Job summary We can only accept applications via ESCC Jobs site:Senior Mental Health Practitioner - SEND - East Sussex County Council Careers Do you have experience of working with children and young people and want to move into a rewarding career in mental health? East Sussex County Council (ESCC) is recruiting a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Senior Mental Health Practitioner (SMHP) to join our existing Mental Health Support Team (MHST) in Hastings. The MHST teams deliver evidence-based interventions based on the Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic (CBT) approach in schools. We work directly with children and young people aged 7-17 with mild to moderate mental health issues, and their parents and carers. We also work with schools to develop or enhance their whole-school approach to emotional health and wellbeing and mental health. As a Senior Mental Health Practitioner (SMHP), you will be working as part of a dynamic integrated mental health team. This approach requires creativity, flexibility, and adaptability, and above all a passion for working with children and young people in Special Schools. You will receive clinical supervision to support your interventions and have the opportunity to develop your practice. Main duties of the job The SEND Senior Mental Health Practitioner has a varied role to cover the core functions of the service. The role will focus on supporting the complex needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents/carers in all the MHST schools with particular focus on special schools within MHSTs. Initially this will involve working with the MHST schools to help identify the needs of pupils, their parents/carers and school staff to effectively support pupils and to develop suitable mental health provision that is responsive to need. The postholder will provide guidance to MHST staff around the needs of children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers and teachers. The role will be working alongside community partners and developing relationships between the MHST and educational settings. About us We are looking for candidates who have: A core professional qualification relevant to mental health e.g., CBT, Counselling, Play Therapy, Nursing with specialism in mental health or learning disability nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Educational Psychology. Evidence of continued professional development. A qualification in leadership or supervision, or a willingness to commence if successful. Registration with a relevant Professional Body. A full driving licence. Our office base is in Hastings. Click here to watch our choose a career in Mental Health Support Services in Children's Services video To apply for this role please click the apply now button and upload a CV and covering letter outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria as set out in the attached job description and person specification. You may wish to draw on any relevant work/life experience, education or personal interests. Pleaseclick hereto view the Job Description and Person Specification. Interviews will take place in-person at County Hall, Lewes, on a date to be confirmed. The team is always committed to the development of our staff, and is a lovely place to work. We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on ourbenefits page. Details Date posted 23 May 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £42,916 to £44,428 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number F0026-25-0017 Job locations East Sussex County Council Breeds Place Hastings East Sussex TN34 3AA Job description Job responsibilities SEND Senior Mental Health Practitioner; The SEND Senior Mental Health Practitioner has a varied role to cover the core functions of the service. The role will focus on supporting the complex needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents/carers in all the MHST schools with particular focus on special schools within MHSTs. Initially this will involve working with the MHST schools to help identify the needs of pupils, their parents/carers and school staff to effectively support pupils and to develop suitable mental health provision that is responsive to need.The postholder will provide guidance to MHST staff around the needs of children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers and teachers. The role will be working alongside community partners and developing relationships between the MHST and educational settings. You will provide supervisory support and guidance for the Educational Mental Health Practitioners or trainees in the service. This includes case management, line management and clinical skills. You will be the link to a number of SEND Special Schools where you will work in partnership with the schools on referrals, advice and signposting. The SEND Senior Mental Health Practitioner will hold a caseload offering evidence-based interventions for moderate mental health needs in one to one interventions and groupwork. You will promote the whole school approach on mental health in schools, deliver workshops, training and consultation to staff and parents and carers. As a service we are able to see the difference we are making by the outcome measures that children and parents complete and the reviews we hold with schools to focus on our work on whole school approach. Key tasks: 1. Perform all aspects of the role in accordance with occupational protocols, Local Authority and school policies. 2. Contribute to the development and provision of mental health and emotional well-being services to children and young people in educational settings, working with stakeholder to create referral routes and develop whole school approaches to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils. 3. Provide leadership and management for Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) within the team and lead teams of staff in the delivery and evaluation of support. 4. Provide assessment, planning and delivery for service users with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. This will include the provision of highly skilled professional support, psychological interventions, group work, clinical assessment, risk assessments/ management, promoting recovery and inclusion and ensuring co-production with service users, families and carers and the education staff. 5. Liaise with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and outside agencies in the implementation of therapeutic support for children and young people. 6. Provide specialist consultation and advice to other members of staff and trainees, whilst also acting as a role model. 7. Ensure that support activities are research based and in keeping with changes in the field of activity. 8. Contribute to the development of ideas and innovative practice and propose changes to protocols and procedures within the MHST and CAMHS where required. 9. Actively promote the whole school-based approach to developing and maintaining emotional health and well-being and supervise EMHPs in this activity. 10. Depending on experience there could be a focus on SEND or Children and Young Peoples Participation in this role. Job description Job responsibilities SEND Senior Mental Health Practitioner; The SEND Senior Mental Health Practitioner has a varied role to cover the core functions of the service. The role will focus on supporting the complex needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parents/carers in all the MHST schools with particular focus on special schools within MHSTs. Initially this will involve working with the MHST schools to help identify the needs of pupils, their parents/carers and school staff to effectively support pupils and to develop suitable mental health provision that is responsive to need.The postholder will provide guidance to MHST staff around the needs of children and young people with SEND and their parents/carers and teachers. The role will be working alongside community partners and developing relationships between the MHST and educational settings. You will provide supervisory support and guidance for the Educational Mental Health Practitioners or trainees in the service. This includes case management, line management and clinical skills. You will be the link to a number of SEND Special Schools where you will work in partnership with the schools on referrals, advice and signposting. The SEND Senior Mental Health Practitioner will hold a caseload offering evidence-based interventions for moderate mental health needs in one to one interventions and groupwork. You will promote the whole school approach on mental health in schools, deliver workshops, training and consultation to staff and parents and carers. As a service we are able to see the difference we are making by the outcome measures that children and parents complete and the reviews we hold with schools to focus on our work on whole school approach. Key tasks: 1. Perform all aspects of the role in accordance with occupational protocols, Local Authority and school policies. 2. Contribute to the development and provision of mental health and emotional well-being services to children and young people in educational settings, working with stakeholder to create referral routes and develop whole school approaches to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils. 3. Provide leadership and management for Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) within the team and lead teams of staff in the delivery and evaluation of support. 4. Provide assessment, planning and delivery for service users with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. This will include the provision of highly skilled professional support, psychological interventions, group work, clinical assessment, risk assessments/ management, promoting recovery and inclusion and ensuring co-production with service users, families and carers and the education staff. 5. Liaise with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and outside agencies in the implementation of therapeutic support for children and young people. 6. Provide specialist consultation and advice to other members of staff and trainees, whilst also acting as a role model. 7. Ensure that support activities are research based and in keeping with changes in the field of activity. 8. Contribute to the development of ideas and innovative practice and propose changes to protocols and procedures within the MHST and CAMHS where required. 9. Actively promote the whole school-based approach to developing and maintaining emotional health and well-being and supervise EMHPs in this activity. 10. Depending on experience there could be a focus on SEND or Children and Young Peoples Participation in this role. Person Specification Qualifications Essential 1.Core professional qualification relevant to mental health e.g. nursing with specialism in mental health or learning disability nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Educational Psychology, PWP, CWP, CBT or Low intensity Psychological Practitioner 2.Qualification in leadership or supervision, or willingness to commence if successful 3.Registration with relevant Professional body, Social Work England, HCPC, Nursing or equivalent Experience Essential 4.Ability to carry out both operational and clinical risk assessments within scope of practice 5.Ability to plan and organise a varied workload for self and others, working to short deadlines, able to work independently and on own initiative, within the framework of professional supervision 6.Ability to communicate effectively with a range of people in a clear, concise and accurate manner, changing messages to suit different audiences, e.g. children/young people and their families, carers and other professionals 7.Clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills 8.Ability to influence and support cultural change 9.Ability to analyse, interpret and clearly present data, some of which may be complex, in line with Data Protection regulations. 10.Ability to use technology as part of the role including Outlook, Excel, Word, Microsoft Teams. 11.Knowledge of National Legislation and drivers support for children and young people with emotional and mental health concerns 12.Awareness of national and local policies and how these impact on child and adolescent education 13.Working knowledge of the application of their respective professional code of conduct 14.Experience of working with children/young people with mental health difficulties individually and in groups 15.Experience of delivering evidence based interventions 16.Experience of working in a CYP setting. 17.Experience of providing clinical, managerial and educational supervision according to professional guidelines, including: i.being accountable for another practitioners work ii.supervising a practitioner in risk assessment and risk management iii.supervising a practitioner in gatekeeping/caseload management iv.Competency assessment, evaluation or contributing to supervisees annual appraisals and identification of CPD needs 18.Experience of providing consultation and support to professionals and parents/carers who are supporting a child or young person with emotional or mental health difficulties 19.Experience of managerial or clinical leadership 20.Ability to demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, equal opportunities 21.Full driving licence or the ability to demonstrate how meet the travel requirements of the role Desirable 22.Knowledge of whole-school approaches to mental health in education settings Person Specification Qualifications Essential 1.Core professional qualification relevant to mental health e.g. nursing with specialism in mental health or learning disability nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Educational Psychology, PWP, CWP, CBT or Low intensity Psychological Practitioner 2.Qualification in leadership or supervision, or willingness to commence if successful 3.Registration with relevant Professional body, Social Work England, HCPC, Nursing or equivalent Experience Essential 4.Ability to carry out both operational and clinical risk assessments within scope of practice 5.Ability to plan and organise a varied workload for self and others, working to short deadlines, able to work independently and on own initiative, within the framework of professional supervision 6.Ability to communicate effectively with a range of people in a clear, concise and accurate manner, changing messages to suit different audiences, e.g. children/young people and their families, carers and other professionals 7.Clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills 8.Ability to influence and support cultural change 9.Ability to analyse, interpret and clearly present data, some of which may be complex, in line with Data Protection regulations. 10.Ability to use technology as part of the role including Outlook, Excel, Word, Microsoft Teams. 11.Knowledge of National Legislation and drivers support for children and young people with emotional and mental health concerns 12.Awareness of national and local policies and how these impact on child and adolescent education 13.Working knowledge of the application of their respective professional code of conduct 14.Experience of working with children/young people with mental health difficulties individually and in groups 15.Experience of delivering evidence based interventions 16.Experience of working in a CYP setting. 17.Experience of providing clinical, managerial and educational supervision according to professional guidelines, including: i.being accountable for another practitioners work ii.supervising a practitioner in risk assessment and risk management iii.supervising a practitioner in gatekeeping/caseload management iv.Competency assessment, evaluation or contributing to supervisees annual appraisals and identification of CPD needs 18.Experience of providing consultation and support to professionals and parents/carers who are supporting a child or young person with emotional or mental health difficulties 19.Experience of managerial or clinical leadership 20.Ability to demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, equal opportunities 21.Full driving licence or the ability to demonstrate how meet the travel requirements of the role Desirable 22.Knowledge of whole-school approaches to mental health in education settings 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 East Sussex County Council Address East Sussex County Council Breeds Place Hastings East Sussex TN34 3AA Employer's website https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab) Employer details Employer name East Sussex County Council Address East Sussex County Council Breeds Place Hastings East Sussex TN34 3AA Employer's website https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab). Location : East Sussex County Council, Breeds Place, TN34 3AA Hastings, East Sussex, United Kingdom