Educational Mental Health Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The Children and Young Peoples Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (CYP IAPT) is a service transformation programme delivered by Health Education England and partners that aims to improve existing children and young peoples mental health Services (CYP MHS) working in the community. Childrens Wellbeing Practitioner training will benefit from being integrated fully within CYP MHS and linked to the CYP IAPT collaborative, which brings a valuable organisational infrastructure.

As part of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) will work in both education and healthcare settings to support children and young people with mental ill health. The new roles support the Governments priority of increasing access to and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people.

The post is for a team player who has already qualified through the Education Mental Health Practitioner framework.

JOB PURPOSE

This is a role within the Children and Young People Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (CYP IAPT). The post-holder will work within a CYP mental health service delivering, under supervision, high-quality; brief outcome focused evidence-based interventions and guided self-help for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

The training and service experience will equip the post holder with the necessary knowledge, attitude and capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service.

This post will work under the direction of the Senior CAMHS Practitioners within the project, across education settings within the Wakefield District.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITES

Therapeutic skills

Assess and deliver, under supervision outcome focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

Work in partnership, support children, young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and their families in the self-management of presenting difficulties.

Work in partnership with children, young people and families in the development of plans for the intervention and agreed outcomes.

Support and empower children, young people and families to make informed choices about the intervention.

Operate at all times from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.

Accept referrals within agreed national and local protocols.

Adhere to the service referral protocols. Under supervision signpost unsuitable referrals to the relevant service as necessary.

Under supervision, undertake accurate assessments of risk to self and others, through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes beyond scope, or more severe ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.

Provide a range of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help. This work may be face-to-face, by telephone or via other media.

Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts offered, and sessions carried out per week in order to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.

Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or CYP in treatment, where appropriate.

Keep coherent records of all activity in line with service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making. Complete all requirements relating to data collection.

Assess and integrate issues relating to transitions, education and training/employment into the overall therapeutic process.

Work within a collaborative approach involving a range of relevant others when indicated.

Work in collaboration with children, young people and communities to enhance and widen access.

TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

Be supervised, supported and assessed oneself to assess and deliver outcome focused, evidence-based interventions in educational settings for children and young people

Apply learning from the previous training programme to practice.

Prepare and present caseload information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the supervisee, supervisor and service are delivered.

Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in practice.

Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and practice.

Undertake all Core Skills training as required.

PROFESSIONAL

Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating bodies, and keep up-to-date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the relevant departments.

Ensure that confidentiality is protected at all times.

Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with supervisor and senior colleagues on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.

Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.

Keep all records up to date in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal development plans maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.

Attend relevant conferences/workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

Ensure the use of Routine Outcome Measures in daily practice in line with education and service guidelines.

GENERAL

Support the collection of data and facilitate data flow to the collaborative.

Contribute to the development of best practice within the service.

Ensure a comprehensive understanding of the relevant safeguarding legislation, guidance and best practice.

Maintain up-to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to children and young peoples mental health

All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.

It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Maintain a high standard of safety and to safeguard the welfare of staff and clients at all times, in accordance with Health & Safety at Work Act.

Comply with safety/instructions/policies laid down.

Refrain from the willful misuse or interference with anything provided in the interests of Health & Safety and any action which might endanger yourself or others.

Report as soon as practical all accidents and untoward occurrences and to ensure that accident/incident forms are completed.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

Person Specification

Skills/Competencies

Essential

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to deliver low intensity evidenced based interventions under supervision to children and young people.
• Ability to devise and deliver group-based interventions to children and young people.
• Ability to delver parent led interventions where children have a mental health need.
• Computer literate.
• Ability to keep clinical records to a high standard.

Desirable

• Skilled at engaging and building relationships with children, young people and parents.
• Ability to work collaboratively with young people, parents, colleagues and partner agencies.

Knowledge

Essential

• Good working knowledge of nationally agreed routine outcome measures within the CYP-IAPT Programme.
• Working knowledge of the educational system.
• Knowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues and legal framework.
• Knowledge and experience of capacity and consent issues when working with young people.
• Knowledge of the whole school approach to mental health.

Desirable

• Knowledge of other neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions; both in type and severity.
• Knowledge of service pathways and remits and ability to navigating these processes.
• Knowledge of how contextual factors affect children and young peoples mental health and impact this can have on delivering effective interventions.

Experience

Essential

• At least one years experience of delivery of low intensity evidenced based CBT interventions for mild to moderate mental health issues.
• At least one-year experience of work within both health and educational settings.
• Experience of consultation and liaison with education and multidisciplinary colleagues.

Desirable

• Experience of service development.
• Experience of forging new working relationships within complex interagency framework.

Qualifications

Essential

• HEE PG Diploma in Education Mental Health Practice for children & young people.
• Relevant qualification or experience within an educational setting.

Desirable

• Relevant degree qualification.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

C A M H S

2 Flemming Court

Castleford

West Yorkshire

WF10 5HW

Employer's website

https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)