Mental Health Support Team (MHST) Senior Practitioner

Job summary

Band 6 - Mental Health Practitioner(Mental Health Support Teams)

Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) support children, young people and their families that have links to identified school settings. Each designated MHST will work in collaboration with schools and other agencies that cover a population of up to 7,000 children and young people. Trailblazer sites were established in Kent in 2019, with the service aim to cover 50% of the schools across Kent and Medway by 2026. This is expected to increase early access to services and offer greater preventative provision.

We also work with our schools to support their development of a Whole School Approach (WSA) to emotional wellbeing and mental heath as well as their development of curriculum content to ensure pupils are taught about mental health in the classroom.

The post-holder will be expected to work closely with schools to support children and young people (CYP), their families and staff to foster a whole school approach to mental well-being.

The vacancy primarily covers scholls in tunbridge wells area.

Please see our Website for examples and explanations of our work.

Kent and Medway Mental Health Support Teams | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

the successful applicant should also be KCL Senior Welbeing Program, eligible and ready to start Jan 26,2026 on the course.

Main duties of the job

As part of their role the post holders will be responsible for delivering interventions within schools and colleges and hold an individual caseload. The post-holder will ideally have clinical experience working with Children & Young People experiencing emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties and be expected to deliver CBT interventions for anxiety, low mood, and behavioural problems individually and in groups.

Previous clinical experience will be considered alongside the expectations stated and in support we provide informal training and wider CPD opportunities as well a robust supervision programme to support development of low intensity CBT skills, intervention adaptation and WSA delivery.

An additional part of this role includes supervisory responsibility of junior colleagues and if not previously completed there is an opportunity to enrol on a supervisor's course (at one of our affiliated universities) which is already funded and established by the service. Supervisory training will enhance your skills to support EMHP and CWP junior colleagues to undertake their clinical roles. Within your role you will be offered additional supervision which will support your professional development.

The post-holder will be a graduate qualified health care professional (Qualification examples: Nurse, CWP, EMHP, Social Worker, IAPT CBT Therapist or OT)

About us

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.They are:We are kind. We are respectful. We work together with our communities.These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Flexible Working

We will consider part-time hours (30 hours plus) and flexible working pattern applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to promote a healthy work life balance.

Details

Date posted

30 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

395-KM294-25

Job locations

Maidstone Studios

Vinters park, new cut road,

Maidstone

ME14 5NZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details on this vacancy.

Skills needed for the post:

• Good knowledge and ability to apply CBT interventions.
• Confident in working alongside both Children/Young people and Education settings.
• Willingness to learn and develop both clinical and supervisor skills.
• Awareness of the importance of safeguarding and the role of a Mental Health professional in this.
• Enthusiasm about reducing stigma and promoting understanding of mental health issues.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details on this vacancy.

Skills needed for the post:

• Good knowledge and ability to apply CBT interventions.
• Confident in working alongside both Children/Young people and Education settings.
• Willingness to learn and develop both clinical and supervisor skills.
• Awareness of the importance of safeguarding and the role of a Mental Health professional in this.
• Enthusiasm about reducing stigma and promoting understanding of mental health issues.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

• oSuccessful completion of a graduate training (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy), EMHP/CWP qualification with18 months experience or equivalent substantial CAMHS/EWMHS clinical experience

Desirable

• oTo be eligible for registration as a full member of the appropriate professional body (e.g. HCPC, NMC) where appropriate
• To have completed formal CBT training (e.g. CYP-IAPT)

Experience

Essential

• Experience delivering CBT interventions to CYP and their families

Desirable

• Experience of working with schools to support CYP emotional well-being needs
• Experience running therapy groups and/or training events
• Experience of supervising staff

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the education system

Desirable

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and adolescents and safeguarding procedures and policies.

Skills

Essential

• Skill in the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside EWMHS

Desirable

• knowledge of the Electronic Patient Systems (RIO/ system one)

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

• oSuccessful completion of a graduate training (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy), EMHP/CWP qualification with18 months experience or equivalent substantial CAMHS/EWMHS clinical experience

Desirable

• oTo be eligible for registration as a full member of the appropriate professional body (e.g. HCPC, NMC) where appropriate
• To have completed formal CBT training (e.g. CYP-IAPT)

Experience

Essential

• Experience delivering CBT interventions to CYP and their families

Desirable

• Experience of working with schools to support CYP emotional well-being needs
• Experience running therapy groups and/or training events
• Experience of supervising staff

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the education system

Desirable

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and adolescents and safeguarding procedures and policies.

Skills

Essential

• Skill in the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside EWMHS

Desirable

• knowledge of the Electronic Patient Systems (RIO/ system one)

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Maidstone Studios

Vinters park, new cut road,

Maidstone

ME14 5NZ

Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Maidstone Studios

Vinters park, new cut road,

Maidstone

ME14 5NZ

Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)