Senior Practitioner - Mental Health Support Teams in Schools
The closing date is 20 July 2026

Job summary
Due to recent promotion and expansion within Wellbeing & Emotional Support Teams (WEST), the Herefordshire team are now seeking a senior practitioner (EMHP/CWP/RMN/OT/Social Worker) to join our fantastic team.
The WEST team are a forward thinking, supportive & hardworking team that is continuously developing as individuals and a service. We provide high quality, evidence-based CBT interventions to Children & Young People in Schools and focus on a Whole School Approach to make the schools we work with a mentally healthy environment for CYP. Core to this role, is clinical supervision provided to our wellbeing practitioner workforce.
You must meet the travel requirements i.e., car driver.
Is this role right for you? Contact the Recruiting Manager which can be found on the top right of the advert.

Main duties of the job

• Contemporaneous clinical record keeping.
• Clinical supervision (case management) for band 4/5.
• Design & deliver clinical skills sessions increasing the knowledge base of band 4 & 5 staff.
• Under the direction of the Operational & Clinical Lead be accountable and responsible manage a defined caseload of patients.
• Participate in MDT working & Service Development.
• Individual assessment, risk assessment & care plan.
• CBT low intensity format also delivering, consultation, whole school approach, group work for pupils & parents.
• Deliver consultation advice to education partners including signposting and referral to other services.
• Advocate for CYP in a variety of forums.
• Audit related to service improvement.
• Promote knowledge of mental health & the prevention of mental ill health with children and members of the general public, both formally and informally.
• Foster close working relationships.
• Actively participate in regular clinical & safeguarding supervision sessions.

About us
At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.
We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work-life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.
What we offer;

• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
• Wide range of supportive staff networks
• Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website.
We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.
Sharing your data - As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trusts understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Details
Date posted: 06 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: C9798-2413
Job locations: Benet Building, Ruckhall Lane, Belmont, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2 9RP, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Act as a role model to colleagues, always seeking to maintain the highest standards.
• Use their initiative and take responsibility for themselves and the quality of their work and the service they provide to patients.
• Work in partnership with Educational Settings & Partners to improve the outcomes for CYP 5-18 years of age.
• Be a member of the Multi-disciplinary Team & will carry continuing responsibility for the assessment, treatment & management of a defined caseload.
• Use their initiative & take responsibility for themselves & the quality of their work and the service they provide to patients.
• Provide a high quality, community (school) based service to the children & families within a MDT working within the Wellbeing and Emotional Support Teams. This is a developing service and there maybe opportunities to work in different teams as the service transforms.
• For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification

Qualifications
Essential

• Professional clinical qualification RMN/OT/Social Worker or EMHP or CWP with 2 years post qualification experience.
• Evidence of post registered clinical qualifications/training or be able to demonstrate an equivalent level of training to a minimum of post graduate diploma level.
• I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.

Desirable

• Specific qualification in a relevant therapeutic speciality e.g. counselling, Family Therapy, CBT, substance misuse.

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Ability to challenge poor behaviour.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English in both verbal and written formats.
• Basic IT competency.

Additional Criteria
Essential

• Awareness of personal strengths and limitations.
• Able to travel to meet the commitments of the post.

Experience
Essential

• Extensive post registration experience in mental health care including mental health assessment and risk assessment.
• Use of therapeutic interventions within mental health settings i.e. 1:1, counselling, family therapy and group work.
• Delivering teaching/training.
• Providing consultation.

Desirable

• Working with children and young people.
• Supervising less experienced members of staff.

Knowledge
Essential

• Working knowledge of health services.
• Working knowledge of mental health issues in CAMH Services.
• Experience in the delivery of evidence-based and CBT. interventions for children and adolescents.
• Good knowledge of recognised disorders and illnesses in the field of mental health.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act.
• Experience of delivering training and developing others.
• Experience of Providing mentorship.
• Experience of leadership or line management responsibilities.
• Experience of working in an educational environment.

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.
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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
Address: Benet Building, Ruckhall Lane, Belmont, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2 9RP, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.hacw.nhs.uk/careers

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Operational Lead
Sarah Smith
sarah.smith154@nhs.net
07713709087