MHST Senior Supervisor/Senior Therapist

Job summary

Job overview Are you an experienced and qualified children's mental health clinician looking to take the next step in your leadership journey? Do you enjoy combining clinical practice, supervision, consultation and service development within innovative school-based mental health services? We are seeking an experienced and motivated MHST Senior Supervisor / Senior Therapist to join our expanding Barking & Dagenham Mental Health Support Team (MHST). This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the ongoing development and delivery of Mental Health Support Teams, supporting children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties whilst providing leadership, supervision and professional support to Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs).

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will hold an appropriate professional qualification and registration as a senior Children and Young People's Mental Health clinician and have a minimum of two years' post-qualification experience working with children, young people and families within mental health services. Applicants should be able to demonstrate experience of clinical supervision, consultation, formulation, risk management and evidence-based interventions with children and young people. Working closely with schools, colleges, partner agencies and MHST colleagues, the post holder will support the continued development of high-quality, accessible and outcome-focused mental health support across Barking & Dagenham. This role is particularly suited to experienced clinicians seeking to combine clinical expertise, leadership, supervision and service development within a growing and innovative area of children's mental health services.

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: 30 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 3BDL-001665
• Job locations: Axe Street Child & Family Centre, Barking, Essex, IG11 7LZ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Main duties of the job

• Provide clinical supervision, support and professional guidance to Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), including trainees.

• Oversee formulation, treatment planning and case management for children and young people supported by the MHST.

• Hold a small clinical caseload and deliver evidence-based interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

• Undertake specialist mental health assessments, formulation, risk assessment and intervention planning.

• Deliver consultation, advice and training to schools, colleges and partner agencies.

• Support the development and implementation of whole-school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health.

• Manage and screen referrals into the MHST and support the allocation and oversight of clinical work.

• Monitor clinical outcomes, activity data and service performance to support quality improvement.

• Contribute to service development, audit, evaluation and clinical governance activities.

• Support the continued growth, development and embedding of Mental Health Support Teams across Barking & Dagenham.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The MHST Senior Supervisor / Senior Therapist will provide clinical leadership, supervision and oversight within the Barking & Dagenham Mental Health Support Team, supporting the delivery of evidence-based early intervention and mental health support for children and young people within educational settings.

The post holder will be responsible for the clinical supervision, support and development of Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), including trainees, ensuring that interventions are delivered safely, effectively and in accordance with evidence-based practice, CYP-IAPT principles and local service pathways. They will oversee formulation, treatment planning, risk management and outcome monitoring, supporting practitioners to develop confidence and competence within their clinical practice.

Alongside supervisory responsibilities, the post holder will maintain a small clinical caseload and undertake specialist assessments, formulation and intervention work with children, young people and families presenting with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Clinical work will be informed by current evidence, NICE guidance and best practice frameworks.

The successful candidate will work closely with schools and colleges to strengthen their capacity to support emotional wellbeing and mental health. This will include providing consultation, advice, training and support to education staff, contributing to the development of whole-school approaches and improving access to mental health support for children and young people.

The role requires strong partnership working across health, education, social care and voluntary sector organisations. The post holder will communicate highly sensitive and complex information to children, young people, families and professionals, maintaining a collaborative, strengths-based and person-centred approach at all times.

The post holder will contribute to operational leadership within the MHST, including referral management, service development, audit, quality improvement, clinical governance and outcome monitoring. They will support the continued development and embedding of MHST provision across Barking & Dagenham and contribute to wider transformation within children's mental health services.

Applicants must hold an appropriate professional qualification and registration as a senior CYP mental health clinician and have a minimum of two years' post-qualification experience working with children, young people and families within mental health services. Experience of clinical supervision, working with education settings and supporting the development of trainee or junior staff is essential.

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. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,870 to a maximum of £6,137 p.a. pro rata for part time).

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.