NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Senior Mental Health Practitioner - Barking & Dagenham MHST

The closing date is 27 November 2025

Job summary

In line with the government's priority to increase access and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, the new Mental Health Support Team (MHST) are an exciting and new opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people, working across schools in Barking and Dagenham.

We are looking for a practitioner with experience of working in a setting where children and young people's mental health has been the primary focus. These posts are open to professionals with a variety of relevant backgrounds, but post holders must evidence meeting the essential criteria listed in the person specification within the job description.

This role would be suitable for a qualified EMHP or CWP with a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience or any other mental health professional who has 2 years' post qualification experience and/or experience in clinical supervision.

MHSTs build on the support already in place from school counsellors, nurses, educational psychologists, and the voluntary sector to treat those with mild to moderate mental health issues in school and will help children and young people with more severe needs to access the right support and provide a link to CAMHS.

Main duties of the job

The responsibilities/expectations of the Senior Mental Health Practitioner are:

To effectively manage a caseload of CYP with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
Provide caseload management and clinical supervision to Education Mental Health Practitioner's (EMHPs).
To undertake further educational development as part of the role.
To support in the delivery of evidence-based CBT.
Working in partnership with schools/colleges and other educational settings.
Provide support and training opportunities to a variety of team members and other professionals/trainees.
To support and develop the interventions that can be delivered as part of the MHST within the education setting.
Being able to work as part of a team and autonomously.
Ensuring appropriate access to MHST support for CYP.
Completion of thorough assessments, risk assessments, care planning and reviews.
To ensure that there is accurate documentation, and that Routine Outcome Measures are completed.
Appropriately raise safeguarding concerns where identified and to support colleagues with this process.

NELFT Barking and Dagenham MHST offers opportunities for growth and progression for individuals with a rich array of experience and transferable skills.

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. Starting with NELFT NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex. Probationary Period This post will be subject to a probationary period. High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15%of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,714 and a maximum payment of £5,941 - per annum, pro rata for part time).

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AIduring the recruitment process.

Date posted

13 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year plus HCAS per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

395-BD106-25

Job locations

Child And Family Health Centre

79 Axe Street

Barking

IG11 7LZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

Successful completion of a graduate training (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy) or equivalent substantial CAMHS/EWMHS clinical experience

Desirable

To be eligible for registration as a full member of the appropriate professional body (e.g. HCPC, NMC) where appropriate
To have completed formal CBT training (e.g. CYP-IAPT)

Experience

Essential

Experience delivering CBT interventions to CYP and their families

Desirable

Experience of working with schools to support CYP emotional well-being needs
Experience running therapy groups and/or training events

Experience

Essential

2 years post qualification experience
EMHP/CWP qualification

assessed

Essential

Awareness of MHST remit

Desirable

awareness of trust policy
awareness of trust values

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

Successful completion of a graduate training (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy) or equivalent substantial CAMHS/EWMHS clinical experience

Desirable

To be eligible for registration as a full member of the appropriate professional body (e.g. HCPC, NMC) where appropriate
To have completed formal CBT training (e.g. CYP-IAPT)

Experience

Essential

Experience delivering CBT interventions to CYP and their families

Desirable

Experience of working with schools to support CYP emotional well-being needs
Experience running therapy groups and/or training events

Experience

Essential

2 years post qualification experience
EMHP/CWP qualification

assessed

Essential

Awareness of MHST remit

Desirable

awareness of trust policy
awareness of trust values

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Child And Family Health Centre

79 Axe Street

Barking

IG11 7LZ

Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Child And Family Health Centre

79 Axe Street

Barking

IG11 7LZ

Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)