Compass

Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 24 November 2025

Job summary

Empowering young minds and changing futures.

You are someone who cares deeply about making a difference, not just for today but for a young persons entire future.

You bring a blend of clinical expertise, compassion and creativity, ready to meet children and young people where they are and help them move forward with confidence.

You will need to be a qualified Mental Health Practitioner, confident in using therapeutic interventions like CBT or solution focused techniques, and experienced in working with children, young people and families, especially those facing emotional or behavioural challenges. We are also very happy to consider qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners for this role.

But it is not just about what you know, it is how you connect. You are a natural collaborator, able to build trusted relationships with schools, families and multi agency partners, and you understand the power of early support in educational settings. Safeguarding, risk management and communication come naturally to you, not as tick boxes but as vital tools for building trust and safety.

You are reflective, adaptable and committed to learning, with the drive to grow professionally and the values to guide others through difficult moments with hope and respect.

If you are excited by the chance to work in an amazing supportive forward thinking team and to use your skills to help children and young people thrive, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a compassionate, motivated, and skilled professional to join us as an Mental Health Practitioner. You`ll be passionate about improving mental health outcomes for children and young people, thrive in collaborative environments, and be ready to make a real difference in educational settings.

Essential Criteria

  • Hold a relevant qualification such as EMHP, CYP IAPT, Registered Social Worker, or Registered Mental Health Nurse.
  • Proven ability to deliver 1:1 therapeutic interventions with children, families, and groups, including parenting programs.
  • Experience conducting mental health assessments, evaluating risks, and taking appropriate action.
  • Strong knowledge of safeguarding, educational environments, and capacity and consent issues, including Gillick competence.
  • Experience supporting children with social, emotional, or behavioural difficulties, anxiety, and mood disorders.
  • Exceptional communication, organisational skills, and a self-motivated, team-focused approach.

Additional qualifications like a teaching degree, Youth Mental Health First Aid training, or an advanced degree are welcomed but not essential. Experience in healthcare or education settings, working with looked-after children or vulnerable groups, and monitoring outcomes would further enhance your application. Familiarity with delivering group interventions and navigating complex social systems is also beneficial.

If this sounds like youwe`d love to see your application.

About us

Compass is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. Established for over 30 years, Compass is a national charity which works in communities across the UK providing services spanning substance misuse treatment and rehabilitation, early interventions for vulnerable young people, school-aged health programmes and associated prevention as well as treatment and health promotion initiatives.

All Compass posts are subject to appropriate level DBS checks.

We positively encourage applications from all members of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age, or sexual orientation, and encourage applications from people who have experiences in life which enrich skills and empathy. This is part of our commitment to equality and developing a truly inclusive and representative workforce.

We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments individuals may require in the recruitment process, on commencement, or once in post.

Benefits

We offer a range of benefits including:

  • 27 days holiday + bank holidays, rising to 32 days over time (pro rata)
  • Life assurance at 2 x basic salary
  • Competitive contributory pension scheme
  • 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and OH service
  • Enhanced sick pay
  • Excellent learning & development opportunities and career progression
  • Annual performance/salary review

Help us to make a positive change to the lives of children and young people!

Closing date: 25/11/2025

Interview date: 4/12/2025

#LI-BE1 #CompBloom

Details

Date posted

13 November 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£31,962 to £39,172 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

660

Job locations

Unit 8, Balfour Court

Off Hough Lane

Leyland

Lancashire

PR25 2TF


Job description

Job responsibilities

Empowering young minds and changing futures.

You are someone who cares deeply about making a difference, not just for today but for a young persons entire future.

You bring a blend of clinical expertise, compassion and creativity, ready to meet children and young people where they are and help them move forward with confidence.

You will need to be a qualified Mental Health Practitioner, confident in using therapeutic interventions like CBT or solution focused techniques, and experienced in working with children, young people and families, especially those facing emotional or behavioural challenges. We are also very happy to consider qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners for this role.

But it is not just about what you know, it is how you connect. You are a natural collaborator, able to build trusted relationships with schools, families and multi agency partners, and you understand the power of early support in educational settings. Safeguarding, risk management and communication come naturally to you, not as tick boxes but as vital tools for building trust and safety.

You are reflective, adaptable and committed to learning, with the drive to grow professionally and the values to guide others through difficult moments with hope and respect.

If you are excited by the chance to work in an amazing supportive forward thinking team and to use your skills to help children and young people thrive, we would love to hear from you.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Empowering young minds and changing futures.

You are someone who cares deeply about making a difference, not just for today but for a young persons entire future.

You bring a blend of clinical expertise, compassion and creativity, ready to meet children and young people where they are and help them move forward with confidence.

You will need to be a qualified Mental Health Practitioner, confident in using therapeutic interventions like CBT or solution focused techniques, and experienced in working with children, young people and families, especially those facing emotional or behavioural challenges. We are also very happy to consider qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners for this role.

But it is not just about what you know, it is how you connect. You are a natural collaborator, able to build trusted relationships with schools, families and multi agency partners, and you understand the power of early support in educational settings. Safeguarding, risk management and communication come naturally to you, not as tick boxes but as vital tools for building trust and safety.

You are reflective, adaptable and committed to learning, with the drive to grow professionally and the values to guide others through difficult moments with hope and respect.

If you are excited by the chance to work in an amazing supportive forward thinking team and to use your skills to help children and young people thrive, we would love to hear from you.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Core professional &/or clinical qualification (e.g. EMHP, CWP, PMHW) with associated professional registration as appropriate.
  • Experience of working with CYPF facing mental & emotional health challenges

Desirable

  • Youth Mental Health First Aid trained.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working therapeutically with CYP with mild to moderate mental health needs.
  • Experience of delivery of evidenced based psychological intervention for anxiety and low mood in children and young people.
  • Experience supporting CYPF to improve skills, knowledge & confidence in the self-management of mild mental health & emotional wellbeing issues.
  • Knowledge of safeguarding issues
  • Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence
  • Experience of working with children and young people, their families and others
  • Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders

Desirable

  • Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for childrens emotional wellbeing
  • Experience of working in education, communities and/or social systems and environments, who may have conflicting priorities or agendas
  • Experience of working with looked after children
  • Experience of working with other vulnerable groups

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic emotional wellbeing interventions with children
  • Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic emotional wellbeing advice and support with families
  • Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Excellent time management and organisational skills
  • Able to work all year round and flexibly as part of a team to best meet business need.
  • Ongoing commitment to maintain professional registration requirements.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Core professional &/or clinical qualification (e.g. EMHP, CWP, PMHW) with associated professional registration as appropriate.
  • Experience of working with CYPF facing mental & emotional health challenges

Desirable

  • Youth Mental Health First Aid trained.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working therapeutically with CYP with mild to moderate mental health needs.
  • Experience of delivery of evidenced based psychological intervention for anxiety and low mood in children and young people.
  • Experience supporting CYPF to improve skills, knowledge & confidence in the self-management of mild mental health & emotional wellbeing issues.
  • Knowledge of safeguarding issues
  • Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence
  • Experience of working with children and young people, their families and others
  • Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders

Desirable

  • Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for childrens emotional wellbeing
  • Experience of working in education, communities and/or social systems and environments, who may have conflicting priorities or agendas
  • Experience of working with looked after children
  • Experience of working with other vulnerable groups

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic emotional wellbeing interventions with children
  • Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic emotional wellbeing advice and support with families
  • Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Excellent time management and organisational skills
  • Able to work all year round and flexibly as part of a team to best meet business need.
  • Ongoing commitment to maintain professional registration requirements.

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Compass

Address

Unit 8, Balfour Court

Off Hough Lane

Leyland

Lancashire

PR25 2TF


Employer's website

https://www.compass-uk.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Compass

Address

Unit 8, Balfour Court

Off Hough Lane

Leyland

Lancashire

PR25 2TF


Employer's website

https://www.compass-uk.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Service Manager

Anne

Recruitment@compass-uk.org

Details

Date posted

13 November 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£31,962 to £39,172 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

660

Job locations

Unit 8, Balfour Court

Off Hough Lane

Leyland

Lancashire

PR25 2TF


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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