Primary Mental Health Worker

Closing date: 21 August 2026

Job summary
We are delighted to be in a position of being able to recruit a Primary Mental Health Worker within our established and innovative Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service within Gateshead.

We are looking for an individual who has the ability to both deliver high quality interventions and help develop the skills and knowledge of universal practitioners in children and young peoples mental health.

The skilled individuals will join one of the multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of interventions that identify mental health difficulties at the earliest stage, and facilitate the provision of services that promote resilience, and enable positive mental health.

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Carl Sketchley, CYPMHS Clinical Lead or Fiona Scott, Clinical Team Manager on View phone number on meeveem.com

Main duties of the job
The main purpose of the role is to work as a member of Gatesheads Getting Help Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service, mental health assessment and interventions to Children and Young People.

This includes the direct provision of evidence based, outcome focused standards of care to children, young people and families.

We expect the post holder to have sound children and young peoples mental health knowledge and skills.

You will have the aptitude, motivation and enthusiasm for working within a groundbreaking service.

You must have:

• Core Professional qualification and registration (i.e. Nursing, Social Worker, B.Ed/ PGCE (with Qualified Teacher Status), O.T.) or Appropriate professional qualification and registration/accreditation in therapeutic training such as CBT, IPT-A, EMDR, Counselling for Depression, etc.
• Additional qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area, or significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Experience of working within a community context.
• Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.

About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Details
Date posted: 31 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: C9155-CMAHP-0626-34-1
Job locations: Gateshead Children & Young Peoples Mental Health Services, Sector Base, Grassbanks, GATESHEAD, Tyne And Wear, NE10 8DX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

• To work as a member of the Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service in Gateshead providing Getting Help Mental Health interventions to Children and Young People.
• This includes the direct provision of evidence based, outcome focused standards of care to children, young people and families and the delivery of high quality training, consultation and support to other Childrens Service Providers.
• To act as a resource for all members of the multi-disciplinary team, keeping up to date with research literature and practice guidance, and provide expert advice in relation to the mental health of targeted groups of children and young people.
• The service will be delivered from a community base as an integral part of an agreed model of multi-agency CYPMH provision.
• To assist the senior management team to lead, motivate and support the team through the provision of supervision, role modelling and clinical expertise.
• The post holder will ensure they uphold our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
• To promote at all times a positive image of children and young people with mental health conditions.
• To promote at all times a positive image of the specialist service area and the wider Trust.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Core Professional qualification and registration (i.e. Nursing, Social Worker, B.Ed/ PGCE (with Qualified Teacher Status), O.T.) or Appropriate professional qualification and registration/accreditation in therapeutic training such as CBT, IPT-A, EMDR, Counselling for Depression, etc.
• Additional qualification in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, therapeutic training or other relevant area, or significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.

Desirable

• Accreditation with relevant therapeutic body.

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
• Experience of working within a community context.
• Proven record in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training with own specialism.
• Experience of working collaboratively within a multi-agency context.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
• Experience in supervising professional colleagues from non-specialist backgrounds.
• Experience of working in the area of research or audit.
• Experience of working within Primary Care Settings.

Skills / Attributes / Knowledge
Essential

• Ability to complete comprehensive mental health assessments and plan, implement and evaluate specialist packages of care for children, young people and their families.
• Skilled in the delivery of relevant therapeutic interventions including individual, family and group work,
• Ability to be a role model in terms of values, attitudes and behaviours, in line with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust organisational framework.
• Ability to engage vulnerable and hard to reach groups.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children.
• Ability to work at the complex interface between universal and specialist childrens service provision.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent time and caseload management.

Desirable

• Skilled in the delivery of clinical and caseload supervision.
• Proven ability to design and deliver training to a broad range of professionals.
• Ability to offer consultation and advice to a broad range of professionals.
• and work cooperatively to deliver joint interventions with a range of providers.

Physical Requirements
Essential

• Good IT skills
• Car driver

Desirable

• IT Qualification

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).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Gateshead Children & Young Peoples Mental Health Services, Sector Base, Grassbanks, GATESHEAD, Tyne And Wear, NE10 8DX, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

For questions about the job, contact:
CYPMHS Clinical Lead, Carl Sketchley, View email address on meeveem.com, View phone number on meeveem.com