Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners Maidstone, England
Job description
In line with the government’s priority to increase access and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, the new Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) roles in North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) based in Kent and Medway are an exciting opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people.
Applicants need to be ready to start work beginning of September 2023 and posts cannot be offered to candidates unless they can guarantee this start date.
All candidates will be interviewed alongside course leads from Sussex University and positions will only be offered if the candidates meet the interview pass mark from both University and NELFT perspective. Once a job offer has been made the candidate will need to complete a Sussex University course application to secure their university space as well as their job role.
Applicants will need to be ready to start work on 4thSeptember 2023. This post is a recruit to train post therefore candidates will undertake their post graduate EMHP course alongside employment with NELFT as an EMHP trainee, during the training year the role will have both academic and practical elements these will include face to face work in Kent and Medway schools with children and young people who require support from the mental health support teams.
Candidates will need to travel between school sites as well as to Sussex university in order to undertake the university course and practical elements of the job role (business travel will be reimbursed). All applicants must demonstrate in their application the ability to work at degree level, with a proven record of previous learning or formal study in child development, wellbeing or mental health. It is also essential that applicants have relative experience of working with children and young people, and an understanding of the educational system in England is highly desirable.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff). The first contract received is a fixed term training contract that will support the candidate to completion of the course. On successful completion of the course the candidate will be offered without interview a permanent position within their locality.
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
The training year has both University learning and placement hours in school are predominantly in term time, therefore we ask that for staff working in the Mental Health Support Teams to use 80% of their annual leave in school holiday periods to prevent disruption to service delivery and University Training Programme completion.
Successful candidates will be offered a post-graduate educational programme specifically for the EMHP role and delivered by Sussex University. The roles are funded at NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) bottom of Band 4, gaining credits towards a post-graduate diploma level qualification, plus guaranteed employment on successful completion of training, with a starting salary of the NHS AfC Band 5 scale with NELFT. The posts are situated in Medway, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge. (please see both Band 4 and Band 5 Job Descriptions attached).
Some of the trainee EMHPs are funded by Health Education England and others by NELFT. More details around the funding of these course can be explained at interview. Candidates are not expected to pay their university fees, these posts are recruit to train posts.
For more information about the service please see our website.
Kent and Medway Mental Health Support Teams | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
For more information about the course please see the Sussex University website
University of Sussex - a leading, research-intensive university
Delivery of the university programme will be provided through a combination of taught days, experience gained in education wellbeing and mainstream mental health services, and independent self-guided study days. The university programme will be delivered on campus by Sussex University
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.
As a Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner in NELFT you will work under clinical supervision as part of a dynamic NHS mental health team in a creative environment. Evidence-based interventions, new ideas, ways of working and supporting children and young people are actively encouraged. This modern approach requires flexibility and adaptability, and above all a passion for working with children and young people specifically in educational settings.
The NHS team uses a blend of face-to-face interventions along with online/digital support as part of what is offered (e.g. support via video and telephone calls). Over the course of the training year under clinical supervision you will develop knowledge and practice skills to employ a range of evidence-based interventions for mental health difficulties via direct individual and group support for children, young people and their families, in line with NHS and University expectations. As an NHS employee you will record your outcomes and contribute to the growing national dataset of what works and helps to support children and young people with their emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Closing date for applications
See Advert (applications will close early if there are a high number of applicants).
The training programme for these posts starts in September 2023 and is 12 months in duration it will consist of academic and supervised practice learning across different educational settings, such as primary and secondary schools in Kent and Medway, and further education colleges. This training will occur in various locations across Medway, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge areas with Trainee EMHPs based in teams in these geographical locations. At interview you will be asked for your geographical location preference.
Key Responsibilities under supervision while Training:
- Delivering evidence-based intervention for children and young people in education setting with mild to moderate mental health problems
- Helping children and young people within these settings who present with more severe problems to rapidly access more specialist services
- Supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to identify and where appropriate manage issues related to mental health and wellbeing
- Working with and within education environments to afford better access to specialist mental health services
You will be joining an existing and growing team of EMHPs in NELFT who already work across other parts Kent and Medway these staff will also offer support in your training year as “buddies” this additional support has been well received by previous trainees. We look forward to your application and to working with you as a Trainee EMHP with NELFT in the named geographical areas.
COVID-19 Vaccination
We continue to encourage all staff to ensure that they have been double vaccinated and received their booster. We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.
