Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner - MHST
At a glance
- Band
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 21/09/2026
- Closes
- 27/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This advert explicitly states that sponsorship is not offered.
The source advert contains explicit wording ruling out sponsorship for this specific role. Consider other live roles at the same band from sponsorship-friendly trusts.
Role summary
This is a training post for an Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) within Hertfordshire's Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). The role involves delivering low-intensity, evidence-based CBT interventions to children and young people under supervision, while undertaking university-based training at the University of East Anglia. Successful completion of the training leads to progression from Band 4 to Band 5. The post aims to improve access to mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people in educational settings.
Key responsibilities
- Study at the University of East Anglia, attending all teaching days and completing the training programme.
- Work within a dynamic mental health team, collaborating with qualified EMHPs and other professionals.
- Deliver low-intensity, evidence-based CBT interventions to children and young people with mild to moderate mental health presentations.
- Conduct holistic and child-centred mental health assessments, including risk assessments, under supervision.
- Provide direct individual and group support to children, young people, and their parents/carers.
- Support schools and colleges in developing their whole-school approach to mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Essential criteria
- Postgraduate route (level 7) Evidence of academic attainment at degree level or above. OR Graduate route (level 6): Evidence of ability to study at degree level and evidence of previous academic attainment
- Good solid basic literacy and numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2
- Significant relevant experience working with children and young people in an education or clinical care setting.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to write clear, detailed reports and letters
- Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
- Car driver with a full valid driving license (unless they have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010) which prevents them from driving
- Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post
- Able to manage own caseload and demonstrate good time management and prioritisation skills.
- Able to work in an environment that is at times extremely busy and demanding.
- Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload
- Examples of being kind, welcoming, positive, professional, respectful
- Full, enhanced and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role
- Ability to learn in a variety of settings using a variety of methods
- Computer literate with the ability to use software like Microsoft Office.
- Ability to study as a self-motivated learner who can direct their own progress towards learning objectives.
Desirable criteria
- Relevant Honours Degree (e.g. psychology, mental health, sociology, education etc.)
- Experience of working with looked after children or other vulnerable groups of CYP
- Knowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.
- Knowledge of the educational system in England
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 4 at £26,530 – £29,114 a year, across England.
This advert: £29,812 – £32,715 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 6d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner - MHST
The closing date is 27 September 2026
Job summary
Whilst we welcome all applications from all suitable candidates, unfortunately, we will not be offering sponsorship for this role.
As part of the transformation of the Hertfordshire Children and Young People (CYP) Mental Health Service, our priority is to improve access to mental health and wellbeing support through the implementation of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs).
In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, we are recruiting 4 Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) to join the HPFT MHST in Watford, South Hertfordshire.
Working under supervision within a dynamic mental health team, you will deliver low-intensity, evidence-based CBT interventions while completing university-based training alongside clinical practice.
Training is provided by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and will require travel to Norwich. Course information: https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/postgraduate/pdip-educational-mental-health-practitioner
This is an NHS England-funded training post . To be eligible, applicants must not have undertaken another NHS England-funded training position within the previous two years .
The role is appointed at Band 4 , with progression to Band 5 on successful comp
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