Mental Health Youth Worker - Education

Vacancy Information

Hourly rate of pay: £17.72 - £19.19

Days and Hours of Work:
Monday - Friday, 08:30-16:30
Starting and finishing times are flexible, and flexi time is applicable.
To start asap.

East Lothian advocates a holistic approach to good mental health and wellbeing. This aspiration requires a fully committed partnership approach, which recognises that improving mental health and wellbeing is everyone’s business. We are committed to delivering a staged model of mental health and wellbeing that reflects the age and needs of children, young people and their families. This model aims to improve integration, co-ordination and delivery of community based mental health and wellbeing support and to offer a consistent level of support and interventions across East Lothian. A key part of this model is the deployment of Mental Health Youth Workers across each school cluster. We are looking for an individual who is highly motivated and dynamic who can work as a Mental Health Youth Worker as part of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

The role of the Mental Health Youth Worker will be to:

• To raise awareness and understanding of mental health and wellbeing within the associated schools group;
• To build capacity in pupils and staff to manage mental health and wellbeing;
• To coordinate and signpost pupil access to both universal and targeted support;
• To deliver targeted interventions to pupils requiring additional support.

We are looking for someone that has the passion and commitment to drive forward improvements in the way we support mental health and wellbeing in our children and young people. You will need the skills and experience to work with others to raise awareness and understanding of mental health and wellbeing and the importance of prevention and early intervention. You should be able to facilitate and provide opportunities for professional development and have the skills to work with others to deliver 1:1 and group interventions (such as LIAM, Brief Behavioural Activation, Seasons for Growth).

You must be educated to HNC/SVQ Level 3 in Community Education/Mental Health or hold a recognised Youth Work qualification at this level with previous experience of working with children & young people, including collaborative working with parents, schools and other professionals, in educational settings and supporting mental health and wellbeing.

Further information regarding this post can be found on the job outline.

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 11th March 2026 or Thursday 12th March 2026.

Job Details

To provide evidence based interventions to children and young people directly for a wide range of mental health difficulties. These will be provided on a 1:1 basis and via group work.

To support schools to manage and meet the mental health needs of their pupils at both Universal and Additional Level using a combination of direct intervention, advice and guidance.

To triage, formulate and allocate incoming requests for assistance into East Lothian Council’s Single Point of Access.

To aid in the management of more severe cases where there is heightened risk such as from self-harm or suicidal ideation.

Please download the Job Outline/Person Specification (available under 'Job Attachments') for the full range of tasks and duties associated with this job. You will need to refer to these in order to complete the application form. You must ensure you meet every 'essential' criteria stated on the Person Specification to be considered for interview.

The ‘East Lothian Way’– values and behaviours we expect our employees to demonstrate in their everyday work. Should you be invited to interview, you may be asked questions based on these behaviours. Please refer to the document via the link to familiarise yourself with them.

Job Requirements

Relevant Qualifications
Educated to HNC/SVQ Level 3 in Community Education/Mental Health or hold a recognised Youth Work qualification at this level.

Commitment to undertake in-house training.

Driving Licence
As the duties of this role require you to effectively travel to successfully undertake the full remit of the role, you must hold a current driving licence and have access to a vehicle.*
(*Where a disability precludes you from obtaining a driving licence, ELC will take into account its responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to allow for your disability.)

PVG Membership
This post is considered as a Regulated Role with vulnerable children and/or protected adults, as specified in the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.

All preferred candidates for posts carrying out regulated work with these groups will be required to become a PVG Scheme member, or undergo a PVG Scheme update if they are already a member, prior to any formal offer of employment being made by East Lothian Council.

Please note: PVG member’s records are constantly updated with any new vetting information that arises. Any information that is disclosed on a PVG membership or update check, if relevant to the post being applied for, will be discussed with the applicant and investigated prior to any formal offer being made.

Please note:
If you have spent more than 3 months working or living outwith the UK in the last 5 years then you will be required to present a copy of an overseas criminal record check. Details of how to apply and contact details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Additional Information

For additional East Lothian Council employment information please click on the following link: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/nonteachinginfo

If you have any difficulties creating an account on MyJobScotland or applying for this post please contact the MyJobScotland support team via this link https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/contact-us.

If you require further information about this vacancy, please call 01620 827868, or email us on recruitment@eastlothian.gov.uk

Please note: We do not accept CV's (either electronically or by mail). All our vacancies must be applied for by fully completing the on-line application form. Although there is an ‘import data from my CV’ function on MyJobScotland, this only imports very limited data and should not be relied upon to complete the application form. If, for example, due to a disability, you are unable to complete the on-line application form you can contact us for a paper application via the telephone number or email address above.