Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners - Hambleton & Richmond
The closing date is 17 June 2026
In line with the government’s priority to increase access and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, the EMHP role provides an opportunity to deliver evidence‑based early interventions in both educational settings and healthcare sectors.
We are looking to recruit 3 trainee EMHPs for our Hambleton & Richmond team.
The successful candidates will attend an educational programme (2 days at university / 3 days within the team per week) in partnership with Northumbria University. The training programme is 12 months in duration. Following successful completion of the 1‑year programme you will be offered an NHS AfC Band 5 EMHP role.
All applicants must 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.
Delivery of the programme will be provided through a combination of taught days within university, independent self‑guided study days and experience gained in education, wellbeing and mainstream mental health services.
Candidates must be able to begin this in September 2026.
Main duties of the job
The Wellbeing in Mind team has 3 functions:
* Support the development of a whole‑school or college approach to wellbeing. This can include, but is not limited to, supporting sites to develop and implement mental health and wellbeing policies, developing resources, supporting campaigns and delivering training, assemblies and PHSE curriculum.
* Provide timely advice and consultation to education staff. This is designed to support teaching staff to build their skills and confidence in supporting the wellbeing needs of their students/pupils, offered in both a formal and informal way.
* Undertake direct assessments and interventions for young people within education. We offer a low‑intensity service model, predominantly using cognitive‑behavioural therapy.
Each function accounts for a third of the team’s workload.
This role is a training position, which is due to last for 1 year. If your Right to Work is based on a Visa that will expire before the end of the programme and subsequent qualification, it may not be possible to employ you in the role. At present, this programme does not meet the requirements for skilled worker visa sponsorship under the UK Home Office guidelines. As a result, we are unable to accept applications from those requiring offer visa sponsorship in order to complete the programme.
About us
We are a Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust covering County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care, our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with communities and partners to get mental health care right in the areas that really need it.
We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.
Job responsibilities
The post holder, under supervision and with support, will develop knowledge and practice skills in:
* Delivering evidence‑based interventions for young people in education settings with mild to moderate mental health problems.
* Helping young people within these settings who present with more severe problems to rapidly access more specialist services.
* Supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to identify and, where appropriate, manage issues related to mental health and wellbeing.
* Working with and within education environments to afford better access to specialist mental health services.
* Developing an understanding of what schools already do to support the emotional wellbeing and positive mental health of students.
* Being able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
Qualifications
* Evidence of ability to study successfully at undergraduate level or the equivalent.
* Meet the minimum training standards required by the University to undertake EMHP training.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
* Experience of communicating sensitive information.
* Experience of work interacting with the public.
* Demonstrates an awareness of children and young people’s mental health and how it may present.
* Good verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills.
* Able to interact with others in a compassionate manner.
* Some experience of people using services in psychological, mental health and/or social care settings, including personal experience or supporting a family member to access services.
* Experience of working in mental health or related services.
* Experience of working in an education setting.
* Worked in a service where agreed targets in place to demonstrating outcomes.
* Ability to manage own caseload.
* Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues relating to children and young people and the impact it can have on mental health.
* Demonstrates an understanding of the need to use evidence‑based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
* Received training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission of Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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