Children’s Well-Being Practitioners (qualified) -Kent Therapeutic Support Service

Background and Job purpose

Kent Therapeutic Support Service

Salus have been commissioned by Kent County Council to deliver a Therapeutic Support Service (TSS) to support children and young people (CYP) aged 4-19 years who have mild to moderate emotional well-being needs.

Children and young people accessing the Service will however be those who are ‘getting advice and signposting’ and ‘getting help’, in line with the definitions of the i-THRIVE model. More information can be found here https://kentresiliencehub.org.uk/i-thrive/

Our aim is to develop and deliver an accessible, needs-led, co-produced, dynamic, proactive and outcome focused service that offers flexibility and choice to children and families in need of support. This will be achieved through a combination of 1-1, group-based, self-help and family based interventions.

These postholders will work within a newly formed multi-disciplinary team and will have the opportunity to influence the development of the service.

Main duties will include assessing suitability for low intensity work and delivering guided self-help and structured psychoeducation for children and young people experiencing mild-moderate anxiety, low mood and common behavioural difficulties, and their parents. It is envisaged that the majority of work will be group-based but there will be opportunities for 1:1 work.

Clinical supervision will be provided.

Location: Role available across North, South and West Kent

Contact

For more information, please contact Sally Williamson on 07725 595722 or Peter Heckel on 07725 595719.

Job Description/Principal Accountabilities

Therapeutic skills

Assess and deliver, under supervision, outcome focused, evidence-based interventions and psychoeducation to CYP (and parents of those) experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
Working in partnership, support CYP experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and their families in the self-management of presenting difficulties.
Work in partnership with children, young people, and families in the development of plans for the intervention and agreed outcomes.
Support and empower children, young people, and families to make informed choices about the support they need.
Always operate from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.
Accept referrals within the locally agreed protocols.
Undertake accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
Through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes beyond scope or more severe, ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.
Provide a range of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments and psychoeducation. This work may be face-to-face, by telephone or via other media.
Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts offered, and sessions carried out per week to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.
Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or CYP in treatment, where appropriate.
Keep coherent records of all activity in line with service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making. Complete all requirements relating to data collection.
Assess and integrate issues relating to transitions, education, and training/employment into the overall therapeutic process.
Work within a collaborative approach involving a range of relevant others when indicated.
Work in collaboration with children, young people, and communities to enhance and widen

PROFESSIONAL

Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating bodies and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the relevant departments.
Ensure that confidentiality is always protected.
Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed, and reviewed with supervisor and senior colleagues on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
Keep all records up to date in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal development plans maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
Attend relevant conferences/workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

GENERAL

Support the collection of data and facilitate data flow.
Contribute to the development of best practice within the service.
Ensure a comprehensive understanding of the relevant safeguarding legislation, guidance, and best practice.
Maintain up-to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies, and procedures in relation to children and young people’s mental health.
All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.
It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

This job description is provided to assist the post holder to know their principal duties. It may be amended from time to time in consultation with you without change to the level of responsibilities appropriate to the grading of the post.

Any appointment will be made subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

Types: 37 hours( Full-time)
Pay: £32,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Cycle to work scheme
Company pension
Sick pay

Schedule:

Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Person Specification

The person specification is a picture of skills, knowledge and experience required to carry out the job. It has been used to draw up the advert and will also be used in the short-listing and interview process for this post.

You should demonstrate on your application form how you meet the following essential criteria

	ESSENTIAL	DESIRABLE
QUALIFICATIONS	A Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Child and Young Person’s Psychological Wellbeing Practice from an accredited training provider	Psychology or other health /social care/youth related undergraduate degree
EXPERIENCE	Evidence of working with children and young people with mental health difficulties Experience in providing CBT based interventions and psychoeducation for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, low mood and common behavioural difficulties Experience of working with other agencies outside of the NHS	Worked in a service where agreed targets in place to demonstrating outcomes
Skills & Competencies	Demonstrates an understanding of children and young people’s mental health and how it may present Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence-based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post Knowledge of child and adolescent development and the role of the family in supporting children and young people’s emotional well-being Understanding of systems and contexts in which children and young people are likely to live Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues relating to children and young people and the impact it can have on mental health Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients Demonstrates high standards in written and verbal communication Able to work effectively as part of a team Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload	Ability to manage own caseload and time
Other	Willingness to take an active part in developing the role of CWPs within the organisation Full, enhanced and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role. Car owner/driver essential due to the geographical area.

Further information

Closing date: 9am on 24th October 2025

Any appointment will be made subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

On behalf of

Job vacancy