• Job Description

  Req#: C9395-25-1210?language=en&page=601&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  NELFT is the largest providers of MHST's in England. Our North East, Southend, Essex and Thurrock services cover 144 schools currently. The service is developing and expanding with an aim to cover all secondary schools in Mid and South Essex by September 2025. We currently cover 48% of secondary and primary school within Southend, Essex and Thurrock.

  The Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) deliver evidence-based individual interventions and group interventions in educational settings for children experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties aged 5 to 18 years old. The teams also have a strong focus on whole school approaches to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people.

  The South East Essex Mental Health Support Team (MHST) covers a large geographical area incorporating the districts of Southend, Castlepoint, Rochford and Canvey Island. We are an early intervention and prevention evidence-based service and as a team we are supportive and passionate in what we deliver. We are a friendly team of professionals who come from multidisciplinary backgrounds. We recognise the need for a healthy work life balance, and we will consider flexible working applications in line with the trust policies and process. We encourage Continual Professional Development (CPD) and are keen to support our staff to grow and progress.

  Finally, we are a welcoming team, working hard to improve the mental health of our community.

  Main duties of the job

  The Locality Clinical Lead should:

  • Have a current and in date professional registration with a regulatory body (e.g. ACP, UKCP, HCPC, BABCP)

  • Have substantial experience (more than 2 years, post qualification) working therapeutically with children and families with mental health needs.

  • In depth knowledge and experience of evidence-based practice with children and families (including CBT).

  • Experience of providing and receiving supervision (including CBT-informed practice).

  • Clinical experience and in-depth understanding of effective use of routine outcome measures.

  • Enthusiasm for and knowledge of early intervention and prevention including low intensity support for emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties in an education context.

  • Knowledge of evidence-based interventions for low mood, self-harm, anxiety and common behaviour difficulties in young children in education settings.

  • Knowledge and understanding of whole school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health.

  • Experience of providing consultation in education settings.

  • Experience of service development and multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working.

  • Hold evidence of ongoing continuing professional development in a relevant subject.

  About us

  Our Values 2025 - 2030

  Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.They are:We are kind. We are respectful. We work together with our communities.These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

  Details

  Date posted

  15 December 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 8a

  Salary

  £55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum pro rata

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

  Reference number

  395-EC285-25-C

  Job locations

  Skyline Plaza

  45 Victoria Avenue

  Southend-on-sea

  SS2 6BB

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  We are looking for an experienced Mental Health Practitioner with a UK Professional Registration to join our Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). MHST's are a new service designed to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing difficulties within education settings; ensuring children and young people receive faster access to early intervention mental health support. In this post, you will be a senior clinical team member, holding a clinical caseload and supervising junior staff and trainee EMHPs. You will work alongside partner agencies to develop and co-produce training materials and support the delivery of whole school approach models for mental health.

  The successful applicant would have completed the Supervisors Course a fundamental requirement for the post.

  Certificates of Sponsorship

  Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

  Use of AI

  Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  We are looking for an experienced Mental Health Practitioner with a UK Professional Registration to join our Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). MHST's are a new service designed to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing difficulties within education settings; ensuring children and young people receive faster access to early intervention mental health support. In this post, you will be a senior clinical team member, holding a clinical caseload and supervising junior staff and trainee EMHPs. You will work alongside partner agencies to develop and co-produce training materials and support the delivery of whole school approach models for mental health.

  The successful applicant would have completed the Supervisors Course a fundamental requirement for the post.

  Certificates of Sponsorship

  Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

  Use of AI

  Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Qualified & Registered Mental Health Practitioner (Counselling/Clinical Psychologist, Family Therapist, Drama Therapist, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, CBT Therapist, Art Psychotherapist, Advanced Clinical Practitioner)
  • Masters level qualification or equivalent
  • Professional registration with a regulatory body (e.g. ACP, UKCP, HCPC, BABCP)

  Desirable

  • CBT training at Pg level if not a CB therapist by background

  Experience

  Essential

  • At least 2 years' experience of providing supervision (including CBT-informed practice).
  • Have substantial experience (more than 2 years, post qualification) working therapeutically with children and families with mental health needs
  • Experience in clinical leadership
  • Experience of providing consultation to partner agencies.
  • Experience of working with moderate presentations and neurodivergence

  Desirable

  • Experience working with or in educational settings

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Knowledge of auditing and service evaluation.
  • Knowledge and understanding of whole school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health

  Other

  Essential

  • To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Qualified & Registered Mental Health Practitioner (Counselling/Clinical Psychologist, Family Therapist, Drama Therapist, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, CBT Therapist, Art Psychotherapist, Advanced Clinical Practitioner)
  • Masters level qualification or equivalent
  • Professional registration with a regulatory body (e.g. ACP, UKCP, HCPC, BABCP)

  Desirable

  • CBT training at Pg level if not a CB therapist by background

  Experience

  Essential

  • At least 2 years' experience of providing supervision (including CBT-informed practice).
  • Have substantial experience (more than 2 years, post qualification) working therapeutically with children and families with mental health needs
  • Experience in clinical leadership
  • Experience of providing consultation to partner agencies.
  • Experience of working with moderate presentations and neurodivergence

  Desirable

  • Experience working with or in educational settings

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Knowledge of auditing and service evaluation.
  • Knowledge and understanding of whole school approaches to emotional wellbeing and mental health

  Other

  Essential

  • To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area

  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.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Additional information

  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.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

  Address

  Skyline Plaza

  45 Victoria Avenue

  Southend-on-sea

  SS2 6BB

  
  

  Employer's website

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

  Employer details

  Employer name

  NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

  Address

  Skyline Plaza

  45 Victoria Avenue

  Southend-on-sea

  SS2 6BB

  
  

  Employer's website

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

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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