Job summary
We have an exciting training opportunity for people who wish to make a major contribution to child and adolescent mental health services in Berkshire. The Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) role is an exciting opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people up to the age of 18, working across both educational settings and healthcare sectors.
We are recruiting for three Trainee EMHP roles, x2 for Slough and x1 for Bracknell localities.
Each MHST is co-located in schools, with services delivered across the cluster of schools in each locality. 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.
Successful candidates will be offered a full-time educational programme specifically for the role, gaining credits towards either a degree or diploma level qualification (depending on level of previous academic study), plus guaranteed B5 EMHP employment upon completion of training.
Trainees will be employed by Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust for the duration of the training at the University of Southampton and will be on placement during this time.
Main duties of the job
All applicants must demonstrate in their application the ability to work at degree level or have an equivalent level of relevant experience, with a proven record of previous learning or formal study in child development, wellbeing or mental health and a desire to work in children's mental health.
The training programme for this post starts in January 2025, is 12 months in duration and will consist of academic and supervised practice learning across mental health services and educational settings, such as primary and secondary schools, and further education colleges.
Delivery of the programme will be provided through a combination of taught days within a university, independent self-guided study days and experience gained in education wellbeing and mainstream mental health services
During training, the post-holder will work under supervision to gain experience across healthcare and educational settings to enable them to gain the level of competence required to deliver high-quality, evidence-based early interventions for CYP experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems.
On successful completion of training, trainee EMHPs will be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and capabilities to work as a qualified EMHP as autonomous and responsible practitioners within their scope of practice, alongside education colleagues.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust site
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
-
Work at degree level or have an equivalent level of relevant experience.
-
Experience of working with children and an understanding of how to talk with them.
-
Some experience of working within a mental health setting or in an education setting.
-
Strong communication, IT & organisational skills.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to email: Yani Chocalingum (Bracknell Team Lead) on yani.chocalingum@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
-
Work at degree level or have an equivalent level of relevant experience.
-
Experience of working with children and an understanding of how to talk with them.
-
Some experience of working within a mental health setting or in an education setting.
-
Strong communication, IT & organisational skills.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to email: Yani Chocalingum (Bracknell Team Lead) on yani.chocalingum@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- For the postgraduate diploma: an honours degree graded at 2.2 or above. If a candidate has a degree graded 2.3, they will be asked to provide evidence of successful study at Level 6 or equivalent and be required to pass a pre-entry essay, marked at master's level prior to acceptance on the training programme.
- For the graduate diploma: Evidence of ability to study at Level 6 (i.e. previous successful study at level 5; or successful part completion of an Honours degree - level 6). (Must not have started or completed a HEE funded role in the previous 2 years, in line with the '2-year psychological professions funding rule)
- Numeracy and literacy qualification at a minimum of level 2
Desirable
- Relevant Honours Degree (e.g., psychology, mental health, sociology, education etc.)
- Other relevant degree or training e.g., counselling
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Commitment to ongoing training and development
- Able to complete academic components of the course
- Able to attend the formal training as required and able to integrate training into clinical practice
Previous Experience
Essential
- A minimum of one year's experience of working with children and young people (CYP)
Desirable
- Experience of working with CYP and their families in either a health, social care, or education setting
- Experience of working with looked after CYP or other vulnerable groups of CYP
- Experience of working in or with a diverse or multi-cultural community
- Experience of providing 1-1 support to CYP in the community
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of educational systems in England
- Knowledge of CYP gained through academic study in areas related to child development, child wellbeing or mental health
- Ability to study as a self-motivated learner and effectively implementing training into practice
- Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office including high standard of letter and report writing
Desirable
- Knowledge of mental health problems/ illness in CYP and evidence-based treatments
- Understand why it is essential to use evidence-based interventions when possible
- Understand why collecting feedback from CYP and parents is important
- Understanding of child protection, policy, and legislation
- Received risk training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Excellent organisational and time management skills with ability to work under pressure managing competing demands and changing priorities within the team
- Able to work flexibly around working patterns as required
- Able to travel independently between locations in Berkshire (including schools, NHS premises and home etc) to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- For the postgraduate diploma: an honours degree graded at 2.2 or above. If a candidate has a degree graded 2.3, they will be asked to provide evidence of successful study at Level 6 or equivalent and be required to pass a pre-entry essay, marked at master's level prior to acceptance on the training programme.
- For the graduate diploma: Evidence of ability to study at Level 6 (i.e. previous successful study at level 5; or successful part completion of an Honours degree - level 6). (Must not have started or completed a HEE funded role in the previous 2 years, in line with the '2-year psychological professions funding rule)
- Numeracy and literacy qualification at a minimum of level 2
Desirable
- Relevant Honours Degree (e.g., psychology, mental health, sociology, education etc.)
- Other relevant degree or training e.g., counselling
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Commitment to ongoing training and development
- Able to complete academic components of the course
- Able to attend the formal training as required and able to integrate training into clinical practice
Previous Experience
Essential
- A minimum of one year's experience of working with children and young people (CYP)
Desirable
- Experience of working with CYP and their families in either a health, social care, or education setting
- Experience of working with looked after CYP or other vulnerable groups of CYP
- Experience of working in or with a diverse or multi-cultural community
- Experience of providing 1-1 support to CYP in the community
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of educational systems in England
- Knowledge of CYP gained through academic study in areas related to child development, child wellbeing or mental health
- Ability to study as a self-motivated learner and effectively implementing training into practice
- Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office including high standard of letter and report writing
Desirable
- Knowledge of mental health problems/ illness in CYP and evidence-based treatments
- Understand why it is essential to use evidence-based interventions when possible
- Understand why collecting feedback from CYP and parents is important
- Understanding of child protection, policy, and legislation
- Received risk training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Excellent organisational and time management skills with ability to work under pressure managing competing demands and changing priorities within the team
- Able to work flexibly around working patterns as required
- Able to travel independently between locations in Berkshire (including schools, NHS premises and home etc) to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position
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.
