MHST Team Lead

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MHST Team Lead

The closing date is 19 January 2026

NEWLY CREATED POST FOR SERVICE EXPANSION

Job Overview

Our service is expanding further, and we are delighted to be recruiting for a team lead for our West Kent area. This role is an exciting mixed operational and clinical role and we are looking for a candidate with experience in Children and Young Peoples Mental Health with aspiration to progress in their career and to work in a fast paced innovative service. Please contact us for more details about the role. Candidates need to be qualified clinicians with core professional registrations (NMC, OT, Social Work, Clinical/Counselling Psychology, BABCP CBT).

Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) are a new government initiative to help increase children and young people's access to support for emotional wellbeing and mental health. MHSTs are part of the national Children and Young People's Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP-IAPT) programme.

MHSTs are a resource in addition to the already existing support in any particular education setting.

Functions of MHSTs

• Targeted Intervention
• Whole School Approach
• Consultation and Liaison

Our local MHST services are called Emotional Wellbeing Teams Kent and Emotional Support teams Medway. To find out more about us please see our website:

Main duties of the job

Applicants will need to meet the job description requirements and be able to demonstrate a passion for early intervention mental health and emotional wellbeing support. As stated above these roles are mixed operational and clinical and we are looking for candidates that can strike a balance between the two perspectives. Please contact us for more details.

This role will be based in:
West Kent

About us

Our Values 2025 - 2030 Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT. They are: We are kind. We are respectful. We work together with our communities. These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT places a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

Job responsibilities

• To provide an efficient, effective, comprehensive and specialist MHST experience for children and adolescents with emotional and mental health problems, their carers/parents and families.
• To contribute to multi disciplinary assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with emotional and mental health problems, their carers/parents and families.
• To undertake a range of generic clinical work, guided self help, targeted group work and workshops under Whole School Approach.
• To provide consultation on MHST cases to EMHPs/CWPs and lead by example in promoting the NELFT 5ps.
• To monitor and guide the team in ensuring we meet safety benchmarks set by NELFT and the CQC, as well as ensuring delivery of interventions are carried out in line with NICE, guidance with Routine Outcome measures to monitor efficacy of intervention.
• To support Operational Leads with day to day running of the service including monitoring governance and compliance.
• Act up in the absence of the Operational manager for a short period.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use Of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Person Specification Qualification

• Relevant graduate qualification with recognised professional body.
• A minimum of a second class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant academic subject (e.g. Psychology, Education, Childhood development, Social Work etc).
• A minimum of a second class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant academic subject (e.g. Psychology, Education, Childhood development, Social Work etc).

Experience

• Substantial Band 6 experience within a CYP Mental Health setting or equivalent.
• Experience in offering CBT therapeutic interventions within a CYP Mental Health Setting with children and young people with mental health difficulties.
• CAMHS or other relevant mental health experience.
• Experience in NHS or equivalent service.

Experience of providing Clinical Supervision

• Extensive experience of providing clinical and managerial supervision.
• CYP IAPT Supervision course.
• Managerial or leadership training.

Skills

• Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively within a team.
• Demonstrate the importance of good record keeping and working in line with local policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of MHST legislation in relation to children and adolescents and safeguarding procedures and policies.
• Knowledge of risk management, ability to monitor and assess risk and act accordingly to ensure safety.
• To guide the team to ensure safety benchmarks are met regarding delivery of interventions in line with NICE guidance and the use of ROMS.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Full time, Part time, Job share, Flexible working