Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for one band 6 Mental Health Practitioner with a keen interest in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Neurodiversity and SEND to work within our early intervention SEND Mental Health Support Team (MHST).
The SEND MHST delivers evidence-based interventions supporting emotional wellbeing through groups, individual interventions, consultation, and training whilst incorporating a full assessment of need. The aim of the SEND MHST is to support a whole school approach to develop, build, and support emotional well-being.
We are seeking to appoint one Mental Health Practitioner, who can work flexibly and are committed to the success and delivery of the service. The post is full time; however, part time hours, flexible working, and job share opportunities will be considered. The post is based at Sandridge Gate, St Albans with regular planned travel across Hertfordshire and West Essex.
*Proposed interview date: 13-June-2025*
Main duties of the job
The ideal candidate will:
Support Band 4 and 5 staff within their training and interventions
Have experience and understanding of school systems.
Able to establish and maintain effective inter-agency and inter-team communication
Have mental health experience
Able to undertake risk assessment and risk management.
Able to plan and to lead workshops and therapeutic groups
Able to maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in settings where there is a highly emotive atmosphere.
Flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure
Able to work both in a team environment and autonomously
About us
A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
You'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff
We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities
Our staff are proud to be Innovative, Caring and Agile in their work to help achieve the Trust vision
We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages
We don't want you to miss out so we'd like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now
You've made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we're looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE SUMMARY:
To work in collaboration with the MHST Senior Clinician and MHST Operational Lead to ensure the effective development and delivery of the MHST service. Establish and maintain effective inter-agency and inter-team communication. To support the development and implementation of policies/guidelines within the MHST in conjunction with MHST Senior Clinician, MHST Operational Lead and alongside educational colleagues as appropriate. To maintain quality care standards and procedures which support the aims of Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. Develop and maintain effective joint working with schools, Children and young people mental health services and other community-based teams according to local circumstances. Provide clinical caseload supervision to team members. To work with universities to ensure the success of the EMHPs training.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE SUMMARY:
To work in collaboration with the MHST Senior Clinician and MHST Operational Lead to ensure the effective development and delivery of the MHST service. Establish and maintain effective inter-agency and inter-team communication. To support the development and implementation of policies/guidelines within the MHST in conjunction with MHST Senior Clinician, MHST Operational Lead and alongside educational colleagues as appropriate. To maintain quality care standards and procedures which support the aims of Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. Develop and maintain effective joint working with schools, Children and young people mental health services and other community-based teams according to local circumstances. Provide clinical caseload supervision to team members. To work with universities to ensure the success of the EMHPs training.
Person Specification
Other
Essential
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- o Degree or equivalent in relevant field Professional Qualification supplemented by post graduate diploma specialist training, experience, short courses plus further specialist training to master's equivalent level. o Experience in relevant mental health/learning disability setting. o Specialist knowledge within the field of clinical skills gained through theoretical and practical training and experience. o Membership of relevant professional bodies
Desirable
- Approved mental health professional (AMHP). o Further training in relevant areas of Neurodiversity, Learning Disability and mental health.
Experience
Essential
- o Experience of risk assessment within a mental health or learning disability setting. o Comprehensive assessment skills o Experience of working clinically in a mental health and/or learning disability setting assessing, containing and managing complex cases in a multi-disciplinary setting. o Experience of working with people who have a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder.
Desirable
- o To have good knowledge of local community services. o Provision of effective clinical/practice supervision o Experience of developing and delivering training and/or group
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- o Ability to lead professionally. o Ability to identify appropriate evidence based interventions for mental health and/or challenging behaviour. o Ability to communicate effectively when under pressure and dealing with challenging phone calls. o Ability to perform under pressure, to be able to analyse information effectively, therefore ensuring correct conclusion for action.
Personal Abilities
Essential
- An interest in, and commitment to, working with children who have a learning disability and/or neurodiversity and/or mental health difficulties. o Positive interpersonal skills o Able to meet targets and deadlines in line with triage times and returning phone calls. o Values that match positive behaviour ethos.
Person Specification
Other
Essential
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- o Degree or equivalent in relevant field Professional Qualification supplemented by post graduate diploma specialist training, experience, short courses plus further specialist training to master's equivalent level. o Experience in relevant mental health/learning disability setting. o Specialist knowledge within the field of clinical skills gained through theoretical and practical training and experience. o Membership of relevant professional bodies
Desirable
- Approved mental health professional (AMHP). o Further training in relevant areas of Neurodiversity, Learning Disability and mental health.
Experience
Essential
- o Experience of risk assessment within a mental health or learning disability setting. o Comprehensive assessment skills o Experience of working clinically in a mental health and/or learning disability setting assessing, containing and managing complex cases in a multi-disciplinary setting. o Experience of working with people who have a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder.
Desirable
- o To have good knowledge of local community services. o Provision of effective clinical/practice supervision o Experience of developing and delivering training and/or group
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- o Ability to lead professionally. o Ability to identify appropriate evidence based interventions for mental health and/or challenging behaviour. o Ability to communicate effectively when under pressure and dealing with challenging phone calls. o Ability to perform under pressure, to be able to analyse information effectively, therefore ensuring correct conclusion for action.
Personal Abilities
Essential
- An interest in, and commitment to, working with children who have a learning disability and/or neurodiversity and/or mental health difficulties. o Positive interpersonal skills o Able to meet targets and deadlines in line with triage times and returning phone calls. o Values that match positive behaviour ethos.
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.
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
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.
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).
