Trainee Parenting Therapist

Early Years Alliance; Lewisham; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

8 bank holidays

Pension scheme

Birthday leave

Learning & development opportunities

Recruitment referral payment up to £ -

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Mental health First Aider

Job summary

Early Years Alliance (EYA) is recruiting CYP-PT Therapies Trainees (Parenting Modality) in Lewisham, SE London, as part of the NHSE funded CYP Psychological Training Programme. The role blends academic learning with practical clinical interventions for children, young people and families.

You will base at Eliot Bank Family Hub in Lewisham and travel weekly to Kings College London for teaching. The training year includes DBS checks, 35 hours per week and a fixed-term contract until December 2027.

Qualifications

• Must have capacity to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level.
• Second-class Bachelor’s Degree from a UK university or equivalent in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work).
• Training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, health visiting; social-work, OT, SLT, psychiatry, counselling).

Responsibilities

• Apply learning from weekly teaching at Kings College London into practical clinical interventions.
• Travel to the Denmark Hill Campus of King’s College London for teaching during each training week.

Skills

Postgraduate diploma level

Mental-health training

Education

Second-class Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Job description

About The Role

Early Years Alliance (EYA) has an exciting opportunity for CYP-PT Therapies Trainees (Parenting Modality) to join our Parenting Service team based in Lewisham, SE London, as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programme (formerly CYP-IAPT/Recruit to Train).

This is a unique opportunity to apply your learning from weekly teaching at Kings College London into practical clinical interventions by working in the EYA service making a direct impact in the lives of children, young people and their families.

The position will be based at the Early Years Alliance CYP-PT Parenting Service base at Eliot Bank Family Hub, Thorpewood Avenue, London SE26 4BU but successful candidates will also be expected to travel to the Denmark Hill Campus of King’s College London for teaching during each week of 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

What are we looking for?

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 Guidelines recommended treatment.

You are required to have qualifications that demonstrate a capacity to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level, and as a minimum a second-class Bachelor’s Degree from a UK University or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc). You should also have had 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, other psychotherapy, counselling).

NOTE: Applicants who do not fulfil the academic criteria but with relevant professional experience are encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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 job description, person specification, and additional documents linked below for more information on the role.

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part time employees
• Additional annual leave for long service
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Employer and employee contribution pension scheme
• Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being
• Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities
• A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
• Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
• A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well being

This post is fixed term until December 2027

Hours per week: 35

Weeks per year: 52

Advert Closing date: 12 noon on 4th October 2026

Virtual interview date: 26th and 27th OCtober 2026

Interview Location: In person, Lewisham. Exact venue to be determined

This post is not exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them. The level of this check is enhanced.

About The Service

The Alliance is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation.

The charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and equal opportunities in employment.