Senior Education Mental Health Practitioner
The closing date is 13 May 2026
We have an exciting opportunity to be part of Sunderland’s Mental Health Support Team (MHST) and the Health Heads Team as a Senior Education Mental Health Practitioner/Senior Wellbeing Practitioner. The post holder will work collaboratively with our education sites across the city to provide early intervention and preventative evidence‑based interventions to children and young people to promote resilience and support their emotional well‑being. The post holder will be responsible for building sound and positive relationships with schools, aiding in delivering consultation and training, and being a positive and professional role model for the service. The post holder will have a specific role in supporting trainees, newly qualified and existing qualified EMHPs through clinical and caseload supervision, training, and providing clinical leadership. The post holder will work with school settings to build and develop a positive mental health ethos through a whole‑school approach model, and will identify individual needs of the school and work collaboratively to develop and implement an action plan. The post holder will be an experienced Senior Education Mental Health Practitioner/Senior Wellbeing Practitioner who understands the aims and objectives of the national Mental Health Support Team initiative set out in the Mental Health Green Paper.
Main duties of the job
Support children and young people within an education setting by delivering clinical evidence‑based therapeutic interventions based on a Low Intensity CBT model.
Deliver evidence‑based group work programmes of low‑level and preventative support for children and young people in accordance with their needs and age.
Deliver evidence‑based support to parents.
Support school professionals with the provision of advice, consultation and training.
Work collaboratively with schools to deliver a Whole School Approach to mental health, such as workshops, assemblies, and class‑based activities.
Be able to reach those children and young people who find it hard to access services.
Deliver clinical and caseload supervision.
Oversee junior members of the team and offer support and guidance.
Engage in further training as required to support the role and clinical delivery of the service.
Take a lead role in overseeing and coordinating activity within your locality base.
About us
We welcome all applications irrespective of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture. We provide access to high‑quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
We also offer a range of benefits including a Fitness Centre, library access, chaplaincy support and a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.
Job responsibilities
Work as a member of the Mental Health Support Team in Sunderland/South Tyneside, providing an education‑based mental health service to children and young people. This includes the direct provision of evidence‑based interventions and outcome‑focused standards of care to children and families/carers, delivering high‑quality training, consultation and support to other education staff, and delivering a Whole School Approach to developing a positive culture of mental health within the school environment.
Provide clinical and caseload supervision, support the development of clinical expertise within the team, lead, motivate and support the team, and support service development and innovative models. Undertake clinical governance and quality monitoring, ongoing research and audit of practice, and work autonomously to assess child/young person needs, identify and implement a plan of care and initiate appropriate holistic research‑based health information and care.
Act as a cluster lead over an allocated group of schools and oversee EMHPs to support the delivery of all three functions of MHST. Take a lead/champion role in an area of specialist interest relevant to an MHST and engage in further training as required. The service will be delivered from education bases as an integral part of an agreed iTHRIVE multi‑agency model of Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service provision, working collaboratively with multi‑professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective, evidence‑based and safe.
Person Specification
Experience
* Significant experience of working as an EMHP / low intensity therapist within an MHST
* Experience of supporting the mental health needs of children, young people and families
* Experience of working within a community/education context
* Experience of delivering low intensity psychological interventions
* Experience of working collaboratively within a multi‑agency context
* Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children
* Facilitating teaching or delivering training
* Experience of working in a service with agreed targets that demonstrate clinical outcomes
* Experience of working with the community and or education settings
Qualifications
* Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner (Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing studies in the Education Environment) or equivalent low intensity qualification
* Registered with an appropriate governing body (e.g., BABCP/BPS)
* Recognised EMHP Supervision qualification or willingness to work towards and complete a training programme at Northumbria University
* Completed the Senior Wellbeing Practitioner course or willingness to attend and complete a training programme at Northumbria University
* Additional postgraduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area
* Evidence of further study to enhance practice
* Evidence of providing supervision
* Evidence of leadership responsibilities
Skills and Knowledge
* Knowledge of universal and specialist children’s mental health service provision
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages
* Proven organisational skills and time/caseload management skills
* Able to write clear reports and letters, demonstrating a high standard in both written and oral communication
* Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations
* Ability to work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team
* Ability to undertake risk assessments
* Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments
* Ability to work under supervision and make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development
* Understanding of anxiety and depression and how this may present in children and young people
* Understanding of the need for evidence‑based psychological therapies
* Working knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health
* Knowledge of relevant guidance, policy and good practice
Physical skills
* Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle
* Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements and demands of the training course and work within the service
* Ability to sit, stand and walk as required across the full duration of the working day
* Ability to, on occasion, move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids
* Ability to work flexibly, sometimes working additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service and ensure a complete understanding is had in relation to care delivery
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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