Senior Educational Mental Health Practitioner

Haringey GP Federation; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Sunderland is looking for a Senior Educational Mental Health Practitioner to provide early intervention and evidence-based support for children and young people. This role involves collaborative work with schools, delivering consultations, and training, along with overseeing junior staff. The ideal candidate will be a qualified EMHP with significant experience in mental health initiatives. A positive and resilient work environment is emphasized, along with a commitment to professional development and support for mental health in educational contexts.

Benefits

Access to high-quality education and training

Flexible working options

Job security in a supportive environment

Qualifications

• Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner with relevant training.
• Registered with a governing body as an EMHP.
• Significant experience in an MHST context.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions in an educational setting.
• Provide clinical and caseload supervision.
• Work collaboratively with schools for a holistic approach to mental health.

Skills

Knowledge of universal and specialist children's mental health service provision

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Proven organisational skills

Education

Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner

Post Grad Diploma Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing studies

Registered with appropriate governing body

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Educational Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 01 January 2026

We have an exciting opportunity to be part of Sunderland’s Mental Health Support Team (MHST) The Health Heads Team as a Senior Education Mental Health Practitioner. The post holder will work collaboratively with our education sites across the city to provide early intervention and preventative evidence‑based interventions to children and young people to promote resilience and support their emotional wellbeing. The post holder will be responsible for working in a timely fashion, building sound and positive relationships with schools, aiding in delivering consultation and training, and being a positive and professional role model for the service. The post holder will have a specific role in supporting trainees, newly qualified and existing qualified EMHPs through clinical and caseload supervision, training, and providing clinical leadership.

The post holder will be expected to work with their school settings to build and develop a positive mental health ethos through a whole school approach model, and will identify individual needs of the school and work collaboratively to develop and implement an action plan.

The post holder will be an experienced (Senior) / Education Mental Health Practitioner, who understands the aims and objectives of the national Mental Health Support Team initiatives set out in the Mental Health Green Paper.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Senior EMHP and aims of the MHST include:

• Support children and young people within an education setting by delivering clinical evidence‑based therapeutic interventions based on a Low Intensity CBT model.
• Deliver evidence‑based group work programmes of low‑level and preventative support for children and young people in accordance with their needs and age.
• Deliver evidence‑based support to parents.
• Support school professionals with the provision of advice, consultation and training.
• Work collaboratively with schools to deliver Whole School Approach to mental health, such as workshops, assemblies, class based activities.
• Be able to reach those children and young people who find it hard to access services.
• Deliver clinical and caseload supervision.
• Oversee junior members of the team.
• Offer support and guidance to team.
• Engage in further training as required to support the role and clinical delivery of the service.
• Take a lead role in overseeing and coordinating activity within your locality base.

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Lisa Mundell (Clinical Lead) on 0191 2832936 or [e-mail]

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust – There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

• To work as a member of the Healthy Heads Team (Mental Health Support Team in Sunderland) providing an education based mental health service to children and young people.
• This includes the direct provision of evidence‑based interventions and outcome‑focused standards of care to children and families/carers.
• The delivery of high‑quality training, consultation, and support to other Education staff.
• To deliver a Whole School Approach to developing positive culture of mental health within the school environment.
• To deliver clinical and caseload supervision. To support the facilitation and development of clinical development and expertise within the team.
• To lead, motivate and support the team.
• To support with service development and innovative models.
• To support with clinical governance and quality monitoring, ongoing research and audit of practice.
• To work autonomously, assessing child/young person needs, identify and implement a plan of care and initiate appropriate holistic research based health information and care.
• Act as a cluster lead over an allocated group of schools and have oversight of EMHPs to support the delivery of all three functions of MHST.
• To take a lead/champion role in an area of specialist interest relevant to an MHST.
• Eng in further training required for the role / service delivery.
• The service will be delivered from Education bases as an integral part of an agreed iTHRIVE multi‑agency model of Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service provision.
• Work collaboratively with multi‑professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective, evidence based and safe.
• This will be achieved by:
  • Listening to and understanding the community
  • Bringing people together to develop a shared local vision with service users as equal partners
  • Assessing community assets, resources, needs and issues
  • Empowering community members to identify local issues and articulate solutions
  • Linking in with Community Mental Health Services (i.e. CYPS, IAPT, CTT)
• The post holder will ensure they uphold our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
• To promote at all times a positive image of children and young people with mental health conditions.
• To promote at all times a positive image of the specialist service area and the wider Trust.
• FOR FULL JOB DESCRIPTION SEE ATTACHMENT

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner (Post Grad Diploma Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing studies in the Education Environment)
• Registered with appropriate governing body for example BABCP/BPS, as an Educational Mental Health Practitioner.
• To have a recognised EMHP Supervision qualification or willingness to work towards and complete training programme at Northumbria University.
• To have completed the Senior Wellbeing Practitioner course or be willing to attend and complete training programme at Northumbria University.
• Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
• Evidence of further study to enhance practice
• Evidence of providing supervision
• Evidence of leadership responsibilities

Experience

• Significant experience of working as an EMHP within an MHST
• Experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Experience of working within a community/education context.
• Experience of delivering low intensity psychological interventions
• Experience of working collaboratively within a multi‑agency context.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
• Facilitating teaching or delivering training
• Experience of working in a service where agreed targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.
• Experience of working to support the mental health needs of CYP and their families.
• Experience of working with in the community and or education settings

Physical skills

• Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
• Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements and demands of the training course and work within the service.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk as required across the full duration of the working day.
• Ability to - on occasion, to move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
• The ability to work flexibly sometimes working additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service and ensure a complete understanding is had in relation to care delivery.

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of universal and specialist childrens mental health service provision.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.
• Proven organisational skills.
• Proven time and caseload management skills
• Able to write clear reports and letters. Demonstrates a high standard in both written and oral communication.
• Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
• Ability to work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.
• Ability to undertake risk assessments.
• Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
• Ability to work under supervision and make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development.
• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how this may present in children and young people.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the need for evidence based psychological therapies
• A working knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health
• Knowledge of relevant guidance policy and good practice

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.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust