Job SummaryThis is an exciting opportunity to join a developing Mental Health Support Team (MHST), delivered as a joint initiative between health and education. We are pleased to offer a full time - 37.5-hour-per-week Specialist Practitioner role within the Gedling locality. We are seeking a motivated and skilled practitioner to work within our project schools across Gedling, delivering early intervention support and evidence-based treatment to children and young people. The MHST works closely with staff in education settings to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for pupils, their families, and school communities. As part of this role, you will develop strong partnerships with schools to support the early identification of need and ensure timely, effective interventions.
Main Duties of the JobThe Mental Health Support Team (MHST) is a new and evolving service which is available in certain schools in the Nottinghamshire areas. Nottinghamshire Healthcare have been a trailblazer site for the Mental Health Support Team project and have hosted the first operational MHST nationally in December 2019. We are an early intervention wellbeing service aimed at providing support for children young people and families around low-level emotional wellbeing needs, such as anxiety, low mood, managing emotions, and sleep. We link in directly to provide 'in school' sessions to promote a positive mental health.
About Us#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons. We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health. We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity. The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team. The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.
Job ResponsibilitiesThe role of the Specialist Practitioner within the Gedling area will include both onetoone work with children and young people. You may also have opportunities to contribute to the whole school approach, providing advice, guidance and support to education staff to promote positive mental health across school communities. Interventions delivered will be brief, earlyintervention focused, and designed to meet the emerging emotional and wellbeing needs of pupils. Each participating school signed up to access the MHST service will have a designated Mental Health Lead who can refer directly into the service. You will work closely with these leads as part of supporting the development of a sustainable whole-school approach to mental health. You will collaborate with a wide range of agencies to ensure highquality, joinedup support is provided. Working alongside junior team members, you will help deliver parent sessions, wellbeing groups and individual support. The role also includes participation in duty responsibilities and facilitating school-based dropins. To be considered, you must be a Registered Nurse, hold a DipSW or equivalent social work qualification (CSS, CQSW, degree in social work), or be an Allied Health Professional registered with the HCPC. You must also have experience of delivering therapeutic work to children, young people and families with emotional or mental health difficulties within a CAMHS setting. Experience of working within educational settings in a similar capacity is desirable. A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for business use is required for this post. Reasonable adjustments will be made in line with the Equality Act 2010. The MHSTs operate across Nottinghamshire, with bases in Mansfield, Bassetlaw, Newark & Sherwood, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe. The main service base for the team is Highbury Hospital, Nottingham, NG6 9DR and this is also the base for the Gedling team. Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.
Person SpecificationQualifications- Relevant Professional qualification e.g. RMN. RN, HV, OT, clinical psychology, Social Worker at degree level or higher; teaching qualification
- Registration with relevant professional body.
Desirable- Educated to Degree level.
- Qualification in therapeutic approaches with children and families eg CBT systemic, solution focused, play therapy.
Experience- Proven post qualification experience
- Experience of Multi agency work, in particular in schools
- Skills and experience of working with children, young people and families around a range of emotional/mental health, behavioural and additional health or developmental needs
- Experience of teaching groups of professionals and parents
Desirable- Evidence of the ability to use and provide clinical supervision
- Community experience, working in schools and with families
Knowledge- Knowledge of relevant legislation and documents pertaining to children (e.g., Children's Act, Mental Health Act, NSF, Every Child Matters, Future in Mind)
- Knowledge and experience of provision of a holistic emotional/mental health assessment Knowledge and experience of the provision of different models of therapy and interventions
- Ability to manage a defined caseload if required.
- Organise own work schedule
- Ability to maintain accurate case records in line with Trust policies and procedure
- Ability to be an autonomous practitioner whilst being able to work as an integral part of a multi agency locality team
Desirable- Ability to use electronic data recording systems.
- Knowledge and application of behaviour programmes and support for parents of children with emotional health problems.
Skills- Ability to identify training needs and prepare and deliver training for teachers, young people and their families.
- Ability to offer individual and group therapeutic interventions.
Desirable- Providing clinical supervision and mentorship to junior staff.
Contractual Requirements- To work flexibly regarding location and hours
- A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.
Physical Requirements- Ability to be able to work in the community & transport needed equipment for training and consultation from your vehicle to place of work in the community (e.g., laptops, projectors, flip charts).
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. 
