Job summary
The successful candidate will have experience supporting children and young people with emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties, alongside delivering CBT interventions for anxiety, low mood and behavioural difficulties in both individual and group settings. The role involves providing CBT interventions, leading Whole School Approach (WSA) initiatives, supervising Trainee and qualified EMHPs, and contributing to training, group programmes and resource development. We welcome applications from candidates who meet one of the following criteria: Hold a recognised qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) through the Children and Young People's Psychological Training (CYP-PT) programme. Be a qualified Senior Wellbeing Practitioner (SWP). Have secured a place on a Senior Wellbeing Practitioner (SWP) training programme and be actively undertaking, and committed to completing, the qualification. The appointed candidate will be required to undertake the Supervision: Children and Young Peoples Mental Health and Wellbeing Services PG Certificate if they do not already hold this qualification. This programme includes attendance at face-to-face university teaching sessions. Applicants must hold a Professional registration where applicable (e.g. HCPC, NMC, BPS or BABCP). Due to the size of the area we cover, access to a vehicle and the ability to travel efficiently across the county is essential.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will deliver brief, high-quality CBT interventions to CYP in schools and colleges, including assessments, early interventions, and outcome monitoring to ensure effective, evidence-based practice. They will support WSA activities such as workshops, groups, assemblies, staff training, and consultation, promoting early identification of mental health needs. Working autonomously and in line with professional and Trust standards, the practitioner will plan and deliver care in accordance with NICE guidelines, initiate referrals where required, and provide clear psychoeducation to CYP and families. They will also provide supervision and guidance to both Trainee EMHPs and qualified EMHPs. The role includes contributing to MHST leadership, supporting team culture, multidisciplinary working, audits, governance, and sharing clinical expertise. Administrative responsibilities include maintaining accurate clinical records, managing caseloads, supporting agile working, and collecting Routine Outcome Measures (ROMs). Strong communication skills are essential to build relationships with schools, teams, partner agencies, and families. The practitioner will engage in ongoing professional development, complete mandatory training, participate in appraisals, maintain clinical competencies, support new staff, contribute to training, and assist in implementing new policies and initiatives.
About us
NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex. We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.
Details
- Date posted: 03 August 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 6
- Salary: £39,995 to £48,117 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: NDD-001304
- Job locations: Stapleford House, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0QX, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
Starting with NELFT All new starters join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and complete a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, including mandatory and systems training, equipment allocation, and opportunities to meet the executive team and senior managers. Induction takes place at our head office at Goodmayes Hospital.
Probationary Period This post is subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt unless they are already within a probationary period or work as bank staff.
Base The Mid Essex MHST is nominally based at Stapleford House, Chelmsford. As agile workers, the successful applicant will travel to various NELFT sites and educational settings across the MHST area.
Certificates of Sponsorship Although NELFT is a registered sponsor, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all roles. Applicants should check their eligibility under the UKVI points-based system.
Use of AI Applications must be written by the applicant. Submissions generated by AI may be rejected, except where appropriate support is required for a declared disability.
Working for Us Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.
Interviews are scheduled to take place face-to-face on 11 September 2026. Candidates should be aware that, due to operational requirements, alternative interview dates are not available on this occasion.
For More Information and an informal conversation contact:
Melanie Kemp
Melanie.kemp@nelft.nhs.uk
Person specification
Other
Essential
- To be aware and demonstrate the Trust Values
- To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area
Skills
Essential
- Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively highly complex and sensitive matters to patients, which give rise to psychological distress.
- Highly developed ability to integrate complex clinical information into a coherent formulation.
- Skill in the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside CAMHS.
- Ability to tolerate anxiety without recourse to premature action whilst appreciating the role of the supervisor.
- Capacity to work alone, involving colleagues and manger as relevant
- Capacity to write clear records and observe policies, procedures, and guidelines.
- Ability to plan and organise own workload and time.
- Ability to use outcome monitoring across all clinical work.
- To have a flexible and adaptable approach
- Experience of delivering CBT informed practice and supervision.
Knowledge
Essential
- An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF, and clinical governance priorities
- High level knowledge of the theory and practice of short term and long-term clinical interventions in CAMHS
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and adolescents and safeguarding procedures and policies.
- Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education structures, national policies and frameworks, evidence-based practice including NICE guidelines.
- Knowledge of risk management and ability to monitor and assess risk and act accordingly to ensure safety.
- Knowledge of electronic record systems, ie Rio
- Have confidence to be an effective advocate for young people with emotional and mental health difficulties to continuously update knowledge and skills and challenge practice.
- To be able to adopt flexible working practices and undertake a full range of duties.
- To be able to adapt positively to possible changes in modes of service delivery.
- Has the ability to demonstrate a high level of commitment, innovation and initiative.
- To be supportive of colleagues experiencing stressful situations.
Experience
Essential
- Relevant formal qualification
- Experience of working with difficult, disturbed, or challenging children/young people requiring skilled and complex interventions.
- Experience of working with children and adolescents with co-morbid difficulties and special needs. (i.e. combination of organic and emotional deficits, such as autistic spectrum disorders and trauma).
- Experience of working therapeutically with parents/carers/families of children and young people with complex mental health problems
- Experience of using observation (eg. In school contexts) to contribute to assessments of children.
- Experience of carrying out generic assessment with other colleagues in the multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience of assessment carried out autonomously to determine the most appropriate treatment plan from a range of options for the child/young person.
- Experience of providing individual interventions with a wide variety of children and young people, from 3 to 19 years old- presenting problems at the most severe end of the spectrum.
Desirable
- Experience of relevant training/education with evidence of personal development.
- Experience of initiating, organising, and planning inter-agency meetings aimed at setting in place a treatment package tailored to the individual needs of a child/young person.
- Experience of providing clinical interventions in different cultural contexts.
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
- Successful completion of a graduate training (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapist) or equivalent substantial CAMHS clinical experience with below training
- Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes (e.g. CYP-IAPT training).
- To be eligible for registration as a full member of the appropriate professional body (e.g. HCPC, NMC) where appropriate
Demonstration of Trust Values
Essential
- We are kind
- We are respectful
- We work together with our communities
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 6 Mental Health roles in Rainham
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for MHST Senior Mental Health Practitioner (Mid Essex) with North East London NHS Foundation Trust in Rainham, London, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Mental health professionals role. The advertised salary is £39995.00 to £48117.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 17 Aug 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (03 Aug 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.