Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)
Job Description

Service:
Job Title:
Reports To:
Location:

Wellbeing Services - Mental Health Support Team
Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)
Team Leader  – Mental Health and Wellbeing Service / Service Manager
Home-based, Exeter/Bristol University and education settings
countywide

Main Purpose of Post: Briefly – what is the job there for and why is it being done?  Please attach an organisation chart to show clearly, the
department structure and where the job fits with this.
This is a training role within the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies
Programme (CYP IAPT), delivered by Health Education England and partners to improve existing young people’s
mental health services working in the community.

The postholder will:
1.  Work under supervision, as part of a team of Education Mental Health Practitioners, to deliver high-quality,
brief outcome focused evidence-based interventions for children and young people with mild to moderate
mental health difficulties

2.  Support vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people with emotional and/or mental health

needs to rise above life’s challenges, build resilience, achieve positive and sustainable outcomes

3.  Attend all university-based taught and self-study days required by University and work in service for the

remaining days using newly developed skills

Main Responsibilities and Duties: What needs to be done? – Describe the main responsibilities and duties required of the job.  This should
include responsibilities for the support or management of clients, employees, budgets, processes and equipment.
THERAPUTIC SKILLS

•  Assess and deliver, under supervision, outcome focused evidence-based interventions in educational settings

for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

•  Working in partnership to, support children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health

difficulties; their families and educators in the self-management of presenting difficulties.

•  Work in partnership with children, young people, their families and educators in the development of plans

for the specific intervention and agreed outcomes.

•  Support and empower children, young people, and families to make informed choices about the

intervention.

•  Always operate from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.

•  Undertake accurate assessment of risk to self and others.

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•  Adhere to the service referral protocols. Under supervision signpost unsuitable referrals to the relevant

service, as necessary.

•  Through close clinical case management supervision, escalate cases where the level of need

becomes beyond scope, or more severe ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.

•  Provide a range of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments. This may include

guided self-help. This work may be face-to-face, by telephone or via other media.

•  Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts
offered, and sessions carried out per week in order to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.

•  Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or CYP in treatment, where appropriate.

•  Keep coherent records of all activity in line with service protocols and use these records and outcome data

to inform decision making.  Complete all requirements relating to data collection.

•  Assess and integrate issues relating to transitions, education, and training/employment into the

overall therapeutic process.

•  Within own degree of competence, continuously contribute to the development of individual, group clinical

materials or training materials.

•  Work within a collaborative approach involving a range of relevant others when indicated.

•  Work in collaboration with children, young people, and communities to enhance and widen access.

TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

•  Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post including practical, academic,

and practice-based assessments.

•  Fulfil private study requirements to enhance learning and prepare assignments for examination for at least

one day a week.

•  Apply learning from the training programme to practice.

•  Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.

•  Prepare and present case load information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled
basis, to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor and service are
delivered.

•  Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in practice and be involved in the

evaluation of the course.

•  Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and practice.

•  Disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and supervisory discussions.

PROFESSIONAL

•  Once qualified, you are expected to uphold professional registration with the Wider Psychological

Professions register through either BPS or BABCP.

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•  Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating bodies

and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the relevant departments.

•  Ensure that confidentiality policy is followed.

•  Ensure that any identified risk or issues relating to the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved is fully
communicated and shared with the appropriate parties to maintain individual safety and public interest.

•  Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed, and reviewed with supervisor and senior colleagues on a

regular basis as part of continuing professional development.

•  Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.

•  Keep all records up to date in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal

development plans maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery
models/developments.

•  Attend relevant conferences/workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

GENERAL

•  Contribute to the development of best practice within the service.

•  Ensure a comprehensive understanding of the relevant safeguarding legislation, guidance and best practice.

•  Maintain up-to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation

to children and young people’s mental health.

•  All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed is kept

accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (2018), GDPR and relevant policies.

•

It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek
advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

•  This Job Description does not provide an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed in conjunction with

the post holder considering service development.

Additional Information:
The postholder must be able to demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm towards Young Somerset’s four core
values:

•  Putting Young People First
•
Inspiring
•  Collaborating
•  Going further

An Enhanced DBS clearance is required as post holder will be working in close proximity to children.  This post is
exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Acts.

The salary is £24,379 for 37 hours per week (pro rata for part time staff).

Holiday entitlement is 27 days, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time staff)

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Education Mental Health Practitioners are required to take 50% of their annual leave entitlement during the
school holidays.

1.  Qualifications

Essential
•  Minimum Level 5 qualification-please
follow link for more information.
•  https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgr
aduate/courses/psychology/pgdip_licbt
cyp/

Desirable

•  Relevant degree/postgraduate degree (e.g.
Psychology, Social Care, youth-related)
•  Training or qualification in counselling,

nursing, social care, occupational therapy or
within a specific psychological therapy

•  Good basic literacy & numeracy

•  Experience of working in a clinical

qualification at a minimum of level 2.

environment

•  Clean Driving Licence
2.  Work Experience

Essential
•  Relevant  experience  of  volunteering  or
for  a

working  with  young  people
minimum of two years.

•  Work as part of a team – provide
effective contributions with
internal/external multi-professional
teams.

Desirable

•  Experience of working with children or young

people with mental health difficulties

•  Worked in a service where agreed targets in

place to demonstrating outcomes
•  Experience of managing caseloads
•  Trained and experienced in the use of risk

assessments

•  Demonstrate  high  standards  of  written

•  Experience of working in education

communication.

3.  Personal Knowledge

Essential
•  Knowledge of children & young people
gained through academic study in child
development, child wellbeing or mental
health.

•  An understanding of children and young
people’s mental health and how it may
present.
Experience of using IT systems

•
•  Administration skills, including inputting
and retrieving information from a
computer system.

•  Knowledge of the education system in

England.
Personal and time management skills

•

4.  Personal Qualities

Desirable

•  Knowledge of the issues relating to children and
young people and the impact it can have on
mental health

•  Understanding of the need to use evidence-
based psychological therapies and how this
relates to this post

•  Understanding of the importance of collecting
feedback from children, young people, and
parents.

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Desirable
•  Commitment to contributing to the wider
organisational aims and activities of Young
Somerset

Essential
•  High levels of enthusiasm and motivation
•  Excellent organisation, self-management

and time management skills.

•  Excellent oral & written communication

skills.

•  Ability to personally manage sensitive,
traumatic and potentially emotionally
distressing caseload.

•  Able to work under pressure and meet
the physical requirements of the role
(after where applicable reasonable
adjustments have been made to account
for disability or illness.)

•  Able to travel countywide between sites
where children and young people may
present (e.g. schools, community
settings, home etc.)

Required Competencies

Please read this section alongside the Young Somerset Competency Framework.
This role requires the competencies at the following levels:

1. Leading and Deciding

1.1 Deciding and initiating action
1.2 Leading and supervising staff

Desirable
Less Relevant

2.1 Working with people
2.2 Adhering to principles and values

2. Supporting and Co-operating
Essential
Essential

3. Interacting and Presenting

3.1 Relating and networking
3.2 Persuading and influencing
3.3 Presenting and communicating

4.1 Writing and reporting
4.2 Applying expertise and technology
4.3 Analysing Components

Desirable
Less Relevant
Less Relevant

Desirable
Desirable
Less Relevant

4. Analysing and Interpreting

5.1 Learning and researching
5.2 Creating and innovating
5.3 Formulating strategies and concepts

5. Creating and Conceptualising
Desirable
Less Relevant
Less Relevant

6. Organising and Executing

6.1 Planning and organising
6.2 Developing results and meeting customer
expectations
6.3 Following instructions and procedures

7.1 Adapting and responding to change
7.2 Coping with pressures and setbacks

7. Adapting and Coping

Desirable
Desirable

Essential

Essential
Essential

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8. Enterprising and Performing
8.1 Achieving personal work goals and objectives      Essential
8.2 Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
Desirable

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