CYP-PT: Therapy Trainee [ASC-LD]

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider in London seeks a Therapy Trainee to work with children and young people as part of their training programme. This role includes providing evidence-based interventions, working alongside academic studies, and engaging with diverse communities. Candidates should have a strong educational background and relevant training in mental health. The position offers a salary range of £44,485 to £52,521 per annum with a one-year fixed-term contract.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have substantial experience working in children's mental health.
• Ability to study and perform at postgraduate academic level.
• Knowledge of Autism and Learning Disabilities essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide interventions for children, young people or families using evidence-based practices.
• Carry out clinical work to complement academic studies.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Flexibility and creativity in engagement

Effective time management

Oral and written communication

Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team

Reflective practice

Education

Minimum second-class Bachelor's Degree

Previous training in a mental-health related profession

Job description

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

CYP-PT: Therapy Trainee [ASC-LD]

The closing date is 21 October 2025

Our service has an exciting opportunity to join our team as a CYP-PT: Therapy Trainee [ASC-LD], part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded programme in partnership with The Anna Freud Centre, University College London, and Kings College London. The post-holder will be training on the Children & Young People Mental Health (CYP-MH/CYP IAPT) Therapy Course and carrying out clinical work in our service to complement their studies and use their newly developed skills. We are seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic mental health practitioners to work and train within our service.

The training post will equip the post-holder to provide interventions for children, young people or families using evidence-based intervention consistent with the course they are attending. The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Main duties of the job

This is a fixed term post with this training year funded by NHSE. After successful completion of the course the fixed term training contract will end however applicants would be encouraged to apply for any vacant posts within the service.

This role will be best suited for applicants that are able to balance a very busy work and study schedule. You will be an employee at the service but also enrolled on a Postgraduate Diploma course. You will be required to study and perform at PG academic level. Applicants must be prepared to work towards their studies outside of protected study time.

Protected study time or teaching days are typically two days a week during term and will be a mixture of in person and online sessions. Applicants must be willing to travel into London to attend their lectures.

More information about the courses and how the training works can be found on the AFC website and UCL website, including the course brochures. We strongly recommend you read the FAQs.

NHSE have implemented a rule regarding beneficiaries of their training year funding - this affects candidates who have been on one of the courses listed on the NHSE website from 1st August 2022.

Applicants must be willing to travel by car or public transport to different education settings in the borough of Brent/Harrow to carry out therapeutic work and develop working relationships with stakeholders.

About us

To find out more about working in CAMHS, please visit our website for one of our CAMHS videos.

The post holder will be expected to support their team, department, and organisation to achieve the Trust's Values in their day to day work.

Job responsibilities

Job description and person specification are available.

This is a training position and so all candidates will need to apply for both the trainee role with our organisation and the UCL Post Graduate Diploma in order to be shortlisted. For more information about the course and minimum entry criteria, please see the course page and brochures that can be found on the AFC website and UCL website.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Minimum second-class Bachelor's Degree or equivalent standard in a relevant subject.
• Previous training in a mental-health related profession.
• Ability to study and complete academic work at postgraduate study level.
• Proven record of previous academic attainment.

Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of the key features and symptoms associated with Autism and/or Learning Disabilities.
• Knowledge and understanding of the unique challenges for Autistic/LD children and young people and their families.
• Awareness and understanding of the significantly increased risk of co-morbid mental health challenges and other neuro-developmental challenges within the Autistic population.
• Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding children.
• Knowledge of the MDT approach and collaborative working with other agencies to ensure the needs of Autistic/LD children and young people are understood and effectively met.

Experience

• Substantial experience working within a children and young people's mental health setting.
• Clinical competence and experience working with Autistic and/or LD individuals.
• Previous experience of working with safeguarding issues.
• Experience of working as part of the multi-disciplinary team with children and young people with Autism and/or LD and their families.

Personal Qualities

• Motivated to learn and be challenged.
• Capacity to work well in teams.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to have a flexible and creative approach to facilitating engagement with Autistic and/or LD children and young people.
• Ability to adapt methods of communication and intervention for the varying needs and levels of the children and young people's Autistic and/or LD population.
• Ability to maintain a reflective stance in emotive/challenging interactions with children and their carers.
• Ability to personally manage sensitive and potentially emotionally distressing caseload material.
• Ability to reflect on own practice.
• Ability to follow policy and clinical governance procedures and make proposals for change.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to complete academic work 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.
• Able to accommodate travel demands associated with the role.
• Ability to adopt multi-agency working, especially in relation to complex cases with multiple needs, where a more systemic approach is required.
• Ability to advocate for the needs of children and young people with Autism and/or LD and their families.
• Ability to maintain an observational stance, particularly in relation to children and young people with Autism and/or LD who do not express themselves verbally.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ash Tree Clinic / Monks Park Health Centre

Salary: £44,485 to £52,521 a year per annum incl. HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

1 year

Working pattern

Reference number

333-G-CA-1607

Job locations

Ash Tree Clinic / Monks Park Health Centre