Mental Health Practitioner

Site Burnley General Teaching Hospital Town Burnley, Lancashire Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum (subject to confirmation) Salary period Yearly Closing 13/08/2026 23:59 Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism, community, and physical health services for the populations we serve. As an integrated Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) delivers a comprehensive range of services, including: * Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults, including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, and forensic services with low and medium secure care. * Specialist mental health inpatient care for individuals with learning disabilities, alongside specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support. * Extensive community physical health and well-being services for children and adults, covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term condition management. The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,500 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health, general nurses, children’s nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers, as well as those specialising in learning disabilities and community physical health services. We have an exciting opportunity for a Mental Health Practitioner who has completed either the Senior Wellbeing Practitioner Postgraduate Diploma (SWP) or a Postgraduate Diploma in CBT, to join the East Lancashire Mental Health Support Team (MHST) based within CYP MH East, Burnley General Hospital. In line with the government’s priority to increase access and availability of mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, the MHST deliver evidence-based early interventions for children and young people, working across educational and healthcare settings. The successful candidate will have at least two years’ experience of working within a child and mental health service and will join a multi-disciplinary team offering a range of therapeutic modalities/specialisms, including CBT, SFP and low intensity interventions. We are looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking individual, who has excellent relational and interpersonal skills and a genuine commitment to working with children, young people and families. Please note as this is a school based service delivery, the post holder will be expected to take the majority of annual leave in the school holidays, requests are at the managers discretion. The successful candidate will work within the East Lancashire MHST and will join a multi-disciplinary team working across the colleges, primary, secondary and specialist provision schools across East Lancashire. Main duties of the job The post holder will provide outcome focused, evidence-based interventions, under supervision to children, young people and families/carers, in education settings, experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. These interventions maybe on an individual one to one basis or through group-based interventions. The post holder will also provide consultations to schools and support and facilitate staff in education settings, to identify and where appropriate manage issues related to mental health and wellbeing, whilst also improving access to mental health services. They will also support schools in developing strategies/activities to promote emotional well-being and positive mental health to the school community. In addition to working with children, young people, families/carers and other professionals, the post holder will also supervise, develop, and support qualified and trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners to provide, low intensity, brief, evidence-based CBT and to deliver groups and training. For the supervisory elements of the role, if not already completed, the post holder would be expected to undertake the CYP PT Postgraduate Certificate in Supervision Skills for Evidence-Based Psychological Approaches for Children and Young People. Working for our organisation In relation to service delivery, the successful candidate would also be expected to support the team lead and manager in the operational running of the service and further development of pathways of care. The role also involves undertaking some aspects of line management, as appropriate and delegated by the team supervisor/lead. LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you’d like to discuss your application, please ask. We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services. LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time. Detailed job description and main responsibilities The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work. Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role. Person specification Qualifications * Postgraduate Diploma SWP or Postgraduate Diploma CBT Qualification from an accredited training provider * If not already completed, commitment to complete the CYP PT Post Graduate Certificate in Supervision Skills for Evidence-Based Psychological Approaches for Children and Young People * Accredited to a professional body (BABCP or BPS as an EMHP or CBT therapist) * Completion of a supervisor training programme such as the CYP PT Post Graduate Certificate in Supervision Skills for Evidence-Based Psychological Approaches for Children and Young People Knowledge * Knowledge of educational environments * Knowledge of mental health assessment processes and evidence-based interventions * Knowledge of legislation relevant to children, young people and mental health and of the CYP Psychological Trainings programme Experience * At least two years’ experience in child and adolescent mental health services * Evidence of assessing mental health needs, developing care plans and delivering appropriate evidence-based interventions with clear clinical reasoning * Experienced and confident in delivering group work and group presentations * Experienced in MDT working * Experience of working with children and families with complex needs, additional educational needs, learning disabilities and neurodiversity Personal * Ability to regularly travel between community sites * Experience of working within a multicultural framework For all posts which require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s). Employer certification / accreditation badges You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. Name Karen Sillett Job title Senior Mental Health Practitioner Email address Karen.Sillett@lscft.nhs.uk Telephone number 01282 628802 Additional information Contact details: Karen Sillett, Senior Mental Health Practitioner MHST, CYP MH East, Karen.Sillett@lscft.nhs.uk 01282 628802 J-18808-Ljbffr