Job Summary:
In line with the governments priority to increase access and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, the Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) role is an exciting opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people, working across both educational settings and healthcare sectors in England.

Successful candidates will be employed full-time and based in Wakefield Mental Health Support Team, which will be responsible for the delivery of mental health support across a range of educational settings in the region. For part of this role there will be a requirement to travel to Sheffield Trust and affiliated with the University of Sheffield for the teaching element of the training.

This post will be funded at NHS T&Cs 2026 2021 Band 4 scale, in pay band 4 bottom scale( gaining credits towards either a degree or diploma level qualification (depending on level of previous academic study), plus guaranteed employment on completion of training, with a starting salary projected to be based on the NHS T&Cs 2026 Band 5 scale upon registration.

To enable this, all applicants must demonstrate in their application the ability to work at degree level or have an equivalent level of relevant experience, with a proven record of previous learning or formal study in child development, wellbeing or mental health. Further to that experience of working with children and young people and an understanding of the educational system in England is highly desirable.

The training programme for this post starts in February 2027, is 12 months in duration and will consist of academic and supervised practice learning across mental health services and educational settings, such as primary and secondary schools, and further education colleges.

Delivery of the programme will be provided through a combination of taught days at Sheffield, independent self-guided study days and experience gained in education wellbeing and mainstream mental health services.

During training, the post-holder will work under close supervision to gain experience across healthcare and educational settings to enable them to gain the level of competence required to deliver high-quality, evidence-based early interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems.

Job Purpose:
For the duration of the training year, EMHPs will attend both Higher Education Institution (HEI) in addition to working in services (and educational settings linked to that service) for the remaining days each week.

On successful completion of training, trainee EMHPs will be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and capabilities to work as a qualified EMHP within the Mental Health Support Team.

Under supervision develop knowledge and practice skills in:-

• Delivering evidence-based interventions for children and young people, with mild to moderate mental health problems, in education settings.
• Helping children and young people within these settings who present with more severe problems to rapidly access more specialist services.
• Supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to identify, and where appropriate, manage issues related to mental health and wellbeing.
• Working with and within educational environments to afford better access to specialist mental health services.
• To evidence development of those skills with associated knowledge acquisition to record and evidence progression towards an academic award and demonstrable practical ability.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Proven academic record or previous learning or formal study in Child Development. Well-being or Mental Health.
• Good solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2.

Desirable

• Relevant Degree qualification.
• Teaching or education related qualification.

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of the educational system in England.
• Knowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.

Desirable

• Knowledge of safeguarding issues and legal framework.
• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues with young people.
• Knowledge of the whole school approach to mental health.

Experience
Essential

• Previous experience of working with children and young people and their families in either Health or Education settings.
• Experience of working with children and young people who have social, emotional and / or behavioural difficulties.

Desirable

• Experience of working with children and young people in either a healthcare or education setting.
• Experience of multiagency working.

Skills/Competancies
Essential

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to study as a self-motivated learner who can monitor their won progress towards learning objectives.

Desirable

• Skilled at engaging and building relationships with children, young people and their families.
• Ability to work collaboratively with young people, parents, colleagues and partner agencies.

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.