Credentials:When applying for a physician role, make sure to highlight your medical qualifications and any special certifications you have. We want to see your medical degree, residency training, and any additional certifications that set you apart, like specialised training in paediatrics or geriatrics. Don’t leave out those all-important letters after your name!
Tailor Your CV to Medicine:Your CV should reflect your experience and skills as a doctor. Be specific about your clinical rotations, medical practice, and any research work you've done – we love seeing quantifiable impacts, so mention how you've improved patient care or led successful treatment plans.
Craft a Personal Statement with Heart:In your cover letter, let us know why you chose medicine and what drives your passion for patient care. Personal stories about transformative experiences—like a memorable patient encounter or a moment that defined your career path—can really make you shine. Remember, we're looking for someone who genuinely cares about their patients!
Demonstrate Continuous Learning:In the medical field, showcasing your commitment to continuous learning is essential. Mention any recent courses, workshops, or conferences you’ve attended, and highlight your willingness to stay updated on medical advancements. This shows us that you’re not just a physician; you're a lifelong learner, ready to adapt and grow.
How to prepare for a job interview at West Sussex County Council
✨Get Clinical Knowledge Sharp
Brush up on your clinical knowledge, particularly in areas relevant to the role at West Sussex County Council. Expect questions about diagnosis, treatment plans, and patient management. Be ready to discuss case studies or even do some role-playing with hypothetical patient scenarios for a more practical assessment.
✨Know Your Procedures and Protocols
Familiarise yourself with the latest procedures and protocols that are specific to the field of medicine you’re applying to. Whether it’s surgical techniques or patient care protocols, being able to discuss these confidently can really set you apart in the interview at West Sussex County Council.
✨Show You're a Team Player
In the medical field, collaboration is key. Have examples ready that showcase your teamwork and communication skills. Talk about how you've worked with nurses, specialists, or other doctors in the past to provide the best care for your patients. This shows you're ready to integrate into the team at West Sussex County Council.
✨Stay Current with Medical Trends
Make sure you’re clued up on the latest medical trends, research, and innovations. Not only does this prepare you for technical questions, but it also shows your passion for the field. Be ready to discuss how these trends might affect your practice at West Sussex County Council.
