Job Summary
West Berkshire NHS Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service is expanding its Mental Help Support Teams (MHSTs). Two Senior Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) will be recruited – one based in Reading and one in West Berkshire. The role delivers evidence‑based early interventions for children and young people across educational, community and healthcare settings in England. Senior EMHPs provide supervision and support to trainee and qualified EMHPs, ensuring high standards of practice.
Responsibilities
* Train and be confident in CYP IAPT principles, evidence‑based interventions and routine outcome measures.
* Co‑ordinate and manage a caseload of children and young people presenting with emotional health and wellbeing difficulties in schools.
* Deliver individualised care packages/programmes, evaluate them, and maintain standards in accordance with national guidelines and trust policy.
* Provide clinical and supervisory support to EMHPs/CWPs.
* Offer specialist mental health advice, consultation and signposting using an outcome‑based triage model to schools.
* Provide training to school staff, parents and carers in collaboration with colleagues.
* Promote the whole‑school approach to developing and maintaining emotional health and well‑being within schools.
* Mentor students and less experienced team members.
* Act as an autonomous practitioner with awareness of limits and seek support when needed.
* Supervise the team clinically.
Must Haves
* Friendly, self‑motivated and self‑organising.
* Confident in working in a multi‑agency setting and collaborating with school colleagues.
* Enjoy regular collaboration with peers and senior colleagues to whom you report.
* Always look for new or better ways to deliver care and be keen to learn.
* Calm, friendly and compassionate outlook with a keen interest in working in a school setting.
* Trained in low‑intensity supervision (postgraduate certificate) or willing to undertake training starting in February 2026.
Qualifications
Education, Qualifications & Training – Essential
* Completed British Psychological Society (BPS) Accredited or Higher Education England (HEE) Approved academic course in line with the CYP Low Intensity National Programme and qualified as an Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP).
* Professional Registration as an EMHP with BPS or the British Association of Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP).
* Completed the EMHP supervisor PG Certificate provided by one of the nationally commissioned training providers.
Continuous Professional Development – Essential
* Evidence of substantial continuous professional development within the EMHP role.
Previous Experience – Essential
* Post‑qualification experience as a qualified EMHP, delivering low‑intensity interventions to CYP and/or their families in a multi‑agency environment.
* Experience working with children, young people and families across a range of emotional/mental health, behavioural/additional health/developmental needs.
* Working within an educational setting supporting mental health provision.
* Experience in a service where agreed/ specified targets demonstrate clinical outcomes.
* Managing competing demands and a caseload.
* Using routine outcome monitoring to evaluate clinical work and service targets.
* Delivering psycho‑educational groups.
* Engaging CYP with protected characteristics.
* Working in or with a diverse or multicultural community.
* Delivering supervision, coaching or mentoring junior colleagues.
* Negotiating, problem‑solving and relationship management where disagreements or resistance arise within the system.
Desirable
* Encouraging participation from service users in service development.
* Line management experience.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities – Essential
* CYP programme, KPIs and related guidance/legislation.
* Recognising when alternative evidence‑based low‑intensity interventions are needed for neuro‑diverse CYP and delivering them.
* Recognising when CYPs needs or wider complexity factors mean they are beyond low‑intensity/early intervention remit and are competent.
* Trauma‑informed practice knowledge.
* Comprehensive risk assessment within scope of practice.
* Understanding child development.
* Safeguarding knowledge and commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare of CYP and vulnerable adults.
* Knowledge of statutory and non‑statutory mental health services.
* Managing a sensitive, potentially emotionally distressing caseload personally.
* Consultation skills for professional and non‑professional groups.
* Creative planning to maximise effectiveness of care plans, including complex multi‑agency care plans.
* Teaching and training others.
* Team and independent working.
* Clear, sensitive communication with colleagues, children and families, acknowledging diversity.
* Excellent interpersonal skills and therapeutic relationships.
* Strong verbal and written communication, telephone skills and internet‑mediated communication tailored to audiences.
* Excellent IT skills and ability to navigate systems and software packages (RiO, Outlook, databases, MS Office/Teams, One Consultation and the internet).
Additional Requirements – Essential
* Flexible working patterns as required.
* Travel independently between locations in Berkshire to fulfil duties.
Benefits
* Flexible working options to support work‑life balance.
* 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell.
* Generous NHS pension scheme.
* Excellent learning and career development opportunities.
* ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles.
* Access to wellbeing tools and services.
* Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants.
* Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality.
* Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
* Free parking across Trust sites.
Values
* Caring for and about you is our top priority.
* Committed to providing good quality, safe services.
* Working together with you to develop innovative solutions.
Equal Opportunities
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
Employer Details
Employer name: Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address: MH Support Team - Reading 3, Reading, RG6 6BZ
Contract Details
* Reference number: 371-CFS602
* Date posted: 16 October 2025
* Band: 6
* Salary: £40,617 to £48,778 a year (West Berkshire: £38,682 – £46,582)
* Contract: Fixed term, 12 months
* Working pattern: Full‑time
* Job location: MH Support Team - Reading 3, Reading, RG6 6BZ
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