MHST Senior Wellbeing Practitioner

Job overview

Location: East Cambridge Start date: January 2027

Are you an experienced MHST practitioner ready to take the next step in your career? We are excited to offer opportunities for passionate, skilled clinicians to join us as Senior Wellbeing Practitioners. This is a fantastic chance to influence local mental health provision, support EMHPs, and shape the growth of our developing MHSTs.

You’ll be joining a forward‑thinking, supportive service committed to improving outcomes for children and young people in education settings. Successful applicants will also be supported to complete the UEA MHST Supervisor Course in 2027.

You do not need to be registered at the point of applying.

Why not click on the link to the Job Description and find out more about the role.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Should we receive a high number of applications, we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 15th October 2026

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Wellbeing Practitioner, the successful candidate will work closely with the MHST Clinical and Team Lead and Senior Clinicians, to ensure success of the MHST

Support Trainee and Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) to deliver evidence-based intervention for children and young people in education settings with mild to moderate mental health difficulties

To deliver evidence-based support for children and young people in education settings, utilising skills and knowledge of CBT and child and adolescent mental health practice, and knowledge of Whole School and College Approach to mental health

Working with and within education environments to provide better access to specialist mental health services

Supervise Trainee and Qualified EMHPs

Practice in accordance with clinical governance processes and professional standards

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Purpose:

To work in an exciting service which we are delivering across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: The Mental Health Support Team (MHST). MHSTs are based within schools, ensuring children and young people receive faster access to earlier mental health support. You will be one of the key team members in the expansion of this service.

In this role you will support and provide a high-quality service to students (and their families) experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. This will be done through the supervision and line management of Trainee and qualified Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), and through direct delivery of evidence-based interventions to support the recovery of young people referred to the service, utilising skills and knowledge of CBT and child and adolescent mental health practice, and knowledge of whole school approaches to mental health. This work will be in accordance with clinical governance processes and professional standards.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

Under the direction of the MHST Senior Clinician, be accountable and responsible for a defined clinical caseload

Provide screening, assessment, psychosocial formulations and interventions (e.g. psycho-educational interventions, Guided Self Help, CBT, solution focused work, systemic work and group support), and to measure outcomes for all interventions, for mild to moderate mental health difficulties in educational settings

Provide a service that is comprehensive and accessible to the whole school community, targeting mild to moderate mental health problems in children and young people aged 4 to 19 years old

Provide a service that is equitable and non-discriminatory in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and disability or any other protected characteristic

Support professionals in making appropriate referrals and in carrying out the mental health aspects of their own roles. To liaise closely with other professionals including colleagues in the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service, YOUnited, Paediatricians, Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health services, school counsellors, Children’s Services and other voluntary agencies

Make appropriate referrals to other service providers in the statutory and voluntary sectors and redirect clients to other sources of appropriate support within the local community as required

To provide consultation as required to other professionals (such as teachers and Family Workers) around mental health issues in children and young people in educational settings

Clinically develop the provision of group work for children/young people and training for teaching staff, to include training and mentoring EMHP colleagues in order to improve the quality of the group work and training that we deliver

To work creatively with other members of the team to create training packages for teachers and support/awareness sessions for young people and parents/carers

Develop a ‘local knowledge’ of the locality and its services and facilities, particularly in relation to mental health issues

To deliver psychoeducation and support to parents/carers and teachers, conveying formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language

To enhance emotional wellbeing and to promote or build resilience in children and young people through educational workshops, assemblies and PSHE lessons

Conduct risk assessments and formulations, prepare risk management plans and initiate appropriate action where indicated (including referrals to relevant secondary care services)

To actively contribute to team multi-disciplinary working

Demonstrate appropriate understanding of the legal and ethical issues in providing mental health care to children and/or adolescents

Demonstrate an understanding of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and the Care Act. The post holder will also understand Safeguarding Children and Adults and Child Protection procedures

The post holder will be required to work with young people whose behaviour is personally challenging and deal with frequent exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances

To support the rollout of further MHSTs across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Clinical Supervision and Training

Undertake appropriate clinical supervision on a regular basis in accordance with the relevant professional guidelines and policies

Provide clinical and case supervision to Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) and Trainee EMHPs. This will involve supervising two elements of their practice: a. Low intensity cognitive behavioural informed interventions and; b. Whole School Approach to mental health in education settings c. Attend the EMHP Supervisors Course at the University of East Anglia d. Offer training to Education staff and other agencies in CBT based interventions e. Attend locally organised and national training appropriate to the work role

Professional

Take personal (unprompted) responsibility for achieving agreed clinical activity

To develop an area of interest, in discussion with the Clinical & Team Lead to the level whereby the post holder could become a resource of information for the whole service

Adhere to the policies and procedures of the Trust and the Service

Maintain appropriate clinical records in keeping with service operational policy

Participate in setting and reviewing of objectives for the post on an annual basis

Participate in activities of ‘continuing professional development’ (CPD) on an annual basis

Attend, organise and chair meetings as appropriate

Communication

Establish and maintain positive working relationships with professionals, agencies, charities and teams who also provide services to children and/or adolescents in the community. These relationships are a key part of the role in which you will be representing East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust and will benefit the child/adolescent and/or family

Be able to clearly and effectively communicate both clinical and non-clinical information with those receiving care, their families/carers and with other professional colleagues as appropriate

The post holder will be able to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, self-awareness and empathy in all communications

Represent the team at meetings as delegated by the Senior Clinician and/or Clinical & Team Lead and contribute effectively to the meeting agenda

People Management

Ensure that clinically supervised staff maintain appropriate clinical records, including outcome data, in keeping with service operational policy

Participate in regular audits of clinical activity, quarterly reporting, research projects and utilise data from the service’s Key Performance Indicators to enhance individual practitioner’s and the team’s clinical practice

Take a lead or assist in the management and organisation of work as required, utilising the team’s resources to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of high-quality patient care

Balance conflicting demands, including delegating work and understanding Service Key Performance Indicators

Participate in service development and make an active contribution to pursuing the aims, objectives and overall strategy of the EHWS and the Trust

Research & Development Activity

To lead and participate in regular audits, quarterly reporting, and research projects for the improvement of the team’s clinical practice

To collaborate with other team members in the design and implementation of audit and research projects

Clinical and Practice Governance

Participate fully in providing quality care in line with local and national guidelines e.g. NICE Guidance & Quality Standards relating to children and/or young people with mental health difficulties and social care difficulties

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies

The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures

It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the relevant professional body, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Provide patients and their families/carers with information on standards they should expect from the team

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness processes and Business Continuity for their team and the EHWS

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.