Child And Adolescent Psychotherapist

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne And Wear Nhs Foundation Trust; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

The Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Band 7 ACP registered Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, 0.6 FTE, based in Sunderland CYPS. The role sits within the Mental Health Team, with collaboration across Together for Children and other CNTW sites.

You will join a fully integrated Children and Young People Service offering specialist assessment and intervention for 0–18 years and their families, including those with learning disabilities.

Qualifications

• Masters level pre-clinical training recognised by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP).
• Postgraduate training at doctorate level in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy (ACP accredited).
• Current UK professional registration and ACP registration maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Specialist assessment, care and treatment of infants, children and young people and their families as part of the service.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team and with multi-agency partners in Social Care and Education.
• Contribute to the Child Psychotherapy pathway within the service and provide supervision as required.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Supervision skills

Report writing

Clinical assessment

Education

Masters level ACP training

Doctoral level training in CAPsych

ACP registration maintenance

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Sunderland Children and Young People's Service (CYPS) for a 0.6 part time Band 7 ACP registered Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, to join our Mental Health Team. This incorporates work with children and young people who are cared for in partnership with Together for Children.

Our Children and Young People Services are fully integrated and provide specialist mental health assessment and intervention for children and young people 0-18 years and their families and carers, with complex and enduring mental health needs, including those young people with a learning disability.

The multi-disciplinary team works closely together with our multi-agency partners in Social Care and Education.

You would be part of the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Trust wide support structures.

The post is based at CYPS Monkwearmouth Hospital Sunderland, with some travel across the sites of the CNTW Trust.

Sunderland is a lively city and coastal area, in the North East of England with a rich history.

We would very much welcome your expressions of interest and application.

Main duties of the job

You would be employed as a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist within the multidisciplinary team and would be involved in the specialist assessment, care and treatment of infants, children and young people as part of their family. This would be an integral part of the Child Psychotherapy pathway into the service.

Your work would also be with families and carers; and in partnership with our multi-agency partners.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 2nd October 2026

Closing date : 18th October 2026

We welcome your application.

Person Specification

Education and Qualification

• Masters level pre- clinical training at a training school / institution recognised by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) and Post graduate training at doctorate level in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at a training school accredited by the ACP.


• Maintenance of ACP registration.

Knowledge and Experience

• Substantial experience of working within an NHS Children and Young People's Mental Health and Learning Disability Service.


• Advanced knowledge and skills in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and its effective application to the mental health problems of children and adolescents with complex disorders and diagnoses including pervasive and severe emotional and psychological difficulties.


• Experience of working regularly and intensively with children and young people and their family/ carers.

Skills and Competencies

• Communication and relationship skills at the highest level in situations where complex formulations need to be considered.


• Analytic and judgement skills in processing the great complexity of information arising from clinical work. Skill in formulation and forming care plans.


• Advanced skill in supervision. An ability to deliver regular supervision to a range of professionals.


• Highly developed skills in providing consultation to other professionals.


• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.


• Sufficient knowledge of other modalities to engage appropriately with colleagues and their work and clients.


• Masters or Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology consistent with psychoanalytic work.


• Well-developed skills to communicate effectively, orally and in writing at an age appropriate level (including use of play, drawing etc) complex, highly technical and / or clinically sensitive information to adults, children, young people, their families, carers and professionals within and out with the NHS including reports for court.


• Knowledge of child development/ mental health issues.


• Ability to work with people from culturally diverse communities in a variety of contexts including highly specialist skills for working therapeutically in family homes.


• Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and ethical issues, and their implication for both clinical practice and professional management to the full range of client groups.


• Skills in flexibility planning and organising own working week, prioritising case load, balancing clinical sessions appropriately with other workload.


• Physical skill in using key board, audio/ visual equipment, car driving.


• Basic IT skills.


• Ability to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals in accordance with professional ethics guidelines and Trust policies.


• Ability to manage working in situations of multi-level stress e.g. clients experience of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, organisational transitions.


• Ability to move between different levels of context in a single day, switching between clinical work, supervision, consultation, teaching, strategic thinking and planning and able to conceptualise at the highest level in order to assist colleagues who are experts in their particular field.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).