Job summary
- Main area
- Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner ( TEMHP)
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Upon successful completion of the training year (passing both UEA requirements and service requirement), a permanent AfC Band 5 EMHP contract will be offered.)
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 448-CCYP-8218706-A
- Employer
- East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridgeshire)
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Across Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Peterborough
- Town
- Huntingdon/Cambridge
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 per annum, pro-rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/10/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 04/11/2026
Employer heading
Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)
Band 4
East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust delivers expert healthcare in people’s homes, community hospitals and local settings across the East of England.
Our nurses, therapists, clinicians, support teams and partners work together to provide coordinated care that supports independence, recovery and wellbeing. We believe people are best cared for close to home, in the communities where they live and belong.
By combining professional expertise with strong local relationships, we help people stay well, feel supported and access the right care at the right time. Expert healthcare, close to home, trusted by our communities.
Different ideas, experiences and backgrounds make us stronger and more creative and applications from all walks of life are welcomed. Our processes ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.
East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to creating a modern and inclusive work environment. We actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce and maintain and improve their wellbeing. We also offer flexible working patterns and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.
Before applying for this vacancy, please make sure you’re familiar with ongoing GOV.uk sponsorship eligibility criteria which will impact the organisations ability to provide sponsorship, whether this is currently or in the future.
Please note, our selection processes are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills. Please be advised that the use of AI in applications is monitored. We remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills.
Please note all new starters will be subject to a 6 month probationary period.
Job overview
Do you want to be part of an exciting and dynamic children’s & young people’s Mental Health service, in an ‘Outstanding’ rated NHS Trust? We're looking for people who are passionate about high quality, early intervention mental health care.
The role is an exciting opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions for children, young people and their families, working across Educational and Healthcare settings.
You’ll receive training in delivering Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) informed guided self-help for mild to moderate mental health problems. You’ll gain a (funded) Diploma at the University of East Anglia, whilst working clinically within a new or established Mental Health Support Team (MHST).
Clinical work will be with parents/carers and secondary school aged young persons. You’ll work closely with education settings, supporting their ‘Whole School and College Approach’ to Mental Health.
You’ll be employed on a full-time one-year training contract, Band 4. On completion of the training year (passing UEA & service requirements), a permanent Band 5 EMHP contract will be offered. You’ll be required to successfully complete a probation period of 6 months.
Positions will be available across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
We encourage you to watch these two short videos which give an insight into the role.
https://vimeo.com/1025188355/1f4f81358c
https://vimeo.com/1025187857/26f100bb55
Interviews will take place in person on the 4th and 5th November 2026
Main duties of the job
The interview process will involve completing a short practical task followed by an interview. Further details of the task and copies of the interview questions will be issued 24hrs prior to the interviews. Please note some questions will be withheld until your interview. This must be attended in person for consideration for appointment.
Successful candidates will be employed by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust who deliver MHST services across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.
During the training year you will need to attend 64 University days, mostly in person at UEA.
Successful candidates will be employed on a full time 1-year training contract at Agenda for Change (AfC) Band 4. Once passing UEA requirements, service requirements & probationary period, a permanent AfC Band 5 EMHP contract will be offered.
Applicants must demonstrate in their application the ability to work at degree level or have an equivalent level of relevant experience, with a record of previous learning or formal study in child development, wellbeing, psychology, mental health or education.
Experience of working with children & young people and an understanding of the educational system in England is highly desirable. Applicants must be able to demonstrate they can balance the conflicting demands of academic study & clinical work.
*You must hold a FULL valid driving licence (not a provisional) and have access to a motorised vehicle as regular travel is required to multiple schools*
Working for our organisation
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There’s one reason why our services are outstanding – and that’s our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
Please be aware that East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust will never ask applicants to pay fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. All recruitment communications and job applications should only be made through our official careers website and published contact details.
If you receive a suspicious job offer or recruitment-related communication, do not make any payments, share personal information, or provide identity documents. We encourage you to report the matter to your local police or relevant law enforcement agency. Any concerns relating to potential recruitment fraud should also be reported to our Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) as soon as possible.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The MHSTs are part of the EEC NHS Trust and sit within the ‘Getting Advice’ and ‘Getting Help’
iThrive model. The iThrive model provides an integrated approach to the delivery of person-centred and needs-led services for children, young people, and families.
The MHSTs work with education settings to provide early intervention for mild to moderate mental health difficulties on a one-to-one and group basis. They provide support to staff in schools and colleges on their ‘Whole School and College Approach’ (WSCA) to mental health as well as to other professionals in other services.
Job Overview
To allow the postholder, under supervision and with support, to develop knowledge and practice skills in:
Delivering evidence-based intervention for children and young people in education settings with mild to moderate mental health difficulties
Helping children and young people within these settings who present with more severe problems to access more specialist services
Supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to identify and where appropriate man-age issues related to mental health and wellbeing
Working with and within education environments to provide better access to specialist mental health services
To evidence development of skills along with associated knowledge to evidence progression towards an academic qualification and practical application
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Therapeutic assessment and intervention
Be educationally supervised, supported and reviewed to provide assessments and deliver outcome focused, evidence-based interventions in educational settings for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties
Developing skills in supporting children and young people experiencing mild to moderate
mental health difficulties and supporting their parents/carers, families and educators in the self-management of presenting difficulties
Show evidence in a variety of forms that at all times assessment and intervention is provided from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity
Discuss with supervisors and agree to accept appropriate referrals for children and young
people in educational settings, according to agreed local and national referral routes, process-es and procedures
Under supervision, undertake accurate assessments of risk to self, others and from others
Learn, understand, rationalise and adhere to the protocols within the educational service to which the postholder is attached
Engage along with more senior staff in the signposting of referrals for children and young
people with more complex needs to the relevant service
To engage in robust managerial and clinical supervision to work safely within the scope of their practice
Gain and practice a range of skills to enable delivery of interventions related to provision of in-formation and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help
Practice, evidence, reflect on and demonstrate an ability to contribute to the management of one’s own caseload in conjunction with the requirements of the team
Keep coherent records of all training and clinical activity in line with both health and education service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making
Complete all requirements relating to data collection
Show evidence of working within a collaborative approach, involving a range of relevant others when indicated. Specifically, work in collaboration with teachers and other educational staff, parents, children, young people and the wider community to enhance and broaden access to mental health services
Contribute to the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials and go on to develop further such materials as falls within own competence
Training and Supervision
Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post including practical,
academic and practice-based assessments
As well as attendance at UEA for training, you will also be required to fulfil private study requirements to enhance learning and prepare assignments for examination, for at least one day a week. Expectation will be that you will be required to study outside of contracted work hours
Apply academic learning from UEA directly into practice
Receive practice tutoring in relation to UEA course work to meet the required standards
Prepare and present case load information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor and service are delivered
Respond to and evidence the implementation of improved practice through supervisor feed-back
Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and practice
Be involved in the evaluation of the course
Disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and supervisory discussions
Professional
Ensure the maintenance of standards of own professional practice according to both EEC and UEA in which they are enrolled
Ensure appropriate adherence to any new recommendations or guidelines set by the relevant departments
Ensure that confidentiality is always protected
Ensure that any risks or issues related to the safety and wellbeing of anyone the postholder comes into contact with, in the course of their professional duties, are communicated and shared with appropriate parties in order to maintain individual safety and the 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 the requirements of the post
Attend relevant opportunities for further development in line with identified professional objectives
Communication
Effective communication to a wide range of audiences, including colleagues, children, young people and families, both verbal and written communication
Research & Development Activity
To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members
Participate in clinical and other audits as required
Clinical and Practice Governance
Work collaboratively with your supervisor with other agencies in the health and social care system to ensure effective progress for clients through the care pathway
Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act/Data Regulations
To be accountable to the Service Manager for the delivery of an effective MHST service across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust
The post holder must participate in clinical and safeguarding audits as required
The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team
Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies
The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes
Ensure that any risks or issues related to the safety and wellbeing of anyone the postholder encounters, in the course of their professional duties are communicated and shared with appropriate parties in order to maintain individual safety and the public interest
The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures
Keep up to date with your Continuing Professional Development (CPD), participate in your annual appraisal and respond to clearly identified and agreed objectives, reviewed on a regular basis with line manager
Participate in clinical and management supervision as per Trust policy
Ensure appropriate recording of meetings, supervision and maintenance of clinical records
Keep all records up to date in relation to Continuous Professional Development and the requirements of the post, and ensure personal development plans maintain up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments
Provide clients and their families/carers with information on standards they should expect from the service
Participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis
Information Technology
To use a computer as necessary for clinical work, including literature searches, word processing, delivery of remote interventions and training
Inputting data, emailing, report writing and other tasks as necessary for the efficient running of the service
Input data on to SystmOne and other data collection platforms as needed in compliance with Trust Information Governance (and all relevant legislation) standards
Person specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria
- Ability to study at degree level
- Proven record of previous academic attainment
- Good solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Ability to learn in a variety of settings and using a variety of learning methods
- Computer Literate
- Ability to study as a self-motivated learner who can formulate their own progress towards learning objectives and negotiate pathways to achievement with supervisory teams
Experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with children and young people
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jen Perna
- Job title
- Clinical & Team Lead-Hunts & St Neots MHST
- Email address
- [email protected]
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