Trainee Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Practitioner

Role Outcomes

• Children and young people receive timely, evidence-based support that improves their mental health and wellbeing.
• Children, young people and families are actively involved in planning support, build confidence in self-management, and work towards goals that matter to them.
• Safeguarding concerns are recognised early, responded to appropriately and escalated in line with policy, helping children and young people remain safe.
• A well-managed caseload supports timely, coordinated and responsive care, with effective communication across families, colleagues and partner agencies.
• Practice is safe, reflective and effective through consistent use of clinical and case management supervision.
• Accurate, timely and secure records support high-quality care, good governance and service improvement.
• Children, young people and families experience a responsive, inclusive and person-centred service that continues to improve through learning and innovation.
• The post holder progresses successfully through the training programme by meeting academic, attendance and practice requirements.
• Professional knowledge, confidence and competence continue to develop through reflection, supervision and appraisal.
• Additional duties are carried out flexibly and appropriately to support the effective delivery of the role and wider service objectives.

Person Specification

BDC Mind is committed to promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma and improving quality of life for people experiencing mental health challenges. We recognise the value of diverse backgrounds, transferable skills and lived experience.

We welcome applicants with transferable experience of supporting children, young people or families in community, education, voluntary sector or health settings. Clinical terminology and NHS systems can be learned with support.

Qualifications

Applicants from varied educational and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Essential:

• Evidence of ability to study successfully at undergraduate level (level 6)
• Level 4 qualification obtained at minimum

Or

• The equivalent through a proven academic record of previous learning/formal study in Child Development, Wellbeing or Mental Health.
• Evidence of numeracy skills

Desirable:

• Relevant degree or qualification

Please note: Equivalent experience and transferable skills are valued alongside formal qualifications

Experience

Essential:

• Experience of working with children and/or young people

Desirable:

• Experience of working with children and/or young people with mental health difficulties
• Experience of working in mental health or related services
• Experience of working in a role with agreed targets in place to demonstrate outcomes

Skills and Abilities

Essential:

• Ability to apply learning from training effectively in practice.
• Computer literate.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills and the use of internet-mediated communication.
• Ability to develop rapport with people from a range of backgrounds.
• Excellent organisation and self-management skills

Desirable:

• Training in, or experience of, carrying out risk assessments.
• Fluent in languages other than English
• Able to travel to locations across the district

Knowledge

Essential:

• Knowledge of child and adolescent development.
• Understanding of the role of the family in supporting children and young people’s emotional wellbeing.
• Understanding of the systems and contexts in which children and young people are likely to live.

Desirable:

• Understanding of and ability to identify common mental health problems experienced by children and young people.
• Understanding of the importance of using evidence-based interventions where possible.
• Understanding of the importance of collecting feedback from children, young people and parents.

Attitude and Personal Attributes 

Essential:

• Willingness to attend and engage in the formal training as required
• High level of enthusiasm and motivation
• Open to feedback and willing to make effective use of supervision.
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to be self-reflective in own personal and professional development
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality