Job overview
FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN AS A MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER AT DERBY UNIVERSITY AND BE A KEY MEMBER OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TEAM IN THE BLACK COUNTRY
Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner x 2wte based in our Dudley team (Please note, although you will predominately work in the Dudley locality you may at times need to work across the Black Country depending on service need)
Main duties of the job
Please note all successful candidates must be able to start in post in November 2025 for induction prior to commencing university studies in January 2026.
Band 4 transitioning to Band 5 once all course modules are completed and full clinical hours are gained as part of the training year.
Working for our organisation
The Mental Health Support Team for schools and colleges in the Black Country will be supporting approximately 300 settings in 2024 and is designed to deliver three core functions:
·Evidence-based interventions for mild-to-moderate mental health issues;
·To support the in each school or college to introduce or develop
·Provide timely advice to school and college staff, and liaise with external specialist service to help children and young people to get the right support and stay in education.
With additional funding we are able to further expand our offer to educational settings from early 2026 and we therefore have an exciting opportunity for enthusiastic and committed individuals to join our team as a trainee Educational Mental Health Practitioners. During your training year you will develop skills and competencies to deliver short term interventions to young people in schools and colleges throughout the localities where they demonstrate a need for support with their emotional health and wellbeing. Some community work may also be required dependent on the needs of the young person and their family.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a trainee Educational Mental Health Practitioner you will be expected to work under supervision as part of a dynamic mental health team in a creative environment where evidence-based interventions, new ideas and ways of working to support children and young people are actively encouraged. This approach requires flexibility and adaptability, and above all a passion for working with children and young people in educational settings. Over the course of the training year, the post-holder will, under supervision, develop knowledge and practice skills to employ a range of evidence based interventions for common mental health problems such as anxiety, low mood and friendship difficulties via direct individual and group support for children, young people and their parents, in line with the university expectations.
The Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner role will:
1. Work closely alongside a team of mental health professionals delivering a wide range of evidence informed interventions, under supervision.
2. Develop and practice evidence-based skills under supervision to work directly with children, young people and families.
3. Develop and practice evidence-based skills under supervision to carry out holistic and child-centered mental health assessments, including risk assessments
The Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner is required to:
4. Demonstrate the ability to work at degree level or have an equivalent level of relevant experience, with a proven record of previous learning or formal study in child development, wellbeing or mental health
5. Experience of working with children and young people, their families and the network around the child.
6. Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders
7. Experience of working with children and young people who have social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties
8. Experience of working in or with education although this is not essential
The Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner role:
9. Work closely alongside a team of mental health professionals delivering a wide range of evidence informed interventions autonomously
10. Continue to develop and practice evidence-based skills to work directly with children, young people and families.
11. Continue to develop and practice evidence-based skills to carry out holistic and child-centered mental health assessments, including risk assessments.
Any questions regarding application please contact our recruitment team on 01384 325028.
Person specification
Criteria
Essential criteria
12. Has an undergraduate degree and proven ability to study at degree level
13. Has knowledge of the education system in England
14. Knowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.
15. Must have a minimum of two years continual experience of working with children and young people
16. Must be able to travel around the Black Country and to and from university with ease
Desirable criteria
17. Experience of working in children and young people's mental health services
Capability to deliver
Essential criteria
18. Ability to be able to present to large audiences
19. Ability to be able to therapeutically communicate with a young person
20. Ability to be able to write clinical notes and use appropriate IT systems
Desirable criteria
21. Ability to be able to communicate effectively with teaching staff