Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners

at  NELFT NHS Foundation Trust

In line with the government’s priority to increase access and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, there are new recruit to train positions within the children’s mental health services; Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) roles.
These posts are held within Kent and Medway Mental Health Support Teams (MHST). For further information please use the below link;
Kent and Medway Mental Health Support Teams | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
EMHPs within these teams provide low intensity interventions based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and guided self help. Trainee EMHPs are taught these interventions while also learning more about the MHST programme and children and young peoples’ mental health.
Advertised EMHP training roles will be within MHST based in Dover outskirts and surrounding locality, based in Kent and Medway.
Applicants need to be ready to start work on 6th January 2025 and posts cannot be offered to candidates unless they can guarantee this start date.
All candidates will need to undertake an initial application process with NELFT. If successful in this first stage, then candidates will need to apply to Kings College London University EMHP training programme before the job offer is made.
Please use the link below for course information/entry requirements and KCL portal:
CYP IAPT Therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Systemic Family Practice or Parent Training modalities) | King’s College London (kcl.ac.uk)
Throughout the training year and under clinical supervision, you will develop knowledge and practice skills to employ a range of evidence-based interventions for mental health difficulties. This is delivered via direct individual and group support for children, young people and their families, in line with NHS and University expectations. The NHS team uses a blend of face-to-face interventions along with online/digital support as part of what is offered (e.g. support via video and telephone calls). As an NHS employee you will record your outcomes and contribute to the growing national dataset of what works and helps to support children and young people with their emotional wellbeing and mental health.
During the training year the role will have both academic and practical elements these will include face to face work in different settings across Kent and Medway this can include schools and other settings accessed by young people.
Candidates will need to travel between school sites/clinical sites as well as to KCL in order to undertake the university course and practical elements of the job role (business travel will be reimbursed).
On successful completion of training, Trainee EMH Ps will be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and capabilities to work as a qualified EMHP as autonomous and responsible practitioners within their scope of practice, alongside their clinical team (MHSTs)
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff). The first contract received is a fixed term training contract that will support the candidate to completion of the course. On successful completion of the course the candidate will be offered without interview a permanent position within their locality.
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex (please be aware of the need to utilise the Dartford crossing and of ULEZ charges). Candidates require business insurance when travelling by car to claim both travel and the above charges via expenses.
Successful candidates will be offered a post-graduate educational programme specifically for the EMHP role delivered by Kings College London (KCL). The roles are funded at NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) bottom of Band 4, gaining credits towards a post-graduate diploma level qualification, plus guaranteed employment on successful completion of training, with a starting salary of the NHS AfC Band 5 scale with NELFT (please see both Band 4 and Band 5 Job Descriptions attached).
EMPHs are required to become registered practitioners on qualification, there are two registering bodies British Psychological Society (BPS) and British Association for Behaviour and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP). These registrations do require membership and registration fees. Please discuss this during your training year.
The trainee EMHPs are funded by NHS England (formally HEE). More details around the funding of these course can be explained at interview. Candidates are not expected to pay their university fees, these posts are recruit to train posts therefore candidates will undertake their post graduate EMHP course alongside employment with NELFT as an EMHP trainee.
Delivery of the university programme will begin in January 2025 and is 12months in duration. It will be provided through a combination of taught days, experience gained in education wellbeing and mainstream mental health services, and independent self-guided study days. You will work with a variety of different age groups as well as families across the diverse population of Kent and Medway.
As a trainee EMHP in NELFT you will work under clinical supervision as part of a dynamic NHS mental health team in a creative environment. Evidence-based interventions, new ideas, ways of working and supporting children and young people are actively encouraged. This modern approach requires flexibility and adaptability, and above all a passion for working with children and young people specifically in educational settings.
The training year has both University learning and placement hours in school, predominantly in term time, therefore we ask staff to use 80% of their annual leave in school holiday periods to prevent disruption to service delivery and University Training Programme completion.

Delivering evidence-based intervention for children and young people in education setting with mild to moderate mental health problems
Helping children and young people within these settings who present with more severe problems to rapidly access more specialist services
Supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to identify and where appropriate manage issues related to mental health and wellbeing
Working with and within education environments to afford better access to specialist mental health services
You will be joining an existing and growing team of EMHPs in NELFT who already work across other parts Kent and Medway these staff will also offer support in your training year as “buddies”. This additional support has been well received by previous trainees.
Closing date and Interviews for applications
See Advert (applications will close early if there are a high number of applicants).
Interviews will commence week beginning 23 rd September 2024.
We look forward to your application and to working with you as a Trainee EMHP with NELFT in the named geographical areas.
Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability