We are excited to offer an opportunity for enthusiastic and compassionate individuals to join our Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) as Trainee Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs). This role is ideal for those passionate about early intervention and improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in educational settings.
The EMHP role is a professional position within MHSTs, designed to deliver evidence-based early interventions. This is a full-time, year-long employment training programme, culminating in qualification as an EMHP. Trainees will undertake a fully funded Postgraduate Diploma at either University College London (UCL) or University of East Anglia (confirmation pending), combining academic study with supervised clinical practice.
Applicants should demonstrate the ability to study at postgraduate level and ideally have prior experience working with children and young people. A broad understanding of mental health and emotional wellbeing, along with the ability to form supportive relationships, is highly desirable. Experience in educational settings is preferred but not essential.
This role is based in South East Essex, providing support to children and young people across Southend, Canvey Island and Rochford. You will become part of a well-established and experienced MHST, benefiting from a strong network of supervision, mentorship, and peer support to help you thrive in your training and professional development.
Clinical Practice
As a Trainee EMHP, your responsibilities will include:
Under supervision, assess and manage a caseload of children and young people (CYP).
Deliver low-intensity, evidence-based interventions such as guided self-help, group sessions, and workshops.
Collaborate with CYP, families, and educators to co-produce care plans and agree on treatment outcomes.
Conduct risk assessments and follow safeguarding procedures.
Promote inclusive, anti-discriminatory practices and engage with issues of power, diversity, and equity.
Training And Development
Attend and complete all academic components of the Postgraduate Diploma.
Engage in university-based teaching, self-directed study, and supervised practice placements.
Apply course content to clinical work and demonstrate progression through assessments and supervision.
Participate in reflective practice and personal development to enhance clinical competence.
Teamwork And Leadership
Participate in service development, audits, and quality improvement projects.
Share knowledge through supervision, peer learning, and training activities.
Administrative And Communication Duties
Maintain accurate and confidential documentation.
Communicate effectively with CYP, families, colleagues, and external partners.
Support caseload planning and administration.
Contribute to the development of clinical and training materials.
At NELFT, We Are Committed To Creating a Welcoming And Supportive Environment For All Staff. Our Values For 20252030, Co-produced With Colleagues, Patients, And Carers, Are
We are kind
We are respectful
We work together with our communities
These values guide us in striving to provide the best care by the best people.
Starting with Us: All new starters join the Trust on the first Monday of each month you will start on Monday 5 th January 2026 and participate in a comprehensive induction programme lasting up to two weeks. This includes mandatory training, systems training, equipment allocation, and opportunities to meet the executive team and senior managers. Induction takes place at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Probationary Period: This post is subject to a probationary period.
Use of AI: Please note that the use of AI for writing supporting statements is not permitted and will be marked negatively during shortlisting.
Responsibilities
This role combines academic learning with practical experience to prepare you for delivering mental health support in educational settings. Key responsibilities include:
Delivering low-intensity interventions under supervision.
Engaging in academic study and applying learning to clinical practice.
Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and educational staff.
Conducting assessments and managing clinical documentation.
Participating in service development and quality improvement.
Promoting inclusive and equitable care practices.
Education
Upon successful completion of the training programme, you will qualify as a Band 5 Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP). In this role, you will work more autonomously, delivering high-quality, brief, outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. You will be expected to:
Conduct initial assessments and deliver a range of early interventions.
Promote emotional wellbeing in schools and communities.
Escalate cases beyond scope through supervision and referral pathways.
Initiate referrals to specialist services when needed.
Act as a legally and professionally accountable practitioner, guided by your professional code of conduct.
Participate in multi-disciplinary meetings and contribute to service development.
Mentor students and support training initiatives.
Maintain accurate records and contribute to clinical audits and governance.
The qualified role places greater emphasis on independent clinical decision-making, leadership within the team, and active involvement in shaping service delivery. You will also be expected to support whole school approaches (WSA) and work closely with education settings to enhance mental health awareness and provision.
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