Senior Low Intensity CBT Practitioner (School Cluster Lead)
This post aims to develop the role of Educational Mental Health Practitioners and Children's Wellbeing Practitioners. It provides an opportunity for clinicians who have formal training and experience in using evidence based low or high intensity CBT interventions to develop their careers and support Alliance to develop their Mental Health Support Teams in schools.
The post holder will develop, support, and supervise Educational Mental Health Practitioners and Children's Wellbeing practitioners to deliver evidence-based practice in guided self‑help, CBT and group‑based interventions.
In addition to CYP mental health expertise the post holder will be expected to contribute to the services' universal offer through psychoeducation, assemblies, transition preparation and promote partnership working with local authority teams, as well as contribute to community development – for example attending education forums and multi‑agency forums.
Closing date: 3 June 2026
Main duties of the job
* Ensure practice across all three MHST core functions:
* Direct evidence based clinical work with children and young people
* Developing and Promoting a Whole school or college approach to mental health
* Providing professional consultation and support for access to specialist services
Provide consultation to professionals in creating management plans for children and young people in and around school.
Support the designated senior mental health lead in each educational setting, supporting and managing a cluster of schools.
Support education colleagues to contribute towards inclusive practices for pupils.
Therapeutic practice
Develop the MHST Getting Help pathway for Low Intensity clinical interventions delivered by EMHPS CWPS within HAST MHST.
Embed CYP‑IAPT Principles within the MHST as a senior LICBT Practitioner and School Cluster Lead, leading by example.
Accept requests for help via agreed referral pathways for MHST in partnership with Tees Valley Getting Help Service for North Tees HAST.
Support LI practitioners using role‑modeling to assess and support young people with a common mental health problem in the self‑management of their recovery.
Support LI practitioners using role‑modeling to undertake assessments, identify suitable treatment pathways, assess and manage risk.
Provide a range of information and support for evidence based low intensity psychological treatments, including guided self‑help. This work may be face to face, telephone or via other media.
Work collaboratively with parents and carers.
Attend multi‑agency and multi‑disciplinary meetings, where appropriate.
Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
Training and supervision
Offer clinical caseload management and skills supervision to qualified and trainee EMHPs CWPs in the service.
Identify training needs across the team and assist in the development of routes for CPD.
Offer training sessions where appropriate to both internal staff and external stakeholders such as education staff.
Attend locally organized and national training appropriate to the work role.
To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist Clinical Supervisors and team members in evidence-based CBT practice.
Partnership working
To create and maintain effective working relationships with Headteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCOs, Pastoral Team and wider teaching staff by providing advice and consultative support on emotional and mental health issues and in relation to appropriate referral pathways for children, young people and families with mental health needs.
Engage with the MHST self‑assessment process and implement resulting improvement plans.
To liaise effectively with other local providers, including statutory, voluntary sector organisations and on behalf of the child, young person or family within i‑Thrive.
To build effective working relationships with other local children’s mental health providers including Specialist CAMHS and support the development of pathways of support.
Attend multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency meetings relating to referrals for children, young people and families in treatment.
Safeguarding
Responsible for safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children & young people at all times and operating within local policies and procedures.
Taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children & young people at risk of significant harm.
To identify and support families in accessing Early Help and Children’s Services.
To share appropriately information with parents or carers or other agencies regarding the child’s wellbeing and progress keeping within the boundaries of Confidentiality and Information sharing protocols.
To support staff within CYPF via safeguarding duty processes to support effective management of clinical risk and safeguarding.
Organisational Responsibilities
Values and behaviours To demonstrate and be a role model for Alliances values, to promote and encourage positive behaviours, enhancing the quality and integrity of the services we provide.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing To take responsibility for health, safety, and wellbeing in accordance with Alliances policies and procedures.
Equality and diversity To promote a society that gives everyone an equal chance to work and live free from discrimination and prejudice.
Confidentiality To work in a way that does not divulge personal and/or confidential information and follow Alliances policies and procedures in relation to data protection and security of information.
Performance Management To promote a culture whereby performance management is ingrained, and the highest standards and performance are achieved by all. Ensure that mandatory training commitments are met and that the postholder keeps up to date with Alliances policies and procedures. Contribute to Alliances Appraisal processes to ensure continuous learning and improvement and to increase organisational performance.
This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in Alliances organisational objectives and priorities.
Person Specification
* Full, enhanced and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role
* Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload
* Excellent oral and written communication skills
* Self‑motivated
* Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post
* Team player
* Excellent time management and organisational skills
* Able to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for any illness or disability.
* Full UK Driving Licence
* Proven commitment to continuous professional development.
Knowledge
* Demonstrates an understanding of CYP IAPT & Mental Health Support Teams in Schools
* Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in children and young people
* Knowledge of educational environments
* Knowledge of safeguarding issues
* Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence
* Knowledge CYP‑IAPT principles and I‑Thrive Framework
* Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies, including ROMS and how it relates to this post
* Continued professional development showing further understanding and knowledge working therapeutically with children, young people and families
* Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health intervention with Children, Young People, Parents/Carers/Families
* Ability to conduct group therapeutic interventions with children and their families
* Ability to work across a range of settings to increase mental health awareness
* Ability to conduct mental health assessments of children and young people
* Ability to assess safety and to record and communicate it appropriately.
* Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
* Ability to manage own caseload effectively.
* Ability to teach others about mental health issues
* CYP and Parent/carer Participation and voice work.
Qualifications
* Academic/Skills/Professional Post graduate certificate in evidence based psychological treatments (CWP/EMHP/HICBT IAPT pathways). Senior EMHPS/CWPS with advanced post qualification experience.
* CBT training with extensive experience working with young children and families.
* Accreditation with professional bodies (BABCP/BPS).
* CYP/IAPT Supervision Qualification
Experience
* Experience of working with children and their families in an educational or health care setting
* Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders
* Experience of working with parents/carers of children who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties
* Experience of working with anxiety disorders
* Experience of working with Conduct disorders
* Experience of working with affective (mood) disorders
* Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for children's emotional wellbeing
* Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people or their families (e.g. CBT, solution focused brief therapy)
* Experience of navigating complex social systems and environments, who may have conflicting priorities or agendas
* Experience of working with children in our care
* Experience of working with other vulnerable groups
* Experience of case managing and supervising others.
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.
£38,682 to £41,182 a year Pro Rata to Hours Worked
We are committed to promoting equal opportunities in our employment practice and service delivery.
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