Job summary
Do you want to improve the lives of young people and families facing mental health difficulties and deliver support in a dynamic and creative childrens team? If so, we would love to hear from you as we have an exciting career opportunity available in our Children, Young Peoples Mental Health Support Team.
We are currently recruiting for an Education Mental Health Practitioner
Alliance are the leading independent provider of mental health and psychological wellbeing services across Teesside and the North-East. With a growing workforce of 160 committed and enthusiastic staff we deliver quality driven evidence-based therapies and support to over 20,000 people each year. Commissioned through the Tees Valley CCGs and overseen through the Mental Health & Learning Disability Partnership we lead both on the delivery of IMPACT on Teesside and the Hartlepool and Stockton National Trailblazer for Mental Health Support Teams. We do this through our commitments to working collaboratively with partners, including third sector organisations, local authorities, educational settings and other health and social care providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for those who need our support. We also provide more specialist support in particular areas that have been funded from elsewhere. We have a successful and developing employee support and wellbeing service, that provides unique support to the public and private sector across the North East.
Main duties of the job
This is a great time to join Alliance, where our team is leading on the transformation of local children's mental health and wellbeing services, delivering psychological support and emotional well-being services in a range of educational and community settings. Our service transformation is through effective leadership and partnerships, the delivery of evidence-based therapies, use of routine outcome measures and in full collaboration with children, young people and their families.
You will share our service vision and organisation values for understanding and meeting the different needs of individuals, families, and communities across Teesside.
The post holder will be part of a Mental
Health Support Team (MHST) delivering evidence-based interventions to children,
young people, parents & carers in an educational/community setting who are
experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Helping children and
young people within these settings who present with more severe problems to
rapidly access more specialist services. The post holder will also be
responsible for supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to
identify and where appropriate manage issues related to mental health and
wellbeing.
Closing Date: 22nd May 2022
Interviews: W/C 30th May 2022
You must have right to work in the UK as we are currently unable to offer working visa opportunities.
About us
For an informal chat about the post please contact Kaye Hooker 01642 352747
Alliance offers first rate training and development opportunities, 38 days annual leave pro rata, rising 1 day every 5 years of service (as well as the option to purchase additional annual leave) EAP health scheme including costs towards eye tests/glasses, dental treatment, physio treatment and shopping discounts alongside a 3% contributory pension scheme. We also offer lots of health and wellbeing initiatives for our staff and promote flexible working for a positive work life balance.
Alliance Psychological Services has organisational responsibility for safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults within our service, part of this is to follow safer recruitment of staff for all appointments. It is also a requirement that all staff understand it is each person’s individual responsibility and are committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children.
An enhanced criminal records disclosure will be sought in the event of a successful application.
Alliance is committed to promoting equal opportunities in our employment practice and service delivery. We are signatories to the Mindful Employers Charter. Alliance also has Investors in People status and is a Living Wage employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Therapeutic practice
- Deliver a range of outcome focused, evidence-based interventions in educational settings to children, young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
- Undertake and complete assessments including accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
- Supporting children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and their families and educators in the self-management of presenting difficulties.
- Working in partnership with children, young people, their families, and educators in the development of treatment plans for specific interventions.
- Demonstrate an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.
- Identify/accept appropriate referrals for children and young people in educational settings, according to agreed treatment pathways, processes, and procedures.
- Adhere to the policies and protocols within Alliance and the educational service to which the postholder is attached.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the local services and be able to signpost children and young people with more complex needs to the relevant service.
- Engage in robust managerial and clinical supervision, identifying the scope of practice of the individual postholder within the role, and working safely within that scope.
- Deliver a range of interventions related to the provision of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help.
- Ability to manage one’s own caseload in conjunction with the requirements of the team.
- Attend multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to referrals for children and young people in treatment.
- Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with Alliance’s service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making.
- Complete all requirements relating to data collection.
- Show evidence of working within a collaborative approach, involving a range of relevant others when indicated. Specifically, work in collaboration with teachers and other educational staff, parents, children, young people and the wider community to enhance and broaden access to mental health services.
- Contribute to the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials and go on to develop further such materials as falls within own degree of competence.
Training and supervision
- Prepare and present case load information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor, and service.
- Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and practice.
Professional
- Ensure the maintenance of standards of own professional practice according to Alliance Psychological Services Ltd.
- Ensure appropriate adherence to any new recommendations or guidelines set by the relevant departments.
- Ensure that confidentiality is always protected.
- Ensure that any risks or issues related to the safety and wellbeing of anyone the postholder comes into contact within the course of their professional duties are communicated and shared with appropriate parties, in order to maintain individual safety and the public interest.
- 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 the requirements of the post and ensure personal development plans maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
- Attend relevant educational opportunities in line with identified professional objectives.
- To work within Data Protection Act 1998 and Alliance Information Governance policies and procedures
Partnership Working
- To create and maintain effective working relationships with Headteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCO’s, Pastoral Team, and wider teaching staff by providing advice and consultative support on emotional and mental health issues, and in relation to appropriate referral pathways for children, young people and families with mental health needs.
- To liaise effectively with other local providers, including statutory, voluntary sector organisations and on behalf of the child, young person, or family.
- To build effective working relationships with other local children’s mental health providers including CaMHS and support the development of pathways of support.
- Attend multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to referrals for children, young people, and families in treatment.
- With support ensure information sharing is achieved within partnerships to ensure young people and their families receive appropriate and timely support.
Safeguarding
- Responsible for safeguarding children and always promoting the welfare of children & young people and operating within local policies and procedures.
- Taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children & young people at risk of significant harm.
- To identify and support families in accessing Early Help Services
- To share appropriately information with parents/carers or other agencies regarding the child’s wellbeing and progress keeping within the boundaries of Confidentiality and Information sharing protocols.
This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in Alliance’s organisational objectives and priorities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Therapeutic practice
- Deliver a range of outcome focused, evidence-based interventions in educational settings to children, young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
- Undertake and complete assessments including accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
- Supporting children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and their families and educators in the self-management of presenting difficulties.
- Working in partnership with children, young people, their families, and educators in the development of treatment plans for specific interventions.
- Demonstrate an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.
- Identify/accept appropriate referrals for children and young people in educational settings, according to agreed treatment pathways, processes, and procedures.
- Adhere to the policies and protocols within Alliance and the educational service to which the postholder is attached.
- Have knowledge and understanding of the local services and be able to signpost children and young people with more complex needs to the relevant service.
- Engage in robust managerial and clinical supervision, identifying the scope of practice of the individual postholder within the role, and working safely within that scope.
- Deliver a range of interventions related to the provision of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help.
- Ability to manage one’s own caseload in conjunction with the requirements of the team.
- Attend multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to referrals for children and young people in treatment.
- Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with Alliance’s service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making.
- Complete all requirements relating to data collection.
- Show evidence of working within a collaborative approach, involving a range of relevant others when indicated. Specifically, work in collaboration with teachers and other educational staff, parents, children, young people and the wider community to enhance and broaden access to mental health services.
- Contribute to the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials and go on to develop further such materials as falls within own degree of competence.
Training and supervision
- Prepare and present case load information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor, and service.
- Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and practice.
Professional
- Ensure the maintenance of standards of own professional practice according to Alliance Psychological Services Ltd.
- Ensure appropriate adherence to any new recommendations or guidelines set by the relevant departments.
- Ensure that confidentiality is always protected.
- Ensure that any risks or issues related to the safety and wellbeing of anyone the postholder comes into contact within the course of their professional duties are communicated and shared with appropriate parties, in order to maintain individual safety and the public interest.
- 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 the requirements of the post and ensure personal development plans maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
- Attend relevant educational opportunities in line with identified professional objectives.
- To work within Data Protection Act 1998 and Alliance Information Governance policies and procedures
Partnership Working
- To create and maintain effective working relationships with Headteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCO’s, Pastoral Team, and wider teaching staff by providing advice and consultative support on emotional and mental health issues, and in relation to appropriate referral pathways for children, young people and families with mental health needs.
- To liaise effectively with other local providers, including statutory, voluntary sector organisations and on behalf of the child, young person, or family.
- To build effective working relationships with other local children’s mental health providers including CaMHS and support the development of pathways of support.
- Attend multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to referrals for children, young people, and families in treatment.
- With support ensure information sharing is achieved within partnerships to ensure young people and their families receive appropriate and timely support.
Safeguarding
- Responsible for safeguarding children and always promoting the welfare of children & young people and operating within local policies and procedures.
- Taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children & young people at risk of significant harm.
- To identify and support families in accessing Early Help Services
- To share appropriately information with parents/carers or other agencies regarding the child’s wellbeing and progress keeping within the boundaries of Confidentiality and Information sharing protocols.
This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in Alliance’s organisational objectives and priorities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Successful completion of the HEE commissioned 1yr Education Mental Health Practitioner course.
Desirable
- Teaching qualification
- Youth Mental Health First Aid trained
Other Skills and Qualities
Essential
- Full, enhanced, and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role
- Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic, and potentially emotionally distressing caseload.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Member or willing to be a member of a registered Professional Body eg. BABCP, BPS
- Self-motivated
- Full Clean Driving license required-Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post.
- Team player
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Able to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for any illness or disability.
Desirable
- Proven commitment to continuous professional development.
Experience
Essential
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health intervention with children.
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health intervention with families.
- Ability to work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness within the staff group.
- Ability to conduct mental health assessments of children and young people.
- Ability to assess risk and to record and communicate it appropriately.
- Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
- Knowledge of educational environments
- Knowledge of safeguarding issues
- Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.
- Knowledge of the functional operation of specialist CAMHS teams
- Experience of working with children and their families in an educational setting.
- Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders
- Experience of working with children who have social, emotional and/or behavioral difficulties.
- Experience of working with anxiety disorders.
- Experience of working with affective (mood) disorders.
- Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for childrens emotional wellbeing.
- Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people, or their families (e.g., CBT, Parent Led CBT, Parent Led Conduct Difficulties)
Desirable
- Experience of navigating complex 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
- Experience of being involved in multi-Agency meetings
- Ability to teach others about mental health issues.
- Ability to conduct group therapeutic interventions with children and their families
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Successful completion of the HEE commissioned 1yr Education Mental Health Practitioner course.
Desirable
- Teaching qualification
- Youth Mental Health First Aid trained
Other Skills and Qualities
Essential
- Full, enhanced, and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role
- Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic, and potentially emotionally distressing caseload.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Member or willing to be a member of a registered Professional Body eg. BABCP, BPS
- Self-motivated
- Full Clean Driving license required-Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post.
- Team player
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Able to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for any illness or disability.
Desirable
- Proven commitment to continuous professional development.
Experience
Essential
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health intervention with children.
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health intervention with families.
- Ability to work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness within the staff group.
- Ability to conduct mental health assessments of children and young people.
- Ability to assess risk and to record and communicate it appropriately.
- Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
- Knowledge of educational environments
- Knowledge of safeguarding issues
- Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.
- Knowledge of the functional operation of specialist CAMHS teams
- Experience of working with children and their families in an educational setting.
- Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders
- Experience of working with children who have social, emotional and/or behavioral difficulties.
- Experience of working with anxiety disorders.
- Experience of working with affective (mood) disorders.
- Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for childrens emotional wellbeing.
- Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people, or their families (e.g., CBT, Parent Led CBT, Parent Led Conduct Difficulties)
Desirable
- Experience of navigating complex 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
- Experience of being involved in multi-Agency meetings
- Ability to teach others about mental health issues.
- Ability to conduct group therapeutic interventions with children and their families
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.
