Home > Children, Young People and Families Mental Health Worker (Waiting Well Programme) x 2 – Supporting Smiles

Children, Young People and Families Mental Health Worker (Waiting Well Programme) x 2 - Supporting Smiles

The salary for this post is £27,666 per annum, based on 37.5 hours per week. 

This is a full-time, 12-month fixed term position. 

Location: Norwich Hub with hybrid working available. The role will initially involve a higher level of office-based working, with flexibility to work from home thereafter, depending on individual needs and service requirements. 

Are you passionate about improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people? Do you want to be part of an innovative new programme designed to ensure children, young people and families receive meaningful support while waiting for therapeutic intervention?

Supporting Smiles is excited to recruit two Children, Young People and Families Mental Health Workers to join our newly established Waiting Well Programme.

This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape an exciting service focused on improving the experience of children, young people and families whilst they wait for specialist mental health support. The Waiting Well Programme has been developed to provide proactive, strengths-based support that promotes wellbeing, builds resilience, improves engagement and ensures children and families feel supported throughout their journey.

Working alongside our multidisciplinary team, you will provide structured wellbeing contacts, deliver Single Session Intervention (SSI)-informed conversations, offer psychoeducation, signpost to appropriate services and support children, young people and families to identify practical steps that improve their wellbeing whilst awaiting treatment. You will also play an important role in identifying changes in need, supporting safer waiting and escalating any safeguarding or clinical concerns appropriately.

Our Supporting Smiles service delivers evidence-based mental health support for children and young people across Norfolk and Waveney through both our Therapeutic Pathway for 4–13-year-olds and our Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner service for 5–18-year-olds. We are committed to providing accessible, child-centred support that responds to the individual needs of every family.

As part of Norfolk & Waveney’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Alliance, we work collaboratively with partners including The Benjamin Foundation, Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk County Council and Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust to deliver integrated, THRIVE-informed support across the Getting Advice, Getting Help, Getting More Help and Risk Support pathways.

We’re looking for people who:

• Have experience working with children, young people and families.
• Are passionate about promoting positive emotional wellbeing.
• Can build trusting relationships and communicate effectively with children, young people and professionals.
• Understand safeguarding and recognise when concerns need escalating.
• Enjoy working creatively, independently and as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team.
• Are committed to delivering compassionate, strengths-based and person-centred support.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Supporting Smiles at a time of significant service development. You’ll receive regular supervision, opportunities for continued professional development and the chance to help shape an innovative model that aims to improve outcomes, reduce non-attendance and ensure every contact with a child or young person is meaningful.

If you are motivated by making a real difference and want to be part of a service that is committed to innovation, collaboration and improving children’s mental health, we would love to hear from you.

To apply, please click on the apply online button.

Closing date for applications:  9am, Friday 21st August 2026

Safeguarding and DBS requirements: 

Ormiston Families is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and all relevant safer recruitment checks.

We are an equal opportunities employer and value diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.