.png){kind=icon}
Educational Mental Health Practitioner
Lift Unity City, Middlesbrough, TS3 8RE14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
February/March 2026
Closing date
30 January 2026 at 8:34am
Date listed
16 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Pastoral, health and welfare
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £19855 - £22259 per annum
Educational Mental Health Practitioner job summary
Salary: NJC 12-19 £28,598 - £32,061 (FTE) £19,855 - £22,259 (Actual) + well-being cash plan + pension scheme (LGPS) + additional Lift School benefits
Hours: 30 per week, 39 weeks per year
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: 22nd January
Interview date: 29th January
Start date: February/March 2026
Help shape young lives with compassion, clarity and care.
At Lift Unity City, we're looking for a skilled and empathetic Education Wellbeing Mental Health Practitioner to join our pastoral team. Working 30 hours a week, you'll play a key role in supporting students' mental health and wellbeing; providing therapeutic and emotional support through one-to-one and group work, and helping us create a school culture where every young person feels seen, safe and supported.
About the role
You'll be at the forefront of student welfare, offering a confidential space for young people to talk, reflect and heal. You will support the delivery of therapeutic programmes, helping students with a wide range of social, emotional, and mental health needs.
Day-to-day, you'll:
* Deliver one-to-one and group therapeutic sessions
* Create a calm and caring environment where students feel supported
* Monitor patterns of concern and highlight emerging issues
* Liaise with teaching staff, parents and external professionals as needed
* Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with safeguarding policies
* Complete external referrals
* Manage own case load
* Plan and deliver a therapeutic session
* Employ outcome measures
* Work within the remits of confidentiality
Skills and experience we are seeking
* A recognised qualification in child/youth mental health, counselling or a related field, with experience supporting young people individually and in groups
* Experience of working with young people in a; wellbeing, mental health or pastoral capacity
* Strong understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, and the school context
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and listen with empathy
* Confident in identifying patterns of concern, maintaining accurate records, and writing clear reports
* Highly organised, resilient and able to manage sensitive situations calmly and professionally
* Committed to student welfare, personal development, and inclusive practice within a school setting
This role is not eligible for sponsorship.
Please note that for consistency across our school(s) the contracted job title for this role will be: School Counsellor
About our school:
Lift Unity City is a thriving and diverse school in Middlesbrough, known for its sharp focus on student success. Awarded a 'Good' rating by Ofsted, we are proud of our supportive community and collaborative culture. Our school vision is simple, yet powerful- 'everyone has a determination to succeed, a love of learning, pride in their school and a strength of character.' Alongside excellent leadership and teaching, we will help children to go on to lead successful and happy lives.
At Lift Unity City, we whole-heartedly believe all young people deserve a well-rounded, culturally rich education that fully prepares them to be confident in their ability to prosper in tomorrow's world. To be a part of their life changing journey is a privilege and a pleasure.
Who is Lift Schools?
We're a diverse and inclusive network of schools with one clear mission; to provide an excellent education to every child - in every classroom, every day. And we do this across each of our 58 schools. As with our students, we want our team to be empowered to do their best work, supported by the best leadership they've ever had.
We acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional efforts of everyone here in making this an incredible organisation.
We offer you:
* Comprehensive training: Access a wide range of developmental training to boost your career.
* Generous benefits: From your pension plan to healthcare and financial support, we've got you covered.
* Lifestyle perks: Enjoy discounted gym memberships, travel deals, and even electric vehicle incentives.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.
Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Lift Schools is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Lift Unity City
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1027 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Lift Unity City website
Welcome to Lift Unity City where our vision is of a school in which staff and students have a determination to succeed, a love of learning, pride in the school and a strength of character. We are committed to ensuring that all students are equipped with the academic and emotional skills which will allow them to lead successful and fulfilling lives.
All students follow a vision programme which aims to develop nine key character traits (curiosity, courage, empathy, enthusiasm, gratitude, integrity, resilience, self-belief and self-control). These character traits have been shown to boost academic performance and increase the chances of future success. Tutors and pupils work closely to develop these characteristics, tracking pupil progress throughout the year and intervening where necessary.
We take from a very diverse catchment area which means that our students are at the heart of everything we do, and we challenge and support them to achieve their full potential. You will find our students to be engaging, proud to live in and give back to their community and are ready to learn – all we need is you!
Ofsted
During our last inspection Lift Unity City secured a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating (May 2022).
WHY JOIN OUR SCHOOL?
Who is Lift Schools?
Lift Schools is made up of 57 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 33,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives – and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential.
Our mission:
We will provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.
With excellent leadership and teaching in every school, we will help children go on to lead successful and happy lives.
We will work with others beyond our network to benefit more children and communities.
Development:
We are committed to developing all staff at all levels through high quality development opportunities, resources, and experiences that will support you on your professional learning journey with Lift Schools.
Lifestyle:
We champion agile/flexible working across the Trust to help our people achieve an optimal work/life balance.
Money:
All staff have access to our pension schemes (Local Government Pension Scheme and Teachers’ Pension Scheme). Everyone has free access to financial advice & support and can access a wide range of retail discounts through our Lift Schools Benefits scheme. We also offer Technology Loans to help with any big digital purchases.
Wellbeing:
We recognise that mental wellbeing is just as important as physical and have set up employee assistance programmes which offer free and confidential counselling 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our employees can access our health cash place scheme from BHSF.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Student Support Role - Lead Learning Manager
Outwood Academy Normanby
Normanby Road, Middlesbrough, TS6 9AG
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Middlesbrough