Job summary
Are you ready to take the next step in your career and help shape the future of young people's mental health? We're looking for a passionate and experienced practitioner to join our Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in East Cheshire as part of the Governments ambition to cover all schools by 2029. This post is a fixed term contract until December 2027.

Applicants should either apply as a Children's and Young Peoples Practitioner (CYPMHP) and therefore hold a core professional qualification and meet all other aspects of this job description or apply as a Senior Educational Mental Health Practitioner or Children's and Young Peoples Wellbeing Practitioner and meet all aspects of this job description, including significant post qualification experience of working within a CYPMHS or Child Mental Health related field.

The MHSTs offer hybrid working, including accessing CWP premises in East Cheshire, working from schools and working from home. Base can be negociated with the successful candidate - either Elm House, Macclesfield or Catherine House, Crewe.

We are a forward-thinking service dedicated to placing children, young people, and their families at the centre of everything we do. Our MHST is an integral part of the wider Access service within the Trust, working collaboratively with colleagues across the care group to deliver compassionate, high-quality support.

Main duties of the job
In this leadership role, you will:

• Deliver and support a wide range of evidence-based interventions for children, young people and caregivers
• Hold a clinical caseload while contributing to service development and leadership
• Supervise EMHP / CYWP practitioners and work alongside the Clinical Coordinators to shape the MHST's growth
• Participate in our duty rota to screen referrals into the service and contribute to weekly case allocation meetings

You'll also work closely with Senior Mental Health Leads (SMHLs) in schools to embed a whole-school approach to mental wellbeing. This includes:

• Leading staff training and parent workshops
• Supporting the creation of mental wellbeing action plans and audits
• Contributing to the evaluation of initiatives to ensure our service remains effective, ethical, and safe

This is more than a job, it's a chance to be part of a forward-thinking, compassionate team that's transforming how mental health is supported in education settings.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now and help us build a healthier future for our children and young people.

About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Details
Date posted: 28 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 15 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 373-CYP1609
Job locations: Elm House, The Priory Unit, Lea Bank Close, Macclesfield, SK11 8HE, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Core profession (Social Work, Nurse, Allied Health Professional) OR Qualified Post Graduate Certificate or above from a provider university as part of the CYP-IAPT programme e.g. EMHP, CWP
• Professional Registration with recognised National Body (HCPC, NMC, Social Work England) OR Professional registration with recognised National Body (BPS, BABCP)
• Nationally recognised post-qualification, continuous professional development (CPD) related to the core profession (Social Work, Nurse, Allied Health Professional) OR Nationally recognised post-qualification, continuous professional development (CPD) related to EMHP/CWP
• Senior Wellbeing Practitioner Course or willing to undertake course within 12 months of appointment.

Desirable

• Therapeutic Training to intermediate / diploma level

Knowledge and Expertise
Essential

• Demonstrable working knowledge of specialist therapeutic approaches e.g. CBT, Family Therapy
• Knowledge of Child Protection workings and Practice
• Working knowledge of Children related legislation
• Experience of inter-agency working
• Experience of writing, implementing and evaluating Care / Treatment Plans
• Experience of providing clinical supervision

Desirable

• Experience of working with Students/ Learners
• Experience of providing clinical supervision

Experience
Essential

• Significant post qualification experience of working within a CYPMHS or Child Mental Health related field.
• Recognised experience of working within an environment where evidence based interventions have been delivered
• Undertaking formal and informal clinical risk assessments and risk management planning
• Undertaking mental health assessments
• IT skills, including using databases, Microsoft Office and clinical systems

Desirable

• Post qualifying experience of working within NHS community CYPMHS
• Recognised experience of working within an environment where evidence based interventions have been delivered

Trust Values
Essential

• Demonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)

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).

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