Lead MHST Supervisor (Mental Health Support Teams)

Job summary
West London Mind is looking for an experienced and compassionate Lead MHST Supervisor to join our long-standing Mental Health Support Team (MHST).

You will provide senior clinical supervision and line management to a team of Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), Child Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs), Schools Mental Health Practitioners (SMHPs) and trainee/newly qualified supervisors. You will facilitate group supervision of supervisors as well as the wider MHST team.

Main duties of the job
Working closely with schools across Hammersmith & Fulham, you will help ensure our service is safe, effective and responsive to the needs of children and young people. Alongside your leadership and supervision responsibilities, you will maintain a small caseload and deliver evidence-based CBT interventions, including group and 1:1 work.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in developing our MHST, supporting practitioners to deliver high-quality interventions and helping us reach children and young people who may face additional barriers to accessing mental health support.

About us
At West London Mind, we believe every young person should have access to the mental health support they need. As one of a small number of third-sector providers of MHSTs, we are proud to work closely with schools and communities to make a meaningful difference.

Youll join a supportive and experienced team where your clinical expertise, leadership and ideas will be valued. Youll also have opportunities for supervision, training and ongoing professional development.

If you are an experienced mental health professional who enjoys supporting and developing others, working collaboratively with schools and delivering high-quality interventions, wed love to hear from you.

Job responsibilities
Supervisory, clinical and line management

• Supervise and line manage a team of mental health professionals and supervisors based in schools, and be the lead supervisor to the team.
• Work closely with the Head of Mental Health Support and Inclusion and Clinical Lead to ensure that the provision is high quality, clinically safe and reflects best practice.
• Provide expertise around the CBT manualised approach within MHSTs
• Ensure that the KPIs and objectives of the MHST, and individual objectives, are met by you and your team.
• Provide high-quality case-management support to your team
• Audit cases for quality and safeguarding purposes.
• Be the Duty Manager on a shared rota basis (up to 2 days per week).
• Assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans. Develop your team to understand and manage appropriate levels of risk.
• Participate in and deliver group clinical supervision and reflective practice sessions, and provide training to the team.
• Support building on the existing programme and expanding the service into new schools using learning so far.
• Provide support for SMHPs and others in using CYP-MH compliant routine outcome measures.
• Use IAPTUS and HR based databases for effective case recording and management recording (e.g. 1:1s, probation reviews, annual appraisals).
• Understand and advise on safeguarding/clinical risk issues that may arise, following both organisational and school policies and procedures.
• Support staff to deliver tailored, appropriate services to a diverse range of children and families.
• Oversee the development of new resources (e.g.) to support young people who have disengaged from school or have additional needs.
• Participate in your own clinical supervision and line management, keep up to date with relevant policies and procedures and attend relevant training and CPD opportunities.
• Meet the requirements of your own professional body.

Delivery to school-aged children, young people and families

• Hold a caseload, including more complex cases. Make referrals to appropriate agencies (e.g. CAMHS).
• Develop and help deliver workshops, groups and individual interventions for children and young people in schools, utilising CBT principles.
• Work with the Whole School Approach Lead and Clinical Lead to identify training and support needs for school staff and/or parents.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• A minimum of three years experience as a Child and Young Persons Mental Health professional
• At least two years experience of supervising and case-managing practitioners
• Line management experience
• At least two years experience of delivering evidenced-based 1:1 and group CBT interventions for mild to moderate mental health issues (e.g. low mood and anxiety) to children,
• Expertise and understanding of the CBT manualised approach utilised within the MHST model
• Experience of providing specialist assessments and evidence-based interventions with individuals and groups presenting with a range of needs.

Knowledge and skills
Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of specialised therapies for children and young people, and ability to apply this within a school setting
• Ability to line manage and supervise staff delivering mental health support within schools, and take the lead within the supervisory team
• Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychosocial theories of mental health and the evidence base for delivery.
• An understanding of the complex factors that influence work at all levels within an education setting or relevant wider systems
• Advanced knowledge of mental health assessments and ability to apply them meeting the needs of a diverse population.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group, of child and adult safeguarding, and equalities/diversity and inclusion.
• An ability to deliver culturally appropriate psychological interventions, and an ability to adapt delivery to meet the needs of the school communities we work in.
• Ability to select and administer a broad range of assessment tools, resources and frameworks to deliver high quality interventions and evaluate outcomes and progress of children and families.
• Excellent communication skills which enable you to be an effective supervisor and line manager, as well as supporting children, school staff and families.
• Well-developed IT skills and experience working with clinical databases such as IAPTUS.
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, balancing the needs of the schools and West London Mind.
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations and clinical risk, support staff in this, and to respond to the requirements of being duty manager.

Skills, Attributes & Qualities
Essential

• A passion for supervising, managing, supporting and developing staff.
• A commitment to improving the lives of young people living in our boroughs through high-quality mental health support.
• Skilled in working closely with colleagues (e.g. Service Manager; Clinical Lead) and clearly sharing roles and responsibilities.
• Ability to form and maintain relationships (e.g. with schools, commissioners), and communicate effectively with all stakeholders and young people.
• Ability to manage own workload, work to deadlines and prioritise effectively, and bring out these qualities in your team.

Qualifications
Essential

• Appropriately qualified and registered professional, e.g. EMHP, SWP, CWP, clinical or educational psychologist, CBT therapist, mental health nurse with CYP MH experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BABCP/HCPC/UKCP/NMC/BACP/BPS.
• Registration with BPS or BABCP or equivalent.
• PG Certificate in Supervision for Children and Young Peoples Services or equivalent supervisory qualification.

Desirable

• CBT/CYP IAPT qualification or similar

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.