The Opportunity
Salary: NJC Grade 10 £41,177 to £44,253 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, full time, 09:00-17:00 Monday to Friday
Location: Current work base is Arun Civic Centre, Littlehampton. The use of Arun Civic Centre is currently initially expected to be in place for three years to April 2029. The substantive hub for your service is Bognor Regis and therefore, there is the potential for services to relocate to Bognor Regis in the future.
Closing date: Sunday 15th November 2026
Interview date: Monday 23rd November 2026
Do you have experience of working with people with mental health difficulties?
Have you trained in low or high intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
We have exciting opportunities to be part of West Sussex County Council’s Mental Health Support Team; we are expanding our Mental Health services to meet the growing needs of our community.
As a Mental Health Practitioner, you will hold cases of children and young people with mild to moderate mental health problems within schools, being responsible for developing packages of care for them.
You will deliver a variety of evidence-based interventions against a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model, working collaboratively with children, young people, their families, schools, and other mental health professionals.
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 carry out supervision for a team of trainee and/or qualified clinical practitioners, depending on service need and capacity.
Key Areas Of Responsibility
- Providing advice to schools and families, and liaising with external specialist services, to get the right support for children and young people.
- Keep clear records, case files, assessments, and data.
- Work in line with safeguarding protocols and follow the Local Safeguarding Board guidance.
- Attend and participate in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to the people you are supporting.
You will need to be able to demonstrate personal resilience as some cases may be sensitive, traumatic, or potentially emotionally distressing.
About You
We are looking for someone who has carried out Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and has experience of low or high-intensity CBT mental health assessments.
You will travel independently to carry out assessments, and there will be periodic physical requirements to the role.
If you are interested in making a difference and working in a friendly and supportive team with a role that offers variety and challenge, then this could be the role for you.
Key Skills
- Ability to carry out low-intensity, CBT-informed 1:1 therapeutic mental health assessments and interventions with children and young people, and/or their families.
- Ability to carry out initial (mental health) assessments which will include thorough assessments of risk and safeguarding or where there may be additional complexities.
- Ability to work flexibly with a range of professionals and other adults including teachers, parents/carers, social workers and other mental health professionals in the best interests of the child or young person, communicating complicated or sensitive information effectively.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly build effective therapeutic rapport with a child, young person and / or their parents.
- Ability to effectively manage an allocated caseload including assessing, recording and communicating risk appropriately and taking necessary actions.
- Ability to positively make use of clinical and peer group support supervision.
- Ability to complete and maintain data recording and paperwork appropriate to the work undertaken.
For more information on the Key Skills, Qualifications and/or Experience required, please refer to the Job Description.
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 Thriving in Education Thought-Full website
Benefits
- Annual leave: 27 days holiday + Bank Holidays = 35 days
- Travel discounts and schemes
- 24 Hour Wellbeing support
- Retail and Holiday discounts
- Training and Development
- Flexible working options
- Competitive Salary and generous pension
- Staff Groups
- Further information
The reference number for this role is 219.
For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact thought-full@westsussex.gov.uk
If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact Kerry Joad - Recruitment Specialist, at kerry.joad@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.
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Mental Health Practitioner in Littlehampton 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🤫
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