Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Lewes/Bexhill and Rother (maternity cover) and Havens-(adoption leave cover)

£37,127- £38,612

Hours 37 per week / part time considered/ secondment opportunity

One-year fixed term

The Service

The need for children and young people to have support for their mental health has never been so high.  You can make a difference to young people especially following the impact of the pandemic. The Mental Health Team works in 45 schools in East Sussex, and you will work with children and young people aged from 7 years to 17 to support their mild to moderate mental health needs using evidence-based interventions holding a small caseload.

You will liaise with school staff to support and advise on mental health in schools and promote the Whole School Approach. You will help to deliver group work programmes to staff, parents, and young people.  You will also supervise Education Mental Health practitioners on their case work management and support them in their role.

You will need to be qualified to deliver evidence-based interventions such as CBT or Brief Solution Focused therapy. The qualifications we are looking for include Social Worker, Mental Health Nurse, OT, CWP, CBT Therapist, PWP, Educational Psychologist. You will receive clinical skills supervision and line management in your role.

If you are qualified but have taken a career break and are looking to get back into work, we would be happy to discuss what support we could offer you in transitioning back into work.

The Team

The team is made up of a variety of practitioners. The Educational Mental Health Practitioners have completed a one year Post Graduate course to deliver low intensity CBT interventions, offer groupwork and support schools in the whole school approach. There are two Parent Carer Support workers and a Specialist SEND Practitioner as part of the team.

The Senior Mental Health practitioners have a small caseload of more complex cases using evidence-based interventions. They supervise the EMHP’s, and they are the link with the schools in their cluster to ensure appropriate referrals are received, signposting and advice is given and to promote the whole school approach. They are part of the referral screening team.

There is a Clinical Psychologist who is the teams link to Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust. They supervise the Seniors clinical work, offer consultation, hold a small caseload of more complex cases and screen referrals.

The team has two Managers, one for Clinical Practice and one for Whole School Approach

Working for East Sussex County Council

We have a generous annual leave entitlement, starting at 23 days plus bank holidays, 2 statutory days and 2 concessionary days at Christmas. We can also offer you training and development opportunities as part of working for East Sussex County Council, access to a range of Staff benefits such as discounts and access to wellbeing services.

Whilst these roles are fixed term, we are an expanding service with further teams planned so there may opportunities to join the service permanently in the future.

What can we offer you?

In addition to a competitive salary you would also:

• Have a generous leave entitlement starting at 23 days leave plus up to 12 additional days leave, including bank holidays
• Be eligible to join the local government pension scheme
• Have access to an enhanced sick pay scheme after the first year of service
• Be able to access a range of staff benefits such as discounts with local businesses

For an informal discussion, please contact Carole Sykes, Service Manager Adoption South East at carole.sykes@eastsussex.gov.uk

To apply for this post please visit our website.

Closing date: Sunday 19 September 2021

East Sussex County Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. All applications are treated on merit.