Mental Health and Wellbeing Officer at Wycombe High School

Wycombe High School is a prestigious girls’ grammar school, dedicated to providing an outstanding education and nurturing environment for our students.  We pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence and the holistic development of our pupils.

The successful candidate will deliver a comprehensive programme of mental health and wellbeing support through both individual and group interventions. They will undertake mental health triage, assess students' needs and identify appropriate pathways for support. This will include providing direct wellbeing interventions, coordinating support plans, triaging students for counselling, and making referrals to external agencies where appropriate, including CAMHS, MHST and other specialist services.

The postholder will work closely with students, families and staff to ensure timely access to support and effective monitoring of wellbeing needs across the school. They will also have line management responsibility for the school's counsellors, of which there are currently two.

The successful candidate will be a highly effective practitioner, with the ability to build positive relationships with students, parents, carers, teaching staff and external partners. This role is central to the school's pastoral provision, supporting students to overcome barriers to learning and achieve positive outcomes in their education and personal development.

The postholder will work closely with Heads of Year, the wider Pastoral Team, Student Support, the Sixth Form Team and external mental health professionals to ensure that students receive appropriate and timely support. A key aspect of the role will be maintaining strong communication with parents and carers, ensuring they are fully involved in supporting student wellbeing and accessing external services where required.

They will support on the identification and assessment of student wellbeing needs, ensuring that effective interventions and support plans are implemented and reviewed.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies to coordinate support for vulnerable students and ensure that safeguarding and mental health concerns are managed appropriately.

They will monitor patterns and trends in student wellbeing, contribute to the development of whole-school approaches to mental health, and support the delivery of initiatives that promote resilience, emotional wellbeing and positive mental health across the school community.

We are an ambitious and supportive school community, where staff contribute enthusiastically to all aspects of school life. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated professional to make a significant impact on student outcomes and wellbeing while working as part of a dedicated and collaborative leadership team.

We are looking for the right person to fill this vacancy; you are looking for the right school to work in. The characteristics and qualifications we are looking for include:

• Educated to degree level in Psychology, Counselling, Mental Health, Social Work
• A related discipline, with a Level 4 (or higher) qualification in Counselling, Mental Health Practice, Therapeutic Practice or a related field is highly desirable.
• Understanding of effective pastoral care and the factors that influence student wellbeing, attendance, behaviour and achievement.
• Experience of working with young people and supporting their personal, social and emotional development.
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing issues affecting children and young people.
• Knowledge and understanding of CAMHS, MHST and wider external support services available to children and young people.
• Experience of completing referrals to CAMHS, MHST and other specialist agencies and supporting families through referral pathways.
• Understanding of thresholds for external mental health services and appropriate escalation procedures.
• Able to establish high expectations and promote high standards of attendance, engagement, wellbeing and conduct.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to prioritise workload and manage competing demands effectively.
• The ability to work calmly under pressure and make sound professional judgements in a busy school environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the confidence to build positive and productive relationships with students, parents, carers, staff and external agencies.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage constructively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience of undertaking assessments, identifying support needs and implementing appropriate intervention and support strategies.
• Experience of monitoring student wellbeing and outcomes, coordinating support plans and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.
• The ability to build trust with vulnerable young people whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Able to analyse information and use data to identify trends, monitor outcomes and support decision-making Able to work collaboratively as part of a pastoral team and contribute positively to whole-school improvement.
• Experience of working in a school, college, healthcare, counselling, youth work or other child-centred setting is desirable.
• A high level of confidence and competence in the use of ICT and relevant software systems.
• The ability to work in a changing environment and respond positively to new challenges and initiatives.
• Committed to the ethos, vision and values of Wycombe High School.

Wycombe High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are required, before taking up post, to undertake a criminal record check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). HR will carry out an online search on shortlisted applicants.

Candidates for teaching and support staff posts will be assessed at interview for their suitability to work with children. Appointment is conditional upon at least two satisfactory references which include specific comments on working with children and young people.

All staff at the school have a responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of students at the school