Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner

This job is now closed

Job summary

As part of the expansion of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) nationwide, we invite you to consider being involved in this exciting opportunity to help to deliver the government vision and commitment to develop integrated mental health teams in schools. Building on existing 'whole school approaches' to mental health and wellbeing, Surrey is developing new MHST's to work with primary and secondary schools to increase access to mental health interventions for children and young people up to the age of 18 years.

Our MHSTs support families and young people with emerging or mild mental health problems, delivering evidence-based interventions based on the Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic approach. Each MHST is co-located in schools, operating from one of the main geographical hubs, with services delivered across the cluster of schools for each area. We also work with schools to develop or enhance their whole school approach to emotional health and wellbeing and mental health. As a trainee EMHP you will be expected to work under supervision as part of a dynamic integrated mental health team. This approach requires creativity, flexibility and adaptability, and above all a passion for working with children and young people in educational settings.

Main duties of the job

In Surrey, we have MHSTs in all boroughs of Surrey. In addition to this we have created 2 specialist MHST offers for Special Schools and Colleges, offering practitioners an opportunity to gain additional training and experience where appropriate once qualified.

We are delighted to announce vacancies within our fast-growing service for Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs). Currently we have several vacancies which will be based across the following areas: Reigate and Banstead; Guildford; Surrey Heath; Elmbridge; Waverley; and Spelthorne.

These posts are training positions. Successful candidates will be required to apply to the University of Southampton for a place on the 1 year PG Dip in Education Mental Health Practice, starting in January 2024. The University of Southampton offers an undergraduate diploma training route and welcome applications who are looking to change careers and are entering through non traditional routes. A minimum level 4 qualification is required (A Levels or equivalent) and applicants are subject to completion of an entrance essay to meet University entrance criteria. Further information is provided on interview success.

Candidates will be employed as Band 4's whilst completing this course and on successful completion would be offered a permanent Band 5 EMHP post within the trust. Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further information on entry requirements for the course and experience required for the role.

About us

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of health and social care services for people of all ages with mental ill-health and learning disabilities in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We also provide social care services for people with a learning disability in Croydon and ASD and ADHD assessment services in Hampshire.

We actively seek to engage people who use our services and our communities in improving the mental wellbeing of the local population. We work closely with other NHS and voluntary sector organisations who provide services and support people who use services and carers.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast.

Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach.

For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

Working from home contracts do not attract high cost area payments.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Date posted

27 September 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,405 to £28,976 a year Incl 5% Fringe HCAS, pa, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

325-5683313-CYPS

Job locations

18 Mole Business Park

Randalls Road

Leatherhead

KT22 7AD

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description attached.

Please note:

For this role you will be required to travel between various sites/schools within Surrey during your working day and twice a week to the University of Southampton.

This is a full-time role and we operate all year around, including in school holidays.

Due to the funding for the university course, which is completed as part of the role, we can only offer the role to UK residents as we do not have funding in place for overseas students.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description attached.

Please note:

For this role you will be required to travel between various sites/schools within Surrey during your working day and twice a week to the University of Southampton.

This is a full-time role and we operate all year around, including in school holidays.

Due to the funding for the university course, which is completed as part of the role, we can only offer the role to UK residents as we do not have funding in place for overseas students.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

o Ability to study at degree level
oFor the PG Dip candidates will need to have obtained a degree 2.2 or higher and for the UG Dip candidates will need A Levels (or the numeric equivalent) OR a qualification that might be equivalent in academic standing to A levels, i.e. a teaching certificate
oProven record of previous academic attainment.
oGood solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2

Skills / Competencies

Essential

oAbility to learn in a variety of settings and using a variety of learning methods
oComputer literate
oAbility to study as a self-motivated learner who can formulate their own progress towards learning objectives and negotiate pathways to achievement with supervisory teams

Knowledge

Essential

oKnowledge of the educational system in England
oKnowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.

Experience

Essential

oExperience of working within the UK education system.
oPrevious experience of working with children and young people.

Desirable

oIdeally candidates will have experience working within mental health
oExperience with diversity including competency in a second language
oExperience in co-production with children and young people.

Personal Qualities

Essential

oAbility to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload
oExcellent oral and written communication skills
oSelf-motivated
oAble to travel to meet the requirements of the post
oTeam player
oExcellent time management and organisational skills
oAble to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for any illness or disability.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

o Ability to study at degree level
oFor the PG Dip candidates will need to have obtained a degree 2.2 or higher and for the UG Dip candidates will need A Levels (or the numeric equivalent) OR a qualification that might be equivalent in academic standing to A levels, i.e. a teaching certificate
oProven record of previous academic attainment.
oGood solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2

Skills / Competencies

Essential

oAbility to learn in a variety of settings and using a variety of learning methods
oComputer literate
oAbility to study as a self-motivated learner who can formulate their own progress towards learning objectives and negotiate pathways to achievement with supervisory teams

Knowledge

Essential

oKnowledge of the educational system in England
oKnowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.

Experience

Essential

oExperience of working within the UK education system.
oPrevious experience of working with children and young people.

Desirable

oIdeally candidates will have experience working within mental health
oExperience with diversity including competency in a second language
oExperience in co-production with children and young people.

Personal Qualities

Essential

oAbility to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload
oExcellent oral and written communication skills
oSelf-motivated
oAble to travel to meet the requirements of the post
oTeam player
oExcellent time management and organisational skills
oAble to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for any illness or disability.

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.