Lead Mental Health Practitioner

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page. Main Areas of ResponsibilityYou will supervise a team of four School Mental Health Practitioners (SMHPs) in providing an integrated mental health service to students aged 11-18, their teachers, and their families across eight secondary schools. This will involve:

Lead, manage and support a team of 4 mental health practitioners to deliver high quality and effective interventions.
As required, lead the recruitment of mental health practitioners, providing suitable induction and management of their probation
Provide regular clinical Supervision to SMHPs, monitor their caseloads, and offer support and guidance to ensure the delivery of safe and ethical practice.

You will also hold your own caseload of students, provides specialist interventions, with responsibilities including:

Liaising with parents, carers, staff, and external agencies as needed
Working collaboratively with the Harris Federation Senior Lead Consultant, Directory of Secondary Schools, senior school leaders of the eight schools, and SMHPs to develop the wider service, share best practices, and innovate

Holds a graduate level degree in field relevant to the post (e.g. clinical psychology/ educational psychology/ social work/ mental health practitioner)
Holds a recognised training qualification in youth counselling and/or evidence-based psychological therapy for children, young people and families
Be registered with their relevant professional body (e.g. HCPC/BACP/PTUK/ UKCP/NCS)
Post qualification training and supervised experience in a clinical role with children, young people and families who experience mental health difficulties
Post qualification training and experience in a clinical role involving the supervision/leadership of others in their work with children, young people and families who experience mental health difficulties
Has significant post qualification experience within a relevant field of expertise (e.g., clinical psychology/ educational psychology/ social work/ mental health practitioner)
Demonstrate knowledge of school environments and an understanding of the process of engaging young people who require or would benefit from emotional and therapeutic support
Have skills in supporting parents and providing evidence-based parenting advice and interventions
Have the ability to provide staff consultation and advice in a timely manner to sustain students' wellbeing
Have the ability to work in partnership with specialist mental health providers and third sector agencies to support troubled students and families
Have the ability to complete assessment and formulation of the full range of child and adolescent mental health disorders and related neurodevelopmental conditions and associated risk and protective factors
Have the ability to undertake mental health risk assessments with children and young people, including suicidality and self-harm, eating disorders and sexually harmful behaviours

About UsThe founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.
We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.
As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.