Specialist Mental Health Practitioner
Job Description
Job summary
Join Our Team as a Mental Health Practitioner Make a Real Difference!
Are you passionate about improving mental health support for children and young people (CYP) in Barnsley? Were looking for an enthusiastic and skilled Specialist Mental Health Practitioner to join our specialist team, delivering vital mental health services in education settings. This role is your chance to make a meaningful impact, supporting CYP with special educational needs (SEN) or those requiring tailored support.
In this role, you will deliver evidence-based 1:1 and group interventions to CYP with mild to moderate mental health needs. You will support Senior Mental Health Leads in schools to embed a Whole School Approach, while providing expert advice, guidance, and signposting for education staff, empowering them to make informed decisions. Youll also build strong relationships with stakeholders, including families, schools, and partner agencies, ensuring every CYP has access to the support they need.
Were looking for candidates with experience in mental health interventions or psychoeducation, strong partnership and caseload management skills, and a commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, and professional development.
Youll receive excellent supervision, training, and opportunities to grow your career while shaping mental health in education. Bring your dedication to improving young lives, and together, well create a brighter, healthier future.
Ready to inspire change? Apply today!
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a qualified and passionate Mental Health Practitioner to join our team, supporting children and young people in both educational and healthcare settings. You will deliver therapeutic interventions and collaborate with families, schools, and other agencies to manage complex cases.
- Qualified Mental Health Practitioner (e.g., mental health nursing, CYP-IAPT)
- Experience working with children, young people, and families, including those with emotional, social, and behavioral difficulties
- Skilled in delivering therapeutic interventions (e.g., CBT) and conducting mental health assessments
- Knowledge of safeguarding, consent, Gillick competence, and risk management
- Strong communication, time management, and organizational skills
- Ability to work in educational settings and liaise with multiple agencies
- Access to transport and commitment to ongoing professional development
While experience in some areas is desirable, these are not dealbreakers. Teaching qualifications, Youth Mental Health First Aid, or accredited SEN support training are a plus. Experience in healthcare or education settings, particularly with SEND, and familiarity with specialist mental health services is valued. What matters most is your passion for professional growth and making a difference.
At Compass, we are committed to integrity, valuing each individual, and being solution focussed. If these values resonate with you, we'd love to hear from you!
About us
Compass is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. Established for over 30 years, Compass is a national charity which works in communities across the UK providing services spanning substance misuse treatment and rehabilitation, early interventions for vulnerable young people, school-aged health programmes and associated prevention as well as treatment and health promotion initiatives.
All Compass posts are subject to appropriate level DBS checks.
We positively encourage applications from all members of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age, or sexual orientation, and encourage applications from people who have experiences in life which enrich skills and empathy. This is part of our commitment to equality and developing a truly inclusive and representative workforce.
We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments individuals may require in the recruitment process, on commencement, or once in post.
Benefits
We offer a range of benefits including:
- 27 days holiday + bank holidays, rising to 32 days over time (pro rata)
- Life assurance at 2 x basic salary
- Competitive contributory pension scheme
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and OH service
- Enhanced sick pay
- Excellent learning & development opportunities and career progression
- Annual performance/salary review
Help us to make a positive change to the lives of children and young people!
Closing date : 15/01/25
Interview date : 22/01/25
Job responsibilities
Join Our Team as a Mental Health Practitioner Make a Real Difference!
Are you passionate about improving mental health support for children and young people (CYP) in Barnsley? Were looking for an enthusiastic and skilled Specialist Mental Health Practitioner to join our specialist team, delivering vital mental health services in education settings. This role is your chance to make a meaningful impact, supporting CYP with special educational needs (SEN) or those requiring tailored support.
In this role, you will deliver evidence-based 1:1 and group interventions to CYP with mild to moderate mental health needs. You will support Senior Mental Health Leads in schools to embed a Whole School Approach, while providing expert advice, guidance, and signposting for education staff, empowering them to make informed decisions. Youll also build strong relationships with stakeholders, including families, schools, and partner agencies, ensuring every CYP has access to the support they need.
Were looking for candidates with experience in mental health interventions or psychoeducation, strong partnership and caseload management skills, and a commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, and professional development.
Youll receive excellent supervision, training, and opportunities to grow your career while shaping mental health in education. Bring your dedication to improving young lives, and together, well create a brighter, healthier future.
Ready to inspire change? Apply today!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Be a suitably qualified Mental Health Practitioner (e.g. mental health nursing/ CYP-IAPT
Desirable
- Teaching qualification
- Youth Mental Health First Aid trained
- Accredited training in SEN support
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of educational environments
- Knowledge of safeguarding issues
- Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence
- Experience of working with children and young people, their families and others
- Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders
- Experience of working with children and young people who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties
- Experience of working with anxiety disorders
- Experience of working with affective (mood) disorders
- Experience of the delivery of specific therapeutic interventions to children, young people or their families (e.g. CBT, solution focused brief therapy
Desirable
- Knowledge of the functional operation of specialist Children and Young Peoples Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing services teams
- Experience of working with children and their families in a healthcare setting
- Experience of working with children and their families in an education setting
- Experience of supporting Children and Young People with SEND
- Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for childrens emotional wellbeing
- Experience of navigating complex social systems and environments, who may have conflicting priories or agendas
- Experience of working with looked after children
- Experience of working with other vulnerable groups
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health interventions with children
- Ability to carry out 1:1 therapeutic mental health interventions with families
- Ability to work within educational settings to increase mental health awareness within staff group
- Ability to conduct mental health assessments of children and young people
- Ability to make an assessment of risk and to record and communicate it appropriately
- Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Access to own transport or evidence of ability to commute efficiently between community venues.
- Ongoing commitment to maintain registration in core profession ...
