Practice Lead: Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

Practice Lead: Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

Bromley Y are a long-established charity for over 60 years, which runs the Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People in Bromley. We are a supportive, inclusive, collaborative organisation with an opportunity for an experienced mental health practitioner, counsellor or equivalent to join our Mental Health Support Team on a full-time contract. If you are looking for a service that believes in developing and upskilling its practitioners, this is the role for you!

Bromley Y is organised around the needs-led iThrive Model and operates an Integrated Single Point of Access with our partners in CAMHS to ensure children and young people receive the right support at the right time. Our MHSTs are well-established and work together to support primary and secondary schools across Bromley borough and over the next three years we have plans to extend coverage to all education settings, including SEND settings, independent schools and further education colleges.

The service has a diverse offer for young people and families, with evidence-based 1:1 and group interventions, workshops, webinars, mentoring, social prescribing and parent-support. We champion the voices of young people, actively seeking feedback from clients, facilitating user participation groups and empowering our Youth Ambassadors to lead on community outreach.

About the role

We are recruiting for a Practice Lead position in the MHST who will have a particular focus on supporting; governance, data, analysis, performance, evaluation and evidence-based impact. The successful postholder will contribute to the development of early intervention and prevention service in Bromley for children and young people and actively leading continuous improvement activity.

The post represents an opportunity for a qualified and experienced Educator and qualified Therapeutic Practitioner, with leadership and management experience, ideally in education or health settings, who is committed to the principle of the whole school approach to wellbeing to further their career.

The post holder will be responsible for oversight of Bromley Y’s Mental Health Support Team offer to schools that promotes and supports a whole school approach in supporting the whole school community, for; children and young people, parents and carers and school staff and adopting evidence -based approaches that compliments and supports the pastoral care offer, and ethos in each school.

The successful post-holder will work with young people from diverse backgrounds and should be committed to diversity and ensuring access to services for all.

About the role

Role: Practice Lead (band 5)

Salary banding: FTE is £44,554.35 per annum to £51,980.08 per annum

Working pattern: 37.5 basic working hours a week, negotiable

Team: Mental Health Support Team (MHST)

Reporting to: MHST Specialist Lead

Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid model. Remote working and in office once a week, alternating Monday-Thursday

Working in a collaborative and supportive team environment

The right candidate

The post holder must be prepared to be flexible in their working arrangements to ensure that all children and young people can access support at a time which suits their needs. This may entail some evening sessions and Saturday working. In addition to prioritising safeguarding and overseeing the assessment and management of risk the post-holder will support and line manage qualified and trainee staff.

Essential criteria include:

•                Professional qualification, with evidence of continuing professional development, in a field relevant to child and adolescent mental health such as; EMHP and CWP, CYP IAPT, CBT training pathways. Other qualifications considered include; Counselling, Psychotherapy, Creative Arts.

•                Over five years’ experience of working with children and families (parents and carers) in a school or health setting and line managing others

•                Professional Registration – BABCP, BPS, BACP, UKCP or recognised equivalent

•                Leadership and management experience, ideally within an education or health setting, and understanding of school systems, including, pastoral support approaches and attendance processes

•                People management experience: experience of managing and supervising staff in particular managing issues of conduct and performance such as attendance, time -keeping, sickness management and following protocols and procedures

•                Two years+ working with children and young people therapeutically with emotional and mental health needs which includes working with children and young people with a wide range of clinical and behavioural presentations

•                Experience of undertaking assessment of emotional and mental health needs children and young people with a key focus on safeguarding

•                Experience of working with multi-agency partners and planning best outcomes for children and young people

Please read the job description and role specification for further information about this new and exciting role.

The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and must demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Information about how to apply: Bromley Y

To apply please submit an application through this link Practice Lead: Mental Health Support Team (MHST) by 12:00pm on Friday 23rd October 2026.

You can also view this advert via our website careers page (Vacancies - Bromley Y : Bromley Y)

 Please be advised that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early (in line with business organisational needs and if we receive sufficient applications for the role).

The process will involve two stages (an initial interview (teams or phone) followed by a face-to-face structured scored competency-based interview and presentation/assessment).

If you have any questions before applying, then please email them to us: [email protected]

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace where our employees feel psychologically safe, and we strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds to apply and join our organisation.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. 

By submitting an application, you are consenting to Bromley Y HR team securely holding and processing your personal data. You retain the right to have your information deleted in line with current GDPR legislation. Please refer to our job applicant privacy notice for further information.

Job Title: Practice Lead: Data, Performance & Governance

Section: Mental Health Support Team

Responsible to: MHST Specialist Lead

Location: Bromley (Hybrid)

Hours of Work: Full-time (hours negotiable)

Grade: 5

1.   ROLE FOCUS:

To contribute to the development of early intervention and prevention service in Bromley for children and young people. The post represents an opportunity for a qualified and experienced Educator and qualified Therapeutic Practitioner, with leadership and management experience in education settings, who is committed to the principle of the whole school approach to wellbeing to further their career. The post holder will be responsible for oversight of Bromley Y’s Mental Health Support Team offer to schools that promotes and supports a whole school approach in supporting the whole school community, for; children and young people, parents and carers and school staff and adopting evidence -based approaches that compliments and supports the pastoral care offer, and ethos in each school. They will also be responsible for leading on the development of the graduated response for Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), which will involve working with available resources and education partners to support children, parents/carers and schools.

The post holder will work closely with the MHST Specialist Lead, MHST Practice Leads and Bromley Y Clinical Director to develop and continually improve the mental health and wellbeing offer to school communities, contributing to service development in our preventative early support offer in order to reduce wait times and ensure children receive timely suitable therapeutic and systemic support. The post holder will deputise where required for the MHST Specialist Lead at network and partnership meetings. 

The post-holder will also work alongside MHST Practice Leads to ensure contact by staff is maintained with the individual whilst they receive the agreed intervention provided by Bromley Y. The post-holder will work with schools, organisations and other charities and staff to ensure that young people from diverse backgrounds receive a service and should be committed to diversity and ensuring access to services for all. Some of the work will be carried out digitally from home with the opportunity to see some children and young people at Ethelbert Road. The majority of the work will be in schools, but may also include the community to support Bromley children in gaining access to appropriate activities, resources and interventions.

The post holder must be prepared to be flexible in their working arrangements to ensure that and all children and young people can access support at a time which suits their needs. This may entail some evening sessions and Saturday working. In addition to prioritising safeguarding and overseeing the assessment and management of risk the post-holder will support and line manage qualified and trainee staff.

Post-holders who hold a professional therapeutic qualification will be allocated half a day per week to undertake work to maintain their qualification requirements.

2.       MAIN DUTIES INCLUDING LINE MANAGEMENT

·       Responsible for line management including but not limited to coaching and developing staff, managing minor issues of conduct and performance, carrying out year Performance Development Reviews

·       Conduct case auditing to ensure Bromley Y professional standards are met and maintained.

·       To contribute to develop of the workforce and ensure training requirements are identified and training programmes implemented

·       Provide casework supervision to identified qualified and trainee staff.

·       To identify, monitor and manage risk to self or others in every contact.

·       To support with, develop and manage processing of referrals into MHST, and the timely allocation to practitioners

·       To respond to user experience and support effective support whilst families and children are waiting for interventions

·       To provide an evidenced based service for children and young people as part of early identification and intervention for children and young people with emotional and mental health needs.

·       To hold a small caseload and provide evidence-based psychological interventions. This work may be face to face, on the telephone or via other media.

·       Complete all data entry as required within the service and to keep up to date and clear records of all interventions in line with service policies and procedures.

·       To work across schools to develop a coordinated response to children and young people's mental health needs offering consultation and advice to other professionals on all aspects of mental health and wellbeing of children and their families.

·       To provide support and psycho education to direct children and their families whilst they await further, if required interventions to meet their emotional needs.

·       To be forward thinking and be a part of idea generation and innovations

·       Continuous development of the team through regular 1-2-1 sessions to identify areas of improvement and best practises

·       To develop knowledge and ethos of the service within your team and establish a centre of excellence

·       Lead by example to set the standards of conduct and performance in delivering a high level of service and professionalism.

·       To develop partnerships that support the effective operation of the service and best practice principles

3.               PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITIES

·       Responsible for supporting with all aspects of governance in accordance with national policy and best practices for Mental Health Support Teams and the effective delivery, performance and evidence-based impact measures.

·       Keep up to date with national MHST community of practice developments

·       To ensure that the service processes and protocols are understood and are well communicated to schools and education partners

·       To deliver school based therapeutic interventions with a caseload of children and families, to maintain their professional qualification, keeping abreast of current training and practice in this area

·       To decide on an appropriate course of action with the professionals involved, providing advice, support and knowledge of appropriate resources for the emotional wellbeing of children and their families.

·       To plan interventions for children and young peoples’ emotional and mental health issues.

·       To carry out joint and/or individual assessments of children and families where required to support EBSA

·       Work with designated SEND support colleagues and education partners in reducing EBSA in schools

·       To provide support and guidance to others with the aim of improving skills, knowledge and facilitating reflective practice.

·       Manage own workload through both practice and managerial supervision.

·       Manage the work of qualified and trainee staff through case management supervision

·       To lead team and service meetings as required for designated area of practice responsibility

·       To work alongside others to demonstrate knowledge and skills to plan and critically evaluate the implementation of the early intervention role to meet the mental health needs of children and young people.

·       To contribute to the evaluation of all areas of service delivery, client and professional satisfaction and the impact of interventions.

·       Ensure that all line management, case and supervision records are in line with best clinical practice and Bromley Y policies and procedures.

4.               EDUCATION AND TRAINING

·       Adapt materials for children with additional needs and SEND

·       Ensure that all requirements for BACP or UKCP or equivalent registration are met and maintained.

·       Attend and fulfil requirements for clinical supervision training that support school-based interventions

·       Identify training needs across the supervisees and develop routes for CPD for self and people in co-ordination with the peer Practice Leads

·       Attend locally and nationally organised training appropriate to the work role

·       To ensure knowledge and skills are continuously developed and maintained at a high level of competence.

·       To identify own and others training needs through supervision, line management and personal development plans.

·       To arrange and deliver training workshops to colleagues and partner organisations and to lead the evaluation of training arranged or delivered.

5.       RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

·       To work with others to develop practice protocols and audit tools, to collect the relevant statistical information to underpin service evaluation and record keeping.

·       To implement national audit tools and review with colleagues nationally and locally.

·       To be key in obtaining service user views and feedback on support provided to ensure the delivery of accessible provision.

·       To comply with relevant professional codes of conduct.

·       To contribute to establishing essential networks, knowledge base of resources and maintain links with relevant community organisations.

·       To contributing to identifying service needs and gaps across with regard to children’s mental health and wellbeing.

·       To develop and manage in service evaluation and audit to ensure the overall development of the service.

·       To maintain awareness of up-to-date research and development pertaining to advances in child and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health issues.

6.   PEOPLE MANGEMENT

·       Provide mentoring, guidance, coaching and support to team members to develop practice and potential

·       Identifying gaps in team members knowledge and arranging training to support continued professional development/knowledge

·       To carry out monthly line management meetings

·       Managing minor issues of poor conduct and performance through Advice & Counselling

·       Identifying if staff would benefit from a Wellness Action Plan to support their wellbeing in the workplace

·       Managing sickness absence including carrying out return to work interviews

·       Managing holiday requests ensuring operationally feasible in line with service needs

·       Leading and carrying out appraisals including setting and monitoring SMART performance objectives

·       Involvement in recruitment and selection for team members and new employees on boarding

·       Communicating business developments and objectives to team members

·       Report to Line Manager with regards to team and individual performance, conduct and welfare

7.   GENERAL

·       Develop appropriate recording systems and keep accurate and appropriate records, providing information for monitoring and evaluation and report writing as required.

·       Participate in, and actively contribute to, individual supervision, group supervision and group reflective practice sessions; lead training and team meetings as required.

·       Work in accordance with the service's objectives and values.

·       Comply with all organisational policies and procedures, and in particular to ensure safe, fair and responsible working practices

·       Undertake duties to ensure the health and safety of post-holder, colleagues, service users, volunteers and visitors.

·       Work flexibly, being prepared to perform other duties commensurate with the role.

·       Actively support and promote any fundraising activities as part of the day-to-day duties.

·       Promote the work of Bromley Y People and encourage positive understanding, awareness and attitudes towards emotional wellbeing and mental health.

·       Work at all times to promote equality, diversity and individual rights.

·       Work alongside and ensure active service user participation in all aspects of work, including monitoring of activities.

·       To participate in the development of local safeguarding child protection, joint agency procedures and other relevant local procedures.

JOB SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

·       Level 4 in Management, including data, systems and organisational/operational practices — Desirable.

·       Professional qualification, with evidence of continuing professional development, in a field relevant to child and adolescent mental health — Essential.

·       Enhanced DBS — Essential.

·       Professional registration with BABCP, BPS, BACP, UKCP or an equivalent body — Essential.

·       Leadership and management experience within an education setting, with an understanding of school systems, including pastoral support approaches and attendance processes — Essential.

Experience

·       Experience of managing and supervising staff, particularly in managing conduct and performance issues such as attendance, timekeeping, sickness management, and adherence to protocols and procedures — Essential.

·       More than five years’ experience of working with children and families in a school setting in a senior leadership role, including line management responsibility — Essential.

·       At least two years’ experience of working with children and young people with emotional and mental health needs, including a wide range of clinical and behavioural presentations — Essential.

·       Experience of assessing the emotional and mental health needs of children and young people, with a key focus on safeguarding — Essential.

·       Knowledge of people management and employment law — Essential.

·       Experience of working with multi-agency partners and planning the best outcomes for children and young people — Essential.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

·       Knowledge of employment law, including UK anti-discrimination legislation and the Disability Act 2010 — Essential.

·       Working knowledge of Health, Social Services, Education and the Voluntary Sector — Essential.

·       Ability to listen empathetically to children, young people and their families and to work effectively in partnership. Essential qualities include respect, genuineness, empathy, personal integrity and communication skills that support the therapeutic relationship and process — Essential.

·       Knowledge and skills in identifying community systems that support emotional wellbeing and mental health needs and facilitate access for young people and families — Essential.

·       Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance relating to children’s services, together with the knowledge and skills required to safeguard and protect children and young people’s welfare in line with the Children Act 2004 — Essential.

·       Knowledge and skills to deliver training packages on children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health, including psychoeducation for children, young people and their families — Essential.

·       Knowledge and skills to provide emotional wellbeing and mental health consultation to a wide range of professionals — Essential.

·       Skills to assess risk using established assessment tools and, where necessary, develop protocols with families and other staff or practitioners to manage risk — Essential.

·       Ability to manage a caseload — Essential.

Values

·       Can demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of Bromley Y and its services — Essential.

·       Can demonstrate support for the THRIVE model and the RESPECT principles — Essential.

·       Holds positive attitudes towards diversity, equality and enabling access to services for all — Essential.

·       Holds a positive attitude towards children and young people, particularly those with emotional and mental health difficulties — Essential.

Personal Attributes

·       Able to work from home using remote technologies — Essential.

·       Flexible regarding hours of work when required — Essential.

·       Willing to meet with children and young people in a variety of locations while maintaining safety — Essential.

·       Excellent computer and IT skills, including data analysis and interpretation; ability to collate and present information for formal reports; and regular monitoring, reporting and evaluation skills — Essential.