School Mental Health Practitioner

About Us

The aim of the School Mental Health Practitioner's (SMHP's) role is to:

• offer evidence-based clinical assessments and specialist mental health interventions to young people who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues in two secondary schools (students aged 11-18);
• provide a range of mental health prevention and wellbeing advice to students to address a range of common adolescent emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties within the two secondary schools;
• expedite access to external services for troubled students as appropriate, including supporting those with more severe needs in accessing the correct support;
• work as part of each school's wider multi-disciplinary team (e.g. with the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), safeguarding team, wellbeing team, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) team and teachers, as appropriate). This will be under the overarching guidance of the school's principal and will be with the support, guidance and line management of the central Harris Federation School Mental Health Team Leader (SMHTL);

For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.

Main Areas of Responsibility

The aim of the School Mental Health Practitioner's (SMHP's) role is to:

• offer evidence-based clinical assessments and specialist mental health interventions to young people who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues in two secondary schools (students aged 11-18);
• provide a range of mental health prevention and wellbeing advice to students to address a range of common adolescent emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties within the two secondary schools;
• expedite access to external services for troubled students as appropriate, including supporting those with more severe needs in accessing the correct support;
• work as part of each school's wider multi-disciplinary team (e.g. with the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), safeguarding team, wellbeing team, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) team and teachers, as appropriate). This will be under the overarching guidance of the school's principal and will be with the support, guidance and line management of the central Harris Federation School Mental Health Team Leader (SMHTL);

For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear form you if you have:

• A degree in a field relevant to the post
• A recognised training qualification in youth counselling and/or evidence-based psychological therapy for children, young people and families
• Post qualification training and supervised experience in a clinical role with children, young people and families who experience mental health difficulties
• An understanding of the full range of emotional and mental health needs of young people and associated risk and protective factors
• Skill and theoretical understanding of a range of evidence-based psychological therapeutic models relevant to troubled young people and their families
• Experience of and skills in undertaking clinical assessment, formulation and treatment planning
• The ability to plan and deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions to address the full range of mental health disorders
• Knowledge of school environments and an understanding of the process of engaging young people
• Skills in supporting parents
• The ability to provide staff consultation and advice in a timely manner
• The ability to work in partnership with specialist mental health providers and third sector agencies
• The ability to complete assessment and formulation of the full range of child and adolescent mental health disorders and related neurodevelopmental conditions and associated risk and protective factors
• The ability to undertake mental health risk assessments with children and young people
• A clear understanding of the needs of service users from diverse social and cultural backgrounds
• The desire and ability to act and develop as a Subject Matter Expert (e.g. self-harm, Emotionally Based School Avoidance, bereavement etc) within the team and wider Federation

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Professional Development & Benefits

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.

Screening calls will take place on 8th November, and in-person interviews on 15th November.

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.

A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.