Job overview
Are you ready to take the next step in your career and help shape the future of young people’s mental health? We’re looking for a passionate and experienced professional to join our Mental Health Support Team (MHST) in East Cheshire.
As the WSCA Project Lead, you will play a pivotal role role in shaping how schools embed and sustain a culture that promotes positive mental health for children and young people. You will work closely with Senior Mental Health Leads and education partners to develop, implement, and review WSCA action plans, ensuring each setting meets national MHST expectations. This role involves coordinating strategic school engagement, maintaining and updating Memoranda of Understanding, supporting staff training and development, and driving system‑level improvements that strengthen early intervention pathways. You will be a key link between education and health, ensuring our service delivers high‑quality.
This position is a chance to be part of a forward-thinking, compassionate team that’s transforming how mental health is supported in education settings.
Ready to make a difference? Apply now and help us build a brighter, healthier future for our children and young people.
Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 27/04/2026 and the proposed interview date is 15/05/2026
Main duties of the job
The WSCA Project Lead will work with all MHST schools and education settings within the district of East Cheshire. The main responsibilities of this role are:
• Work with Senior Mental Health Leads (SMHLs) to co‑produce, implement, and review WSCA action plans for each school or college
• Support settings to embed evidence‑informed mental health policies, practices, and cultures
• Ensure WSCA activity aligns with national MHST guidance and local commissioning requirements
• Ensure all Memoranda of Understanding with partner schools are current, accurate, and fully implemented
• Co-ordinate the Learning Link professional network across Cheshire East
• Strengthen partnerships in readiness for the 100% schools coverage
• Oversee the completion of screening tools and ensure data is collected consistently across all settings
• Contribute to the analysis and interpretation of data to identify trends, needs and areas for improvement
• Produce reports for internal governance, commissioners, and school partners
• Lead or support improvement projects that enhance MHST impact
• Share best practice across the MHST and wider system
Working for our organisation
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you’ll find something to suit you at CWP.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Project Management qualification i.e. Prince 2 or equivalent.
* Evidence of continuous professional development around Project Management.
* Degree in relevant subject
Desirable criteria
* Qualifications/training in coaching, mentoring and are desirable.
* Postgraduate qualification in leadership and management.
* Teaching/Training qualification.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential criteria
* Good knowledge of issues /concerns facing Children and Young People and Families
* In depth knowledge of health service management including change management and workforce re-design.
* Understanding of the current NHS agenda from a working longer perspective
* Understanding of the workforce population needs and national and regional associated targets for improvement in relation to working longer.
* Expertise in the design, implementation, delivery and management of significant projects.
* Detailed understanding of contracting and governance rules and regulations in the NHS.
Desirable criteria
* Understanding of Organisational Development principles
Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience of working in a project management role and at a management level within the NHS and/or Local Authority.
* Experience of successfully bidding for funding to support the delivery of projects.
* Experience of developing project management frameworks to support the delivery of multiple projects.
* Experience of producing formal reports for Boards and sub-committees, and presenting, as required.
Desirable criteria
* Experience of Chairing and participating in multi-agency forums, Boards and meetings.