Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Mental Health Support Team

The Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) are part of the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service (EHWS) in CCS NHS Trust and sits within the ‘Getting Advice’ and ‘Getting Help’ (quadrants of) the iThrive model. The iThrive model provides an integrated approach to the delivery of person-centred and needs-led services for children, young people, and families. 

Since January 2020, Cambridgeshire Community Services (CCS) NHS Trust has launched twelve MHST’s across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and we continue to expand, moving towards 100 percent coverage of schools by 2030, in line with the NHS Long Term Plan. MHST’s provide mental health and emotional wellbeing support to children and young people and their families and carers through schools and colleges. 

The MHST’s work with education settings to provide early intervention for mild to moderate mental health difficulties and provide support to staff in schools and colleges on their ‘Whole School Approach’ (WSA) to mental health. 

Job Purpose

The postholder, with appropriate supervision, will work as an autonomous and responsible practitioner as their training affords in educational and health care settings alongside a team of mental health professionals and within the scope of their local job description, to:

Develop and deliver evidence-based interventions under supervision, to children, young people, parents and carers in an educational/community setting who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties

Develop and practice evidence-based skills under supervision to carry out holistic and child-centred mental health assessments, including risk assessments and risk formulations.

Help children and young people within these settings who present with more severe problems to rapidly access more specialist services

The post holder will also be responsible for supporting and facilitating staff in education settings to identify and where appropriate manage issues related to mental health and well-being

Use the CWP skills, knowledge, and abilities to deliver a service based within education settings that builds on and reinforces but does not replace those initiatives that already exist within these environments

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Assess and deliver outcome focused, evidence-based interventions in educational settings for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties, working at all times in collaboration with and giving respect to the education function of the setting in which the post-holder is deployed

Work in partnership to support children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and their parents/carers, families and educators in the self-management of presenting difficulties

Work in effective, evidence-based partnership with children, young people, their families and their educators in the development of plans for the intervention and agreed outcomes

Support and empower children, young people, their parents/ carers and families and their educators to make informed choices about the interventions being offered

Operate at all times from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity

Accept referrals within educational settings according to agreed local and national protocols

Undertake and record accurate assessments and formulation of risk and operate clear risk management processes in line with locally agreed procedures including the safeguarding protocols of the educational setting and Local Safeguarding Board guidance

Adhere to all regulations, processes, and procedures within the educational service to which the postholder is attached within the educational setting where the post-holder working including (but not limited to) HR policies, training requirements, referral protocols, and emergency procedures. 

Signpost referrals of children with more complex needs to a locally identified appropriate relevant service

Through case management, supervision, and any other relevant local pathway, escalate cases where the level of need or risk is beyond the scope of practice of the postholder 

Provide a range of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help

Practice, evidence and demonstrate an ability to manage one’s own caseload in conjunction with the requirements of the team

Attend multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings relating to referrals or children and young people in treatment, where appropriate

Keep clear, professionally coherent records of all activity in line with both health and education service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making

Complete all requirements relating to data collection 

Assess and integrate issues relating to transitions, education, and training/employment into the overall therapeutic process

Contribute to the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials, and in addition to develop such materials independently as falls within own degree of competence, and under direction of the wider team

Communication 

Effective written, verbal and non-verbal communication on complex issues to a wide range of audiences, including senior management level and children, young people and families, both verbal and written communication

Research & Development Activity

To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members

Participate in clinical and other audits as required

To use a computer as necessary for clinical work, including literature searches, word processing, delivery of remote interventions and training

Inputting data, emailing, report writing and other tasks as necessary for the efficient running of the service

Contribute data for accessible management information for service improvement and reporting via System One data sets, suitable technology/ systems development and in compliance with Trust Information Governance (and all relevant legislation) standards

Clinical and Practice Governance

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed, or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.   

The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures

It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with either the BPS or the BABCP and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.

The post holder must participate in clinical and safeguarding audits as required

Provide patients and their families /carers with information on standards they should expect from the team 

Participate in Clinical, Line Management & Safeguarding supervision on a regular basis 

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

Work collaboratively with other agencies in the health and social care system to ensure regular case reviews to ensure effective progress through the care pathway

To be accountable to the MHST Clinical Team lead for the direct delivery of an effective MHST service across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Ensure that any risks or issues related to the safety and wellbeing of anyone the postholder encounters, in the course of their professional duties are communicated and shared with appropriate parties in order to maintain individual safety and the public interest

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures

Ensure appropriate recording of meetings, supervision and maintenance of clinical records

Ensure the maintenance of standards of own professional practice according to both the postholder’s employer

Keep all records up to date in relation to Continuous Professional Development and the requirements of the post and ensure personal development plans maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments

Maintain awareness of and execute responsibilities with regard to the safeguarding children and adults’ agenda, confidentiality, Trust and professional training requirements, data protection and sharing, information governance, risk management and reporting and all relevant legislation and Trust and local policy

Safeguarding people responsibility

Safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect is a collective responsibility.

There is an expectation that all staff develop and maintain their role relevant safeguarding people competencies and comply with local safeguarding partnerships practice. Alongside this employee who are registrants are reminded of their professional duty of care.

Safeguarding means protecting a citizen’s health, wellbeing and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. It is an integral part of providing high-quality health care.

Those most in need of protection include:
Children and young people
Adults at risk, such as those receiving care in their own home, people with physical, sensory, and mental impairments, and those with learning disabilities.

The post holder must at all times carry out their duties with regard to Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

To be aware of the responsibilities of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors, and staff.

All post holders must adhere to the code of conduct on confidentiality and be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.