CYP-Psychological Therapy Trainee/Infant-EYS Practitioner(0-2)modality

East London NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is offering a full-time Therapy Trainee position to support infants and young children’s mental health. The role involves training under the Children & Young People Mental Health Practitioner program, where candidates will work in the Early Years Services while pursuing academic qualifications alongside practical experience. Ideal applicants should manage busy schedules and demonstrate cultural competency.

Qualifications

• Able to complete academic work at postgraduate level.
• Prepared to work outside protected study time.
• Willing to travel to London for lectures.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based practices while training.
• Manage a training case load with infants and parents.
• Commit to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Skills

Ability to manage a busy schedule

Cultural competency

Professional autonomy

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes portfolio

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at East London NHS Foundation Trust. Our service has an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Training: Therapy Trainee – Infant and Early Years Practitioner to join one of our central CAMHS teams as part of the National Health Service England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programmes.

This government funded initiative promotes the growth and skill of the child mental health workforce to meet much needed demand. NHSE covers salary and training costs for a 1-year position, allowing services to employ trainees to support specialist pathways to bridge the gaps in CYP mental health support.

The post-holders will be training on the Children & Young People Mental Health (CYP-MH) Infant and Early Years Practitioner in partnership with the Anna Freud Centre and University College London, and carrying out clinical work in our service to complement their studies and use their newly developed skills.

The Infant Early Years Practitioner (IEYP) training provides practitioners with a comprehensive skill set to assess, formulate and treat infants and young children and their caregivers who are experiencing common mental health and relationship difficulties. The course not only amplifies core competencies but also unveils avenues to advanced training and registration as a healthcare professional using the latest evidence-based approaches as recommended by NICE and Healthy Child Programme and CYP Psychological Training core principles of accessibility, accountability, participation, awareness and evidence-based practice to provide an inclusive and effective service for children and young people in Luton.

The post is based within North Bedfordshire Specialist CAMHS service and the successful candidate will be based in the Early Years Service, within the CAS pathway, providing evidence-based practices whilst undertaking a program of training for this role. The teams are part of a broader North and South Bedfordshire CAMHS county-wide service and work alongside other teams which offer specialist and highly specialist mental health support to children and families.

Responsibilities

• Work in the Early Years Service within the CAS pathway, providing evidence-based practices while training.
• Hold an appropriate training case load for the course and work with infants and parents with different cultural backgrounds and developmental needs, using interpreters when necessary.
• Commit to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Maintain a high degree of professional autonomy and self-management; account for professional practice through appraisal and audit.
• Be available for a fixed-term, NHSE-funded training post; after successful completion, the fixed-term contract ends and opportunities for vacant posts may be explored with support and advice.

Qualifications and requirements

• Applicants should be in a role suited to the Infant and Early Years Practitioner training; able to balance a very busy work and study schedule.
• Be able to complete academic work at postgraduate level; typically demonstrated by undergraduate degree or equivalent, or via Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes portfolio in place of prior qualifications.
• Willing to travel to London to attend lectures; protected study time and teaching days typically two days a week during term with potential extra university days near start.
• Prepared to work outside protected study time (such as weekends and after work).

Training information

• This full-time training will begin on 19 January 2026.
• The post holder will work in the service for at least 2.5–3.0 days per week using newly developed skills while training for remaining days (Mon and Tue for study; Wed–Fri for work).
• Trainees will be employed by the service and enrolled as students with UCL/Anna Freud. Upon completion, qualified trainees will receive a UCL Postgraduate Diploma.
• As the course is a Postgraduate Diploma, evidence of meeting academic requirements is required; NHS England supports widening access to training opportunities via alternative demonstration of capabilities.

Contract details

• These are fixed-term (yearly) training posts funded by NHSE. Upon successful completion of the course, the fixed-term training contract ends. When possible, applicants will be encouraged to apply for vacant posts within the service, with guidance provided for job applications.

Application process

• This is a dual application process. In addition to applying for this position with ELFT, you must also complete a UCL application for the Course Team to review. The Course Team will liaise with us on whether you meet the academic requirements for the course during the recruitment process. You will only be offered a UCL training place if you are successful in securing this post and you meet the university training requirements.
• Direct UCL application link: https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login_enc?0qhYzuG1h9udTFM8i9sPhtGiUgIR6D6iP0QBDHq24aUE7Anl4FtDGBDmc3LlBtzaVi6cWmaNYWo=
• Application guidance document for candidates: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17bbinRzAlIfH8SKe3t18I2m14L7sli5e?usp=drive_link
• For more information about the course and minimum entry criteria, see the course page and brochures: https://www.annafreud.org/ucl-postgraduate-study/ucl-postgraduate-programmes/child-and-young-person-iapt-therapy-pg-dip/

This advert closes on Saturday 8 Nov 2025