Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
MHST EMHP / Mental Health Practitioner
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Overview
Job Title: MHST EMHP / CWP | Mental Health Practitioner (Children and Young People)
The Hillingdon Mental Health Support Team is seeking a qualified EMHP (Education Mental Health Practitioner) or Generic Mental Health Practitioner with established experience in supporting Children and Young People (CYP) within mental health services. Ideal candidates will have a passion for promoting positive mental health outcomes and delivering individual/group-based therapeutic interventions.
We also welcome newly qualified occupational therapists, mental health nurses, social workers, or professionals holding postgraduate qualifications in CBT or other relevant therapy modalities.
About the Role
This is an NHS Trust role under the Green Paper for Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services—part of a programme focused on low-intensity interventions.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Delivering CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and low-intensity interventions for CYP experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, depression, or behavioural difficulties, alongside their families/carers.
- Conducting assessments to identify suitable evidence-based interventions adapted to each child’s needs and cultural background.
- Facilitating rapid access to higher-level support for those displaying more severe mental health needs.
- Advocating whole-school approaches to mental health, training staff, and building awareness within education settings.
You will work closely with schools in Hillingdon, tailor mental health services within communities, and support collaborative working with families, educators, and specialists.
Key Responsibilities
- Assess & Treat: Implement outcome-focused therapy in schools, focusing on mild-to-moderate mental health challenges (anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioural issues). Deliver therapy using CBT or solution-focused methods alone or in group settings.
- Refer & Support: Accurately identify escalation needs, enabling timely specialist referral pathways for complex cases.
- Advocate: Train educators/staff on mental health awareness, resilience, and wellbeing strategies, fostering Whole School Approaches.
- Build Partnerships: Consult with schools, families, and other agencies to create personalised treatment plans. Empower families and CYP to informed decision-making around interventions.
- Safeguarding: Maintain awareness of safeguarding issues, and liaise with relevant safeguarding services.
- Diversify Outreach: Adapt services for children with diverse backgrounds, including exceptions, speech/language needs, and neurodivergence.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential:
- Qualified EMHP (Education Mental Health Practitioner) / CYP Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP)
- OR a mental healthcare background (nursing, social work, occupational therapy) paired with a relevant postgraduate qualification in therapy (e.g. CBT, brief psychotherapy).
Experience
Essential:
- Demonstrable experience working with CYP and families in healthcare, schools, or allied settings.
- History supporting CYP with anxiety, depression, SEN, EHCP, or behavioural challenges.
- Delivery of low-intensity CBT or therapeutic interventions (e.g. brief-focused or family practice).
- Flexibility to use interpreters for multilingual families, and cultural sensitivity.
Desirable:
- Outcome measurement (e.g., using ICECAP-A or PHQ-9) for tracking progress.
- Trauma-informed practice or working in contexts with young people facing adversity (Looked After, domestic abuse, neurodiversity).
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Skills & Competencies
Essential:
- Effective communication (oral & written) to work with schools, parents, and CYP.
- Risk management expertise—ability to assess, log, and follow-up on mental health risks.
- Collaborative mindset—valuing school and community input in treatment plans.
Desirable:
- Teaching/mentoring skills (training colleagues on mental health issues).
Knowledge & Awareness
Essential:
- Familiarity with educational systems and how CYP’s mental health impacts their learning, behaviour, and development.
- Safeguarding training & understanding of policies (e.g. CHANGE UK, local safeguarding procedures).
Attributes & Attitudes
Essential:
- Passionate about CYP’s mental health and continuous learning (）**
- Empathy – deeply understanding the needs of young people and their families.
- Resilience – managing casualties of challenging needs and high caseload demands.
- Teamwork – close collaboration with CMHT teams, schools, and third-sector partners.
vine, dereg and equal opportunities benefits and flexible working & organic apllo description and vaccine feature are embedded elsewhere etc** go above here
Culture & Benefits
(To be explored further with Central and North West London NHS Trust)
At CNWL, we have a shared-care ethos, supporting dedicated staff across:
- Mental health specialities (CYP, adults, older adult services).
- Learning disabilities.
- Addictions, eating disorders.
- Diversity & career development.
Core Values: Safety; Kindness; Teamwork; Excellence.
For further insights, see CNWL’s Journey into CAMHS Video.
For further reading on the profile, click here for [Detailed Job Description & Full Person Specification](Insert link).
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location