Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Mental Health Practitioner
Closing date: 19 May 2026.
Are you an experienced Mental Health Practitioner ready to make a real difference for children and young people in Kirklees? We welcome applications from a range of qualified practitioners, including EMHPs and CYWPs.
Join our innovative Mental Health Support Team, working across schools and colleges to deliver evidence‑based interventions for mild to moderate needs. With a strong focus on early intervention, you’ll also provide training and support through a whole‑school approach, helping to build a culture of wellbeing.
You’ll be part of a supportive team within a trust that prioritises staff wellbeing. As part of our CAMHS service, you’ll benefit from excellent CPD, specialist training, and expert supervision.
If you’re passionate about improving outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and experienced Mental Health Practitioner to step into a senior role and shape high‑quality, early intervention support for children and young people.
Key responsibilities include:
- Assessing children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs; delivering low‑intensity CBT or other evidence‑based interventions.
- Managing and triaging a varied caseload, working collaboratively with schools, families and specialist agencies.
- Embedding a whole‑school approach in partnership with school mental health leads and delivering workshops for pupils, parents, carers and staff.
- Contributing to service development and supporting leadership priorities.
- Leading case‑management supervision and supporting the development of junior colleagues.
About the Trust
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust providing community, mental health and learning disability services across Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and lead the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups; we value diversity and want our workforce to reflect our communities.
Job responsibilities
Post‑holder will:
- Provide assessment and treatment to children and young people with mental health needs.
- Work autonomously and collaboratively within the MDT, providing consultation to other agencies and professionals.
- Promote the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people.
- Deliver routine and urgent assessment and interventions to young people referred to specialist CAMHS, in line with evidence‑based practice and within professional guidelines.
- Support the delivery of the CAMHS system, including applying safeguarding knowledge and maintaining high standards of patient care.
- Manage caseload, access support and guidance, operate within supervision frameworks, and provide training, consultation and supervision to other service providers and junior staff.
- Participate in clinical audit, service development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Use IT systems (including Rio) to collect, store and protect data.
- Comply with clinical and corporate governance frameworks and maintain professional registration.
- Engage in annual appraisal and professional development.
Person Specification
Special Knowledge & Skills
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to manage own caseload.
- Negotiation and problem‑solving skills.
- Effective record‑keeping and report‑writing, including care planning and risk assessments.
- Teamworking across disciplines and managing inter‑disciplinary tensions.
Experience
- Post‑qualification experience working with children, young people and carers in a mental health or complex care setting.
- Multidisciplinary team working and inter‑agency liaison.
- Experience supervising/mentoring junior staff.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance (NHS Plan, Mental Health Legislation, Children’s Act, Education Act, Working Together, Children’s NSF, Every Child Matters, etc.).
- Clinical/therapeutic knowledge and skills in mental health.
- Experience in assessment, risk management and evidence‑based practice.
- Experience safeguarding children and young people.
- Experience in community settings and with diverse cultural contexts.
- Knowledge of Equality and Diversity.
Training
- Training and experience related to specialist CAMHS.
- Experience delivering training to others.
Personal Attributes
- Work autonomously and as part of a team.
- Commitment to a multi‑agency approach.
- Decisiveness and ability to work under pressure.
- Calm, confident, innovative, creative and assertive.
- Clear decision‑making.
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities.
- Commitment to challenging discrimination and improving accessibility.
- Crisis calmness.
- Promote good self‑care and encourage the same in team members.
- Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day (reasonable adjustments considered).
Physical Attributes
- Ability to undertake the duties of the post and maintain a satisfactory sickness record over the previous two years.
Qualifications
- Relevant professional qualification (e.g., nursing or allied to medicine).
- Dip SW or relevant mental health profession.
- Membership of a professional body.
- Post‑graduate qualification in mental health (e.g., CBT, Family Therapy, Counseling).
- Teaching and assessing qualification.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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