Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner - CFHD

The closing date is 12 October 2026 We are delighted to be recruiting 2 x 1.0 wte Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHPs) to join our developing Mental Health Support Team (MHST) pathway within Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD). Various locations are available for these posts across Torbay, South and East Devon. This is an exciting opportunity to begin a rewarding career supporting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people across Devon and Torbay. Successful applicants will undertake a fully funded, part-time one-year Postgraduate Diploma at the University of Exeter while gaining valuable clinical experience working within our service. Trainees will be employed on a Band 4 contract during training and will progress to Band 5 on successful completion of the programme and qualification requirements. In line with the Governments priority to improve access to mental health support for children and young people, the EMHP role offers the opportunity to deliver evidence-based early interventions within educational settings and to work collaboratively across health, education, and community services. Main duties of the job As part of the Mental Health Support Team, trainees will develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver evidence-based interventions and support schools in developing a whole-school approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health. Within this role, trainees will: Undertake specialist EMHP training alongside supervised clinical practice. Develop skills in assessing and supporting children and young people with emotional and mental health needs. Deliver evidence-based, low-intensity interventions for mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Work collaboratively with schools, families, and professionals to support positive outcomes for children and young people. Contribute to the development of whole-school approaches to mental health and wellbeing. Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing early intervention and prevention support within community and educational settings. Participate in regular clinical supervision, training, and professional development opportunities. The MHST pathway currently consists of Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) and Child Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs) and continues to grow across Devon and Torbay. This is an excellent opportunity to join an innovative and supportive service committed to improving outcomes for children and young people. Successful applicants will be employed by Devon Partnership Trust (https://jobs.dpt.nhs.uk/locations/working-here ) Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon. CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services, based on the i-Thrive Framework. CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our own staff to undertake post graduate training. Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers. Our children and young people say We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure. £28,392 to £31,157 a year South Devon Healthcare Children & Family Health Devon Capital Court, Bittern Road, Sowton Industrial Estate Children & Family Health Devon Springfield Court, Fishleigh Road Roundswell Business Park 7 Oaklands Court, Tiverton Way Tiverton Business Park The role of an Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)) is a shared initiative between the Department of Education and Department of Health and supports the governments priority to increase access of mental health and well-being support for children and young people. The post holder will work within the Mental Health Support Team (MHST), which is part of the wider CAMH service, providing Whole School Approaches alongside Evidence Based Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training at Exeter University. The post will start with training at Exeter University which is likely to be a mix of face to face and online study. The successful post holder will be a trainee EMHP before becoming qualified as an EMHP at the end of the training and upon successful completion of the course, which usually takes around a year. The EMHP is a new professional role which delivers evidence-based early interventions for children and young people and parents / carers in educational settings in England such as schools and colleges. This includes Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for mild to moderate presentations and a range of Whole School Approach interventions as outlined by Public Health England (PHE) and Health Education England (HEE) such as Auditing a School/ Colleges Mental Health provision, Consultation, Staff Training and facilitating Psychoeducational Groups. The post holder will attend all taught and self-study days required by the education provider, as specified within EMHP curriculum and work in the service for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills. Once the training is successfully completed, you would receive either a graduate or post graduate certificate from Exeter University (depending on your level of previous qualifications). The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities. The role of an Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)) is a shared initiative between the Department of Education and Department of Health and supports the governments priority to increase access of mental health and well-being support for children and young people. The post holder will work within the Mental Health Support Team (MHST), which is part of the wider CAMH service, providing Whole School Approaches alongside Evidence Based Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training at Exeter University. The post will start with training at Exeter University which is likely to be a mix of face to face and online study. The successful post holder will be a trainee EMHP before becoming qualified as an EMHP at the end of the training and upon successful completion of the course, which usually takes around a year. The EMHP is a new professional role which delivers evidence-based early interventions for children and young people and parents / carers in educational settings in England such as schools and colleges. This includes Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for mild to moderate presentations and a range of Whole School Approach interventions as outlined by Public Health England (PHE) and Health Education England (HEE) such as Auditing a School/ Colleges Mental Health provision, Consultation, Staff Training and facilitating Psychoeducational Groups. The post holder will attend all taught and self-study days required by the education provider, as specified within EMHP curriculum and work in the service for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills. Once the training is successfully completed, you would receive either a graduate or post graduate certificate from Exeter University (depending on your level of previous qualifications). The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities. Evidence of working with children and young people in the community who have presented with a range of emotional and mental health needs Evidence of ability to study successfully at undergraduate year 1 level or the equivalent Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy. Psychology or other health related undergraduate degree. Psychology or other health related postgraduate degree Received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice Evidence of working with children and young people who have experienced a mental health problem Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with children and young people Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training Experience of working with children and young people in the community Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and safeguarding children Knowledge, skills and abilities Ability to integrate information; make evaluations formulations and decisions Able to attend the University course as defined by the University Ability to travel to locations throughout the county Evidence of working with children and young people in the community who have presented with a range of emotional and mental health needs Evidence of ability to study successfully at undergraduate year 1 level or the equivalent Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a psychological therapy. Psychology or other health related undergraduate degree. Psychology or other health related postgraduate degree Received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice Evidence of working with children and young people who have experienced a mental health problem Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with children and young people Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training Experience of working with children and young people in the community Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and safeguarding children Knowledge, skills and abilities Ability to integrate information; make evaluations formulations and decisions Able to attend the University course as defined by the University Ability to travel to locations throughout the county 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Devon Partnership NHS Trust South Devon Healthcare https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab) Devon Partnership NHS Trust South Devon Healthcare https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab) Employer contact details For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Team Manager laura.condell@nhs.net £28,392 to £31,157 a year South Devon Healthcare Children & Family Health Devon Capital Court, Bittern Road, Sowton Industrial Estate Children & Family Health Devon Springfield Court, Fishleigh Road Roundswell Business Park 7 Oaklands Court, Tiverton Way Tiverton Business Park Supporting links (all open in new tabs) NHS Employment Checks A guide to DBS Checks How to apply using NHS Jobs Benefits of being in the NHS Pension Scheme Coming to work in the UK Visa information Children and Family Health Devon is the place to be Who Devon Partnership NHS Trust are and what we do Devon Partnership NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)