​WORKING WITH USThe founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.
We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.
As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.
To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page. ​ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITYWe are looking for dedicated School Mental Health Practitioners to join the Harris Federation’s central mental health team and make a meaningful impact in secondary schools across London.
You will be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team led by our Lead Mental Health Practitioner, receiving regular clinical supervision and ongoing professional development and helping to shape the future of mental health support in education.
In this full-time role, you will deliver evidence-based, low-intensity mental health interventions to students aged 11–18 across up to three Harris secondary academies. You will work directly with students through 1:1 sessions, group work and whole-school wellbeing initiatives, helping to shape a culture of mental health awareness and support.
You will be based in schools for four days per week, primarily in South, South East and South West London, and occasionally in North London. Travel between schools is required. ​MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITYYour responsibilities will include:

Providing tailored 1:1 mental health and wellbeing support to students and their families
Facilitating small group interventions and psychoeducational sessions
Running drop-in sessions during break and lunch times for students experiencing mild to moderate distress
Collaborating with school staff to promote mental health awareness and training
Contributing to school-wide risk assessments and wellbeing strategies
Maintaining accurate records and report on outcomes using national standards
Sharing best practices and innovations across our network of schools
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWe welcome applications from:

Qualified Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) or Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners (CWPs)
Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) with experience working with children and young people
Early career practitioners eager to learn and grow in a supportive environment
Registered mental health professionals (BACP, BABCP, UKCP, HCPC) trained in delivering low-intensity interventions in school settings

Experience in NHS Mental Health Support Teams is advantageous.
For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack. ​APPLYING FOR THIS POSITIONIf you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.
Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.
When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.
A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.OUR VISION & VALUESOur vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.
We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.IMPORTANT INFORMATIONSafeguarding Notice
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Equal Opportunities
The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment. ​WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOUHarris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
Annual performance and loyalty bonus
Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.