Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner

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Compass Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner

The closing date is 18 September 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

Some young people just need someone who gets it. Someone who listens properly, stays calm when things feel messy, and helps them find a way forward before things reach crisis point.

As an Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner within our amazing Barnsley Service, youll work directly with children and young people experiencing mild to moderate emotional health and wellbeing difficulties, helping them build confidence, resilience and healthier ways to cope with lifes challenges.

No two days look the same. One day you might be supporting a young person one to one in a school, the next delivering a group session in the community, speaking with parents, or helping professionals better understand the emotional wellbeing needs of the young people they support.

Youll hold a varied caseload and deliver evidence based interventions that genuinely make a difference. Youll work alongside families, schools and partner agencies to make sure young people get the right support at the right time, including helping them access more specialist services where needed.

Youll join a supportive, values led team that cares deeply about children, young people and each other, where collaboration, trust and new ideas are genuinely encouraged.

This is a role for someone who wants their work to matter.

Main duties of the job

You know that emotional wellbeing support is about more than ticking boxes. Its about helping young people feel safe enough to open up, understood enough to trust you, and supported enough to believe things can improve.

Youll need:

A relevant qualification in emotional wellbeing, youth work, psychology, counselling, social care or a related field

Experience supporting children and young people with emotional wellbeing, social or behavioural difficulties

Experience delivering emotional wellbeing or pastoral interventions

Knowledge of safeguarding, consent and emotional wellbeing needs affecting children & young people

Confidence managing a caseload and working independently across community & educational settings

Strong communication and relationship building skills with young people, families & professionals

Ability to assess, manage & escalate risk appropriately

Good organisational and IT skills, including maintaining accurate records

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to travel independently across the borough to meet the requirements of the role.

Experience within healthcare, education or multi agency settings, along with training in areas such as trauma informed practice or Youth Mental Health First Aid, would be welcomed, but aren't dealbreakers.

If youre someone who wants to help young people feel stronger, more confident and less alone when life gets difficult, this is the kind of work youll feel proud of.

About us

Compass is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. Established for over 30 years, Compass is a national charity which works in communities across the UK providing services spanning substance misuse treatment and rehabilitation, early interventions for vulnerable young people, school-aged health programmes and associated prevention as well as treatment and health promotion initiatives.

All Compass posts are subject to appropriate level DBS checks.

We positively encourage applications from all members of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age, or sexual orientation, and encourage applications from people who have experiences in life which enrich skills and empathy. This is part of our commitment to equality and developing a truly inclusive and representative workforce.

We are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments individuals may require in the recruitment process, on commencement, or once in post.

Benefits

We offer a range of benefits including:

• 27 days holiday + bank holidays, rising to 32 days over time (pro rata)
• Life assurance at 2 x basic salary
• Competitive contributory pension scheme
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and OH service
• Enhanced sick pay
• Excellent learning & development opportunities and career progression
• Annual salary review

Help us to make a positive change to the lives of children and young people!

Closing Date: 18th Sept Interview Date: 28th Sept #CompBe #LI-BE1

Details

Date posted

24 August 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£23,955 to £28,121 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

789

Job locations

Unit 15 Churchfield Court

Churchfield

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S70 2JT

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Some young people just need someone who gets it. Someone who listens properly, stays calm when things feel messy, and helps them find a way forward before things reach crisis point.

As an Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner within our amazing Barnsley Service, youll work directly with children and young people experiencing mild to moderate emotional health and wellbeing difficulties, helping them build confidence, resilience and healthier ways to cope with lifes challenges.

No two days look the same. One day you might be supporting a young person one to one in a school, the next delivering a group session in the community, speaking with parents, or helping professionals better understand the emotional wellbeing needs of the young people they support.

Youll hold a varied caseload and deliver evidence based interventions that genuinely make a difference. Youll work alongside families, schools and partner agencies to make sure young people get the right support at the right time, including helping them access more specialist services where needed.

Youll join a supportive, values led team that cares deeply about children, young people and each other, where collaboration, trust and new ideas are genuinely encouraged.

This is a role for someone who wants their work to matter.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Some young people just need someone who gets it. Someone who listens properly, stays calm when things feel messy, and helps them find a way forward before things reach crisis point.

As an Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner within our amazing Barnsley Service, youll work directly with children and young people experiencing mild to moderate emotional health and wellbeing difficulties, helping them build confidence, resilience and healthier ways to cope with lifes challenges.

No two days look the same. One day you might be supporting a young person one to one in a school, the next delivering a group session in the community, speaking with parents, or helping professionals better understand the emotional wellbeing needs of the young people they support.

Youll hold a varied caseload and deliver evidence based interventions that genuinely make a difference. Youll work alongside families, schools and partner agencies to make sure young people get the right support at the right time, including helping them access more specialist services where needed.

Youll join a supportive, values led team that cares deeply about children, young people and each other, where collaboration, trust and new ideas are genuinely encouraged.

This is a role for someone who wants their work to matter.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant qualification in emotional wellbeing, youth work, psychology, counselling or equivalent Level 4 qualification in Children, Young People, Families or Social Care

Desirable

• Further relevant degree qualification
• Teaching qualification.
• Formal training in Trauma, Mental Health Awareness or Youth Mental Health First Aid.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children and young people, their families and others.
• Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders.
• Experience of working with children and young people experiencing social, emotional, behavioural and emotional wellbeing difficulties, including the delivery of emotional health or pastoral wellbeing support.

Desirable

• Experience of working with children and their families in a healthcare setting.
• Experience of working with children and their families in an education setting.
• Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for childrens emotional wellbeing.
• Experience of navigating complex social systems and environments.
• Experience of working with looked after children.
• Experience of working with other vulnerable groups.
• Coaching and mentoring experience.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Knowledge of emotional health and wellbeing needs for children and young people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues.
• Knowledge of local services and community resources to support children and families and how to navigate and access these.
• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.
• Understanding of the development, emotional, social and educational needs of children and young people.
• Knowledge of local and national mental health provision.
• Knowledge of the Childrens Act and legislation pertinent to children.
• Ability to carry out one to one emotional health and wellbeing interventions with children and young people.
• Ability to deliver group wellbeing programmes.
• Ability to work within community settings to increase mental health awareness within staff groups.
• Ability to complete, record and communicate risk assessments appropriately.
• Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
• Ability to review plans regularly and respond appropriately to changes in need, including escalation of safeguarding concerns where required.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to manage a caseload.
• Excellent oral, written and listening communication skills.
• Ability to build rapport and trust with young people.
• Ability to model appropriate behaviours to colleagues, children, young people and families.
• Ability to set and maintain clear and appropriate boundaries.
• Willingness to undertake further learning and development where required.
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic and resilient approach.
• Patient, tolerant and sensitive approach.
• Ability to travel independently in line with the requirements of the role.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to fulfil the requirements of the role with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet business need.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the operation of specialist Children and Young Peoples Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing services.
• Ability to teach others about mental health issues.
• Ability to deliver therapeutic group interventions with children and families.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant qualification in emotional wellbeing, youth work, psychology, counselling or equivalent Level 4 qualification in Children, Young People, Families or Social Care

Desirable

• Further relevant degree qualification
• Teaching qualification.
• Formal training in Trauma, Mental Health Awareness or Youth Mental Health First Aid.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children and young people, their families and others.
• Experience of working and liaising with a wide variety of agencies and stakeholders.
• Experience of working with children and young people experiencing social, emotional, behavioural and emotional wellbeing difficulties, including the delivery of emotional health or pastoral wellbeing support.

Desirable

• Experience of working with children and their families in a healthcare setting.
• Experience of working with children and their families in an education setting.
• Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for childrens emotional wellbeing.
• Experience of navigating complex social systems and environments.
• Experience of working with looked after children.
• Experience of working with other vulnerable groups.
• Coaching and mentoring experience.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Knowledge of emotional health and wellbeing needs for children and young people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues.
• Knowledge of local services and community resources to support children and families and how to navigate and access these.
• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence.
• Understanding of the development, emotional, social and educational needs of children and young people.
• Knowledge of local and national mental health provision.
• Knowledge of the Childrens Act and legislation pertinent to children.
• Ability to carry out one to one emotional health and wellbeing interventions with children and young people.
• Ability to deliver group wellbeing programmes.
• Ability to work within community settings to increase mental health awareness within staff groups.
• Ability to complete, record and communicate risk assessments appropriately.
• Ability to take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
• Ability to review plans regularly and respond appropriately to changes in need, including escalation of safeguarding concerns where required.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to manage a caseload.
• Excellent oral, written and listening communication skills.
• Ability to build rapport and trust with young people.
• Ability to model appropriate behaviours to colleagues, children, young people and families.
• Ability to set and maintain clear and appropriate boundaries.
• Willingness to undertake further learning and development where required.
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic and resilient approach.
• Patient, tolerant and sensitive approach.
• Ability to travel independently in line with the requirements of the role.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to fulfil the requirements of the role with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet business need.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the operation of specialist Children and Young Peoples Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing services.
• Ability to teach others about mental health issues.
• Ability to deliver therapeutic group interventions with children and families.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Compass

Address

Unit 15 Churchfield Court

Churchfield

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S70 2JT

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.compass-uk.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Compass

Address

Unit 15 Churchfield Court

Churchfield

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S70 2JT

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.compass-uk.org/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Leader

Michelle

[email protected]

Details

Date posted

24 August 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£23,955 to £28,121 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

789

Job locations

Unit 15 Churchfield Court

Churchfield

Barnsley

South Yorkshire

S70 2JT

United Kingdom

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