Job Summary
NELFT is the largest provider of MHST's in England. Our North East, Southend, Essex and Thurrock services cover 144 schools currently. The service is developing and expanding with an aim to cover all secondary schools in Mid and South Essex by September 2025.
The Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) deliver evidence‑based individual interventions and group interventions in educational settings for children experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties aged 5 to 18 years old. The teams also have a strong focus on whole school approaches to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people.
Please note that this role is offered as a job share and relates to two separate contracts. There are two individual posts, each at 0.40 WTE (15 hours per week), worked over two days. If you are successful, you will be required to work two days per week, and the specific days can be agreed during the interview. A job share is an arrangement where two people share the responsibilities of one full‑time role, each working part‑time hours. Together, they cover the duties of the position as if they were one full‑time employee. If successful you will be joining another Locality Clinical Lead already employed within the service to undertake this one role.
This role is based in South West Essex, covering a large geographical area incorporating the districts of Thurrock, Basildon and Brentwood and Billericay.
Main Duties
* Have a current and in‑date professional registration with a regulatory body (e.g. ACP, UKCP, HCPC, BABCP)
* Have substantial experience (more than 2 years, post qualification) working therapeutically with children and families with mental health needs
* In‑depth knowledge and experience of evidence‑based practice with children and families (including CBT)
* Experience of providing and receiving supervision (including CBT‑informed practice)
* Clinical experience and in‑depth understanding of effective use of routine outcome measures
* Enthusiasm for and knowledge of early intervention and prevention including low‑intensity support for emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties in an education context
* Knowledge of evidence‑based interventions for low mood, self‑harm, anxiety and common behaviour difficulties in young children in education settings
* Knowledge and understanding of whole‑school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health
* Experience of providing consultation in education settings
* Experience of service development and multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency working
* Hold evidence of ongoing continuing professional development in a relevant subject
About Us
Our Values 2025 – 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co‑produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT. They are: We are kind. We are respectful. We work together with our communities. These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.
Job Details
Date posted: 24 November 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Job share
Reference number: 395-EC374-25
Job location: Phoenix House, Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, SS143EZ
Job Responsibilities
We are looking for an experienced Mental Health Practitioner with a UK Professional Registration to join our Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). MHSTs are a new service designed to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing difficulties within education settings; ensuring children and young people receive faster access to early intervention mental health support. In this post, you will be a senior clinical team member, holding a clinical caseload and supervising junior staff and trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners. You will work alongside partner agencies to develop and co‑produce training materials and support the delivery of whole‑school approach models for mental health.
The successful applicant would have completed the Supervisors Course—a fundamental requirement for the post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Qualified & Registered Mental Health Practitioner (Counselling/Clinical Psychologist, Family Therapist, Drama Therapist, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, CBT Therapist, Art Psychotherapist, Advanced Clinical Practitioner)
* Masters level qualification or equivalent
* Professional registration with a regulatory body (e.g. ACP, UKCP, HCPC, BABCP)
Experience
* At least 2 years’ experience of providing supervision (including CBT‑informed practice)
* Substantial experience (more than 2 years, post qualification) working therapeutically with children and families with mental health needs
* Experience in clinical leadership
* Experience of providing consultation to partner agencies
* Experience of working with moderate presentations and neurodivergence
* Experience working with or in educational settings (desirable)
Knowledge
* Knowledge of auditing and service evaluation
* Knowledge and understanding of whole‑school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health
Other
* To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
Employer Information
Employer name: NELFT North East London Foundation Trust
Address: Phoenix House, Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, SS143EZ
Website: https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/
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