Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners

Wokingham Borough Council is recruiting 2 x Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) to join our existing Mental Health Support Team (MHST) working with a group of  primary and secondary schools.

This role includes a funded place on the Education Mental Health Practice for either a Graduate or Post Graduate Diploma with Southampton University. Applicants need to have A level qualifications or equivalent for the Graduate Diploma and Degree qualification of 2.2 or higher for the Post Graduate Diploma.

On completion of training, employment is guaranteed as a qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner.

The MHST delivers evidence-based interventions based on the Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic (CBT) approach in schools. We work with children and young people of school age with mild to moderate mental health issues and support parents/carers with parenting programmes. We also work with schools to develop or enhance their whole school approach to emotional health and wellbeing. As an EMHP you will be working as part of a dynamic integrated mental health team. This role requires creativity, flexibility, and adaptability, and above all, an interest and desire for working with children and young people in educational settings. You will receive clinical supervision to support your work and have the opportunity to develop your practice.

The Education Mental Health Practitioner will:

• Work closely alongside a team of mental health professionals delivering a wide range of evidence informed interventions. This will include working one to one and delivering groupwork interventions.
• Use evidence-based skills to work directly with children, young people and families.
• Carry out holistic and child-centred mental health assessments, including risk assessments.
• Work within designated schools, developing relationships with their Mental Health lead. Offer consultation on possible referrals to the service.
• Work within the safeguarding protocols of the schools.

For this role you will need:

• To demonstrate an interest and desire for working with children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties in an education setting.
• Knowledge of UK school systems
• Commitment to undertaking study at graduate or postgraduate level
• Strong organisational skills

The training programme for this post is 12 months in duration and will consist of academic and supervised practice learning across mental health services and educational settings, such as primary and secondary schools.

Delivery of the programme will be provided through a combination of taught days with Southampton University, independent self-guided study days and experience gained within the MHST and education settings in Wokingham.

Upon successful completion of the course and moderation panel, EMHPs will progress onto a further fixed term contract.

This role will be based at the University of Southampton and council offices, Shute End in Wokingham.

Additional Information

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau). For further information about what is required in this process please go to http://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check. Please note that we require evidence of an overseas police check if you have lived or worked abroad.

We are only able to offer full time employment.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, due to disability, to enable you to participate fully in the process please contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.

Reasonable adjustments include things like an offline application form. If you would like to discuss your requirements further, please get in touch.

Package Description

Hours of work: 37 hours per week

Working pattern: Full-time

Fixed Term until January 2025 or until qualified. As this post fully funds the one-year training and salary costs it is important to us as an organisation that we sustain successful applicants. As such, successful candidates are expected to remain in their posts for a least one year post completion in order to maximise the benefit of this training for local children and young people.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 30^th November 2023, 11pm

Dates for interview: week beginning 4^th December 2023

For an informal discussion, please contact Jackie Wood  07801664377 or email Jacqueline.Wood@Wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.