ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

Harris Federation is a top performing multi-academy trust of 55 schools in London and Essex with a track record of having a transformational impact on students’ life chances. The Department for Education and the educational charity the Sutton Trust have recognised the excellent progress made by our students and especially those who are disadvantaged.

At Harris we strive to improve the outcomes and experiences of all our students and particularly those facing mental health challenges. This is why we are committed to creating and developing a new and dynamic central team of four School Mental Health Practitioners (SMHPs) who will be led by a central School Mental Health Team Leader (SMHTL). The SMHTL will also provide regular supervision and training opportunities.

Each full-time SMHP will work with two Harris secondary schools to ensure we maintain a high-quality service and provide continuity of support for our students. Part-time SMHPs will work predominantly in one school. Our secondary schools are predominantly in the South/South East and South West of London and successful applicants will need to be willing and able to travel to one or more of these.

Time will be allocated for SMHPs to meet as a team with the SMHTL to share practice, develop the service and undertake training.

Harris Federation is a dynamic and rapidly expanding organisation with many career opportunities for new and existing staff. We are excited to build, develop and innovate through this new School Mental Health Team to help ensure all our students can reach their full potential.

We can be flexible on full or part-time hours. This role is term-time only, with the salary calculated pro rata based on 41 weeks per year.

WORKING WITH US

The aim of the School Mental Health Practitioner’s (SMHP’s) role is to:

offer evidence-based clinical assessments and specialist mental health interventions to young people who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues in two secondary schools (students aged 11-18);
provide a range of mental health prevention and wellbeing advice to students to address a range of common adolescent emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties within the two secondary schools;
expedite access to external services for troubled students as appropriate, including supporting those with more severe needs in accessing the correct support;
work as part of each school’s wider multi-disciplinary team (e.g. with the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), safeguarding team, wellbeing team, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) team and teachers, as appropriate). This will be under the overarching guidance of the school’s principal and will be with the support, guidance and line management of the central Harris Federation School Mental Health Team Leader (SMHTL);

For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The aim of the School Mental Health Practitioner’s (SMHP’s) role is to:

offer evidence-based clinical assessments and specialist mental health interventions to young people who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues in two secondary schools (students aged 11-18);
provide a range of mental health prevention and wellbeing advice to students to address a range of common adolescent emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties within the two secondary schools;
expedite access to external services for troubled students as appropriate, including supporting those with more severe needs in accessing the correct support;
work as part of each school’s wider multi-disciplinary team (e.g. with the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), safeguarding team, wellbeing team, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) team and teachers, as appropriate). This will be under the overarching guidance of the school’s principal and will be with the support, guidance and line management of the central Harris Federation School Mental Health Team Leader (SMHTL);

For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear form you if you have:

A degree in a field relevant to the post
A recognised training qualification in youth counselling and/or evidence-based psychological therapy for children, young people and families
Post qualification training and supervised experience in a clinical role with children, young people and families who experience mental health difficulties
An understanding of the full range of emotional and mental health needs of young people and associated risk and protective factors
Skill and theoretical understanding of a range of evidence-based psychological therapeutic models relevant to troubled young people and their families
Experience of and skills in undertaking clinical assessment, formulation and treatment planning
The ability to plan and deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions to address the full range of mental health disorders
Knowledge of school environments and an understanding of the process of engaging young people
Skills in supporting parents
The ability to provide staff consultation and advice in a timely manner
The ability to work in partnership with specialist mental health providers and third sector agencies
The ability to complete assessment and formulation of the full range of child and adolescent mental health disorders and related neurodevelopmental conditions and associated risk and protective factors
The ability to undertake mental health risk assessments with children and young people
A clear understanding of the needs of service users from diverse social and cultural backgrounds
The desire and ability to act and develop as a Subject Matter Expert (e.g. self-harm, Emotionally Based School Avoidance, bereavement etc) within the team and wider Federation

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
Annual performance and loyalty bonus
Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.

Screening calls will take place on 8th November, and in-person interviews on 15th November.

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.

A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Job Reference: HF05916-HFED

Harris Federation

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