Children Wellbeing Practitioner Trainee (Deaf CAMHS London)

South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust; Tooting; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health service provider in Tooting is seeking a trainee Child Wellbeing Practitioner. This fully funded role involves working with deaf children and their families, providing mental health support while pursuing a qualification through Sussex University. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and experience in mental health or education settings. The role offers extensive training and supervision to equip candidates for effective practice in this specialized area.

Benefits

Fully funded training course

Intensive supervision and on-the-job training

Qualifications

• Candidates need to evidence study ability at degree level.
• Experience of working within a mental health setting is preferred.
• Candidates will need to start work in January 2026.

Responsibilities

• Work autonomously and collaboratively with colleagues.
• Support therapeutic service to deaf children and young people.
• Conduct structured psychological assessments under supervision.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Ability to work cohesively within a team

Motivation to learn

Good organisational skills

Experience working with children

Education

Degree level study

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

This is a unique opportunity for a trainee Child Wellbeing Practitioner to work within National Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (ND CAMHS) – London team. The post holder will be working with deaf children with emotional/behavioural problems, their parents, schools, and other agencies in the community. This role would suit a deaf or hearing, BSL using and non-BSL using clinician.

The post is salaried and fully funded for a one-year qualification in Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing through Sussex University and NHS England. Further intensive supervision and on-the-job training will be provided by a Clinical Psychologist in a CWP Lead role.

Video link about CWP training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyEus6q7MnA

Requirements

• Strong communication skills
• The ability to work cohesively within a small team
• Motivation to learn and to be challenged
• The ability to use feedback and adapt accordingly
• Good organisational skills
• Experience of working within a mental health setting or school pastoral care
• Experience of working with children and an understanding of how to talk with them, particularly when communicating with deaf children and young people
• Commitment to using data and relevant measures to assess clinical outcomes

Candidates will be able to evidence ability to study at degree level. The course is available at 2 levels (a graduate and post‑graduate diploma). The minimum required qualification for the postgraduate diploma is a 2:2 degree. The minimum for the graduate diploma is A-levels at AAB‑BBB or to meet the eligibility for a contextual offer of BBB‑BBC. Please see the University of Sussex website for more information on contextual offers. Candidates will need to be ready to start work week commencing 5th January 2026. As the course fees are paid by NHS England, candidates will need to be eligible for 'home fees' for university study (please refer to the information on this link about fee status: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/tuition-fees/fee-status)

Candidates will need to be ready to start work in January 2026.

About the Trust

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust. We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to ‘outstanding’.

We are a small, and friendly team currently we have a 50-50 mix of deaf / hard of hearing and hearing staff based in Springfield University Hospital. We are part of the National Deaf CAMHS service and have strong links with our colleagues in the North, Southwest and Midlands regions of England and often come together for training, service development, research, and audit purposes.

Role and Responsibilities

• The successful candidate would be expected to work autonomously and collaboratively with both deaf and hearing colleagues, supporting a therapeutic service to deaf children and young people, and their families/carers, across Greater London and some of the Home Counties. The post holder will be based at Springfield University Hospital. As well as offering clinical appointments and attending meetings in Springfield Hospital, we offer appointments in the community in Greater London and some of the Home Counties, and also offer and attend online appointments and meetings. This role will appeal to someone who is deaf or hearing and has experience working with deaf children. Those wishing to gain experience and are unfamiliar working within this specialist area will have the opportunity to learn about deaf culture.
• This is a training role, where you will be enrolled in a graduate diploma or postgraduate diploma training course at the University of Sussex. This course will deliver the national curriculum for CWPs. You will attend all elements of the university‑based teaching activities and successfully progress through assessments, to work towards attaining an academic and professional qualification.
• For the remaining part of the week, you will work as a trainee in your service, using your newly developed skills. You will work within the limits of your experience and competence for your stage of training. You will be delivering brief, evidence‑based interventions and guided self‑help for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. You will receive high‑quality supervision and support throughout.
• The training and service experience will equip you with the necessary knowledge, attitude, and capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service.
• Under clinical supervision from a suitably qualified professional, the post holder is expected to undertake structured psychological assessments of clients, including self‑report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and assessment conversations with clients, family members and others involved in the clients’ care. To help in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems. To work collaboratively with relevant others to provide early intervention to children and young people, including to attend and contribute to multi‑disciplinary meetings.
• Teaching, training, and supervision: The post holder is expected to receive regular clinical supervision following professional practice guidelines. To develop skills and competencies that help in the delivery of current duties.
• The successful candidate would be expected to work in a variety of sites, including mainstream and specialist schools or across other community sites, or use virtual meeting technology. The work would be virtual and face to face and you would be expected to work with qualified and registered British Sign Language/English interpreters, deaf interpreters and/or spoken interpreters.
• The trainee CWP will work under the supervision of the qualified Clinical Psychologist, to support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service.
• The CWP trainee will be expected to work independently and with colleagues according to a Job Plan agreed with a Clinical Psychologist and within the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures and in agreement with Sussex University CWP programme.
• The post holder would be expected to have innovative, flexible, and adaptable approach to their work.
• All post holders would be expected to follow Trusts lone working and complete mandatory training. Travel is a requirement of the role so car driver with valid licence and insurance with business miles would be desirable.

Interview Process

Interview process will proceed through three stages: initial screen, short‑list and final interview with Clinical Psychologist or other members of the senior management or frontline health professionals. Candidate interviews.

Application Deadline

This advert closes on Sunday 30 Nov 2025.