Job summary
Join our Healthy Heads Mental Health Support Team and help make a lasting difference to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people across Sunderland.

We are excited to be recruiting two qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) to join our established and supportive Mental Health Support Teams. These posts offer a rewarding opportunity to work at the heart of schools, delivering early intervention, promoting emotional wellbeing, and helping to create environments where children and young people can thrive.

We are seeking enthusiastic, compassionate and motivated practitioners who are passionate about improving mental health outcomes through prevention, early intervention and partnership working. As part of the national Mental Health Support Team programme, you will work directly with schools, children, young people and families, while contributing to the development of a positive whole-school approach to mental health.

Applicants must hold the Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing in the Education Environment and be registered with, or eligible for registration with, the BABCP or BPS within six months of appointment.

If you are a qualified EMHP looking to develop your skills within a forward-thinking service and play a key role in transforming mental health support for children and young people, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job
As a qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP), you will play a vital role in improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Working within our Mental Health Support Teams, you will deliver the three core functions of the national MHST programme by:

• Delivering evidence-based low-intensity CBT interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, low mood and emotional wellbeing difficulties.
• Championing a whole-school approach to mental health, working in partnership with education settings to create positive, inclusive and mentally healthy environments through workshops, assemblies and wellbeing initiatives.
• Providing consultation, advice and support to school staff, helping them respond confidently and effectively to the mental health needs of their pupils.

You will also contribute to a high-quality programme of training and group interventions for children, young people, and parents, helping to build resilience and promote early intervention.

Applicants must have successfully completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing in the Education Environment.

Based across schools, NHS sites and community venues, this is a rewarding opportunity to join a supportive and innovative service dedicated to transforming outcomes for children and young people.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Lisa Mundell, Clinical Lead, on 0191 5243553 or email l.mundell@nhs.net.

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.

Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: C9155-CMAHP-1026-39
Closing date: 02 November 2026

Person Specification
Skills and Knowledge

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

Physical Skills

• Essential: Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to a vehicle.
• Essential: Ability to manage own time and diary and meet requirements and demands of the training course and work within the service.
• Essential: Ability to, on occasion, move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
• Essential: 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.

Experience

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

Qualifications

• Essential: Be a qualified Education Mental Health Practitioner holding the Post Graduate Diploma in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing studies in the Education Environment qualification.
• Essential: Be registered with appropriate governing body for example BABCP/BPS, as an Educational Mental Health Practitioner or will be successfully registered within the first 6 months of appointment.
• Desirable: Additional post graduate qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area.
• Desirable: Supervision qualification.

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.