CAMHS Practitioner CYP-PT Therapies Trainee {Systemic Family Practice}

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a CAMHS Practitioner CYP-PT Therapies Trainee (Systemic Family Practice) to join the NHSE-funded CYP Psychological Training Programme. The post supports practical clinical work while completing a PG diploma at King’s College London, with teaching across sites.

The role offers supervised practice within Harrow CAMHS – Ash Tree Clinic, with travel to Denmark Hill Campus for teaching during the training year.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate diploma-level academic capacity evidenced by a UK university qualification or overseas equivalent.
• A registerable professional qualification (e.g. psychology, social work, counselling, therapy).
• Experience or readiness for CAMHS or equivalent setting is expected.

Responsibilities

• Assess referrals for suitability for the treatment modality provided in training.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions in line with training.
• Involve the system around the child (parents/carers, school) and communicate formulations clearly.
• Attend multidisciplinary meetings and maintain accurate records in line with governance.
• Keep up-to-date with professional standards and contribute to service development.
• Attend supervision and complete the PG diploma as part of the CYP-PT Therapies training.

Skills

Effective communication

Teamwork

Data/documentation skills

Sensitivity to children and families

Education

Bachelor's degree (2:1/2:2) or above

Registerable professional qualification

Job description

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Experience

Essential criteria

Job Overview

CAMHS Practitioner CYP-PT Therapies Trainee {Systemic Family Practice} Our service has an exciting opportunity for a CYP-PT Therapies Trainee {Systemic Family Practice} to join our team as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programmes (formerly CYP-IAPT/Recruit to Train). CYP-PT Therapies is a government-funded initiative aiming to grow the child mental health workforce to meet much needed demand. To help reach this goal, NHSE covers salary and training costs for a 1-year post, allowing services to employ trainees to aid in implementing new or expanding existing specialist pathways to bridge the gaps in CYP mental health support. This is a unique opportunity to apply your learning from weekly teaching into practical clinical interventions working with clients in the service making a direct impact in the lives of children, young people and their families. Please note: The position will be based Harrow CAMHS – Ash Tree Clinic, but successful candidates will be expected to travel to Denmark Hill Campus of King’s College London for teaching during the training year. More information about the course content and the different modalities can be found on the King’s CYP webpage: https://www.kings-cyp.com/page/recruit-to-train

Main duties of the job

We are seeking highly motivated candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children’s mental health through evidence-based interventions based on NICE Guideline recommended treatment. You will be committed to the CYP Psychological Training Programme core principles: Accessibility, accountability, participation, awareness and evidence-based practice and in providing an inclusive and effective service for children and young people, along with a dedication to equity, diversity and inclusion. Please review the additional documents for more information on the role, person specification other employment documents. As you also apply for a training course that is delivered by Kings College London, your data may be shared with them for the purpose of processing your application (shortlisting) and enrolling you onto this Programme.

Working for our organisation

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is a large and well-established NHS trust committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate and person-centred care. We are proud of our inclusive culture, commitment to staff wellbeing, and strong focus on learning, innovation and professional development. Harrow CAMHS serves one of London's most culturally diverse boroughs, providing staff with the opportunity to work alongside children, young people and families from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. This diversity enriches clinical practice, promotes culturally responsive care, and offers valuable learning opportunities for developing practitioners. As a CAMHS Practitioner CYP-PT Therapies Trainee (Systemic Family Practice), you will join a welcoming and supportive multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving outcomes for children, young people and their families. Through this NHSE-funded training opportunity, you will receive high-quality supervision, protected learning and experience across a range of CAMHS pathways, while developing specialist systemic skills within a service that values collaboration, reflective practice and continuous improvement. At CNWL, we are committed to helping our staff grow and thrive, offering opportunities to develop professionally while making a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Clinical

• With the assistance of their clinical supervisor accept appropriate referrals;
• Assess clients for suitability for the treatment for which modality specific training is provided;
• Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the department’s referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary;
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapeutic intervention for clients in line with their training modality and experience;
• Involve the system around the child in treatment as appropriate, e.g. parent/carer, school, conveying therapy formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language;
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate;
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service;
• Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols;
• Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.

Training & Supervision

• Fulfilling the requirements of and completing a PG diploma at UCL/Anna Freud including practical, academic, and practice-based assessments, alongside private study;
• Apply learning from the training programme in practice;
• Prepare and present clinical information for all patients on their caseload to clinical and case management supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the clinical governance obligations of the worker, supervisor and service are delivered.

Professional

• Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g., BPS, HCPC, BABCP), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health;
• Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times and comply with data management systems and processes including submissions to the training provider;
• Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of care pathway;
• Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development;
• Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager;
• Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives;
• Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments;
• Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

General

• To contribute to the development of best practice within the service;
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to children’s mental health and social care needs;
• All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public;
• All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the GDPR and Security and Confidentiality Policies;
• It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

This job description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the post, and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to the pay band. The post may change over time to reflect the developing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as the personal development of the post holder.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Qualifications that demonstrate a capacity to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level, i.e.: Normally a minimum of a second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant academic subject (e.g. Psychology, Education, Childhood development, Social Work etc)
• AND a registerable professional qualification (e.g. as a counselling/clinical/educational psychologist, social worker, counsellor (three year minimum training, full BACP accredited membership (MBACP Accred) and experience in the public or voluntary sector), mental health nurse, occupational therapist, art / music therapist*
• *Applications MAY be considered from those who do not have a registerable professional training if they have at least 3 years’ experience in a CAMHS or equivalent setting and can demonstrate equivalence through the RPL (recognition of prior learning) process

Desirable criteria

• Previous training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, health visiting, social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychiatry, psychotherapy, counselling, CWP, EMHP and low intensity therapies).

Experience

• Experience of multi-agency and/or multidisciplinary working and liaising across internal and external agencies
• Experience of working with children / young people in a mental health setting
• Experience of working with safeguarding issues

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with children, young people and their families, whilst considering social differences.
• Ability to personally manage sensitive and potentially emotionally distressing caseload material.
• Ability to follow policy and clinical governance procedures and make proposals for change
• Ability to maintain accurate records
• Ability to complete academic work across different learning environments at postgraduate level and balance the academic demands of the course with clinical placement demands.
• Demonstrates adaptability and able to work with diverse communities.
• Good time management and organisational abilities.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• IT/Computer literate.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of systemic theory and its application.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences good clinical practice.