Mental Health Practitioner

Job Purpose

We are offering 2 full-time posts which will sit within our Croydon Wave 2 and Wave 12 MHSTs. The primary focus of this post is to undertake a broad range of therapeutic tasks within primary and secondary educational settings including work to support the Whole School Approach to mental wellbeing in schools.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Clinical:

·       To undertake assessment of children & young people in schools who present with mild- moderate mental health difficulties and/or who are at risk of involvement in serious youth violence. This will include completion of risk assessments and risk management planning when appropriate

·       To deliver evidence based 1-1 and group interventions to children and young people

·       Where appropriate working systemically with parents.

·       To liaise and consult with school partners, colleagues in the MHST and with specialist CAMHS to ensure further intervention where necessary

·       To offer follow up appointments following initial assessment; to review risk management, safety plans and progress of interventions

·       To work preventatively to build resilience and coping skills in children and young people

·       To provide links and safe transition support to other services as indicated.

·       To evaluate and make decisions about interventions in consultation with the Clinical Lead/Supervisor and to link with other statutory and voluntary sector services

·       To provide advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals working in schools, other agencies and contribute to multi-agency risk management and intervention planning

·       To follow assessment and intervention protocol and to maintain clinical records appropriately and in line with OTR policy

·       To attend and participate fully in regular clinical supervision and line management

·       To ensure high standards of verbal and written communication with all staff, Children & young people and their parents/carers that maximises young people’s involvement in the delivery of meaningful care

·       To comply with Safeguarding & Child Protection Procedures on the management of safeguarding concerns in accordance with the policies of the schools and OTR

Educational/Whole School Approach:

·       To use an evidence-based approach to develop, inform and maintain a high standard of systemically-informed practice

·       To be reflective, self-questioning and continuously appraise own and team’s performance

·       To evaluate clinical input and to review outcomes within the team

·       To support the delivery of the Whole School Approach across the school cluster, and the development and delivery of the Cluster Action Plan.

·       To work with colleagues within the MHST to provide training, education and support for school staff, parents/carers and other relevant agencies within the Borough, through formal teaching, consultation and provision of active clinical skills

·       To provide consultation and advice to educational staff with respect to appropriate signposting of more complex cases

·       To contribute to the training of and continuing professional development of Education colleagues around children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, behaviour and mood challenges