Job summary
Alliance is a leading local provider of children's mental health and emotional wellbeing services. We deliver support across educational settings through a whole-school approach, evidence based psychological interventions, and collaborative system working. Our services operate within the CYP APT principles and evidence based psychological interventions, and collaborative system working. Our services operate within the CYP APT principles and an IThrive framework.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will provide operational, clinical and strategic leadership to Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) across Stockton and Hartlepool, ensuring services are safe, effective, outcome focused, and aligned with national frameworks. You will lead a growing skilled and multidisciplinary workforce, supporting high quality psychological interventions, and manage Lead Clinicians within an established leadership structure.
Key dates:
Closing date: 1 March 2026
Interviews : 9 March 2026 (in person at Billingham)
About us
We offer first rate training & development opportunities, 38 days annual leave pro rata, rising 1 day every 5 years of service (& the option to purchase additional AL) EAP health scheme including costs towards opticians, dentist, physio and shopping discounts plus a 3% contributory pension scheme. We also offer lots of health & wellbeing initiatives for our staff & promote flexible working for a positive work life balance.
Alliance is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment practice & service delivery. We are signatories to the Mindful Employers Charter. Alliance also has Investors in People status and the Better Health at Work Bronze award.
Alliance Psychological Services follows safer recruitment for all appointments. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each persons individual responsibility and are committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of clients.
Please note that due to the nature of the duties of these roles an enhanced criminal records disclosure will be sought in the event of a successful application.
You must have right to work in the UK as we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for employment visas.
We monitor the use of AI , if applicants have used it they should declare it.
AI-generated content may lack detail and not address key criteria outlined in the job description.
Personalisation is essential to convey individual skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Leadership & Management
Embed service delivery within the IThrive model, building strong relationships with schools, health, social care and voluntary sector partners.
Clinical & Operational Responsibilities
Ensure practice across all three MHST core functions:
- Direct evidence based work with children and young people
- Whole school/college approach to mental health
- Professional consultation and support for access to specialist services
3. Partnership & System Working
4. Outcomes, Data & Reporting
5. General Responsibilities
6.Organisational Responsibilities
Values and behaviours
To demonstrate and be a role model for Alliance's values, to promote and encourage positive behaviours, enhancing the quality and integrity of the services we provide.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
To take responsibility for health, safety, and wellbeing in accordance with Alliance's policies and procedures.
Equality and diversity
To promote a society that gives everyone an equal chance to work and live free from discrimination and prejudice.
Confidentiality
To work in a way that does not divulge personal and/or confidential information and follow Alliance's policies and procedures in relation to data protection and security of information.
Performance Management
To promote a culture whereby performance management is ingrained, and the highest standards and performance are achieved by all. Ensure that mandatory training commitments are met and that the postholder keeps up to date with Alliance's policies and procedures. Contribute to Alliance's Appraisal processes to ensure continuous learning and improvement and to increase organisational performance.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Leadership & Management
Embed service delivery within the IThrive model, building strong relationships with schools, health, social care and voluntary sector partners.
Clinical & Operational Responsibilities
Ensure practice across all three MHST core functions:
- Direct evidence based work with children and young people
- Whole school/college approach to mental health
- Professional consultation and support for access to specialist services
3. Partnership & System Working
4. Outcomes, Data & Reporting
5. General Responsibilities
6.Organisational Responsibilities
Values and behaviours
To demonstrate and be a role model for Alliance's values, to promote and encourage positive behaviours, enhancing the quality and integrity of the services we provide.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
To take responsibility for health, safety, and wellbeing in accordance with Alliance's policies and procedures.
Equality and diversity
To promote a society that gives everyone an equal chance to work and live free from discrimination and prejudice.
Confidentiality
To work in a way that does not divulge personal and/or confidential information and follow Alliance's policies and procedures in relation to data protection and security of information.
Performance Management
To promote a culture whereby performance management is ingrained, and the highest standards and performance are achieved by all. Ensure that mandatory training commitments are met and that the postholder keeps up to date with Alliance's policies and procedures. Contribute to Alliance's Appraisal processes to ensure continuous learning and improvement and to increase organisational performance.
Person Specification
Skills and Behaviours
Essential
- Leadership & Management
- Demonstrates an understanding and ability to lead staff qualified in a range of therapeutic approaches and willing to support the implementation of Alliance model of delivery
-
- Demonstrates an ability and experience of managing and advising staff on risk & safeguarding.
- Evaluation skills including the ability to identify effectiveness, appropriateness, and efficiency within services.
- Skills to manage service quality improvement
- Shows a willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of both the service and organisation
- Ability to work with an agreed caseload and manage agreed targets and performance measures
- Demonstrates an excellent understanding of childrens mental health and impact of national legislation and guidance and can articulate this to external partners
- Professional Supervision
- Demonstrates the effective use of professional supervision/guidance
- Shows responsibility for continuous professional development
- Child Protection and Safeguarding
- A clear understanding of LSCP policies and procedures and commitment to the safeguarding of children and young people
- Experience of and willingness to undertake training and continuous professional development in a Designated Safeguarding Officers role
- Ability to discuss and share concerns and challenge professional practice.
- Case Management & Line-Management
- Demonstrates a willingness to challenge assumptions and practice and provide alternative and creative solutions
- Demonstrates commitment to the team by supporting team members through case-management and support to deliver high quality services
- Partnership Working
- Demonstrates an ability to effectively build and manage relationships with referrers both within schools and community
- Strong working relationships with Senior Leadership Teams in educational settings school leadership teams to support and maintain contracts
- Demonstrates a consistently positive attitude to working within Alliance
- Demonstrates ability to work collaboratively with children, young people and families
- Has the ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with children, young people and families
- Personal Qualities
- Ability to support and lead a dynamic and developing service
- Demonstration of self-motivation and ability to motivate and inspire others
- Strong personal resilience and ability to work confidently and competently under pressure
- Communication
- Effective communication skills, both verbal and written and the ability to understand and respond to requirements of different audiences
- Shares information, skills and practice when required
- Excellent case recording, report writing and case presentation skills
- IT
- Demonstrates competency in using Microsoft Office
- Experience in using data base systems to record sessions and notes
- Ability to produce written and verbal reports when required
Qualifications
Essential
- Holds a counselling/psychological therapy qualification
- Holds a recognised membership of a relevant professional body (ie BACP/BABCP BAAT/UKCP/BPS)
- Holds or is willing to undertake supervision training
Desirable
- Holds a management/leadership qualification
- Is accredited with a relevant professional body (ie BACP/BABCP/BAAT/UKCP/BPS)
- Holds a CYP IAPT qualification in an evidenced based approach (HICBT, LICBT, SFP)
Experience
Essential
- A substantial amount of experience managing and leading childrens mental health/emotional wellbeing services
- Experience of collaborative working and partnership building
- Demonstrates an understanding of CYP IAPT & Mental Health Support Teams in Schools
- Demonstrates a thorough understanding of Alliance children, young people and families funding routes, including referral pathways and criteria for access
- Demonstrates a full understanding of working with educational and or social care systems/organisations
- Management of risk and safeguarding
Desirable
- Previous mentoring with trainees or newly qualified staff
- Demonstrates an understanding of Alliance children, young people and families funding routes, including referral pathways and criteria for access
Person Specification
Skills and Behaviours
Essential
- Leadership & Management
- Demonstrates an understanding and ability to lead staff qualified in a range of therapeutic approaches and willing to support the implementation of Alliance model of delivery
-
- Demonstrates an ability and experience of managing and advising staff on risk & safeguarding.
- Evaluation skills including the ability to identify effectiveness, appropriateness, and efficiency within services.
- Skills to manage service quality improvement
- Shows a willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of both the service and organisation
- Ability to work with an agreed caseload and manage agreed targets and performance measures
- Demonstrates an excellent understanding of childrens mental health and impact of national legislation and guidance and can articulate this to external partners
- Professional Supervision
- Demonstrates the effective use of professional supervision/guidance
- Shows responsibility for continuous professional development
- Child Protection and Safeguarding
- A clear understanding of LSCP policies and procedures and commitment to the safeguarding of children and young people
- Experience of and willingness to undertake training and continuous professional development in a Designated Safeguarding Officers role
- Ability to discuss and share concerns and challenge professional practice.
- Case Management & Line-Management
- Demonstrates a willingness to challenge assumptions and practice and provide alternative and creative solutions
- Demonstrates commitment to the team by supporting team members through case-management and support to deliver high quality services
- Partnership Working
- Demonstrates an ability to effectively build and manage relationships with referrers both within schools and community
- Strong working relationships with Senior Leadership Teams in educational settings school leadership teams to support and maintain contracts
- Demonstrates a consistently positive attitude to working within Alliance
- Demonstrates ability to work collaboratively with children, young people and families
- Has the ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with children, young people and families
- Personal Qualities
- Ability to support and lead a dynamic and developing service
- Demonstration of self-motivation and ability to motivate and inspire others
- Strong personal resilience and ability to work confidently and competently under pressure
- Communication
- Effective communication skills, both verbal and written and the ability to understand and respond to requirements of different audiences
- Shares information, skills and practice when required
- Excellent case recording, report writing and case presentation skills
- IT
- Demonstrates competency in using Microsoft Office
- Experience in using data base systems to record sessions and notes
- Ability to produce written and verbal reports when required
Qualifications
Essential
- Holds a counselling/psychological therapy qualification
- Holds a recognised membership of a relevant professional body (ie BACP/BABCP BAAT/UKCP/BPS)
- Holds or is willing to undertake supervision training
Desirable
- Holds a management/leadership qualification
- Is accredited with a relevant professional body (ie BACP/BABCP/BAAT/UKCP/BPS)
- Holds a CYP IAPT qualification in an evidenced based approach (HICBT, LICBT, SFP)
Experience
Essential
- A substantial amount of experience managing and leading childrens mental health/emotional wellbeing services
- Experience of collaborative working and partnership building
- Demonstrates an understanding of CYP IAPT & Mental Health Support Teams in Schools
- Demonstrates a thorough understanding of Alliance children, young people and families funding routes, including referral pathways and criteria for access
- Demonstrates a full understanding of working with educational and or social care systems/organisations
- Management of risk and safeguarding
Desirable
- Previous mentoring with trainees or newly qualified staff
- Demonstrates an understanding of Alliance children, young people and families funding routes, including referral pathways and criteria for access
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.
