Job Summary
We are recruiting for an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Trainee Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner, as part of the Health Education England (HEE) funded programme in partnership with the Anna Freud Centre, University College London. The post-holder will be training on the Children & Young People Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) CWP course and carrying out clinical work in our service within the paediatric division to complement their studies and use their newly developed skills. This is a training role within the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme (CYP IAPT). The post-holder will work within our Psychological Medicine service within the paediatric division delivering, under supervision, high-quality; brief outcome focused evidence-based interventions and guided self-help for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The training and service experience will equip the post holder with the necessary knowledge, attitude and capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service. The post holder will attend all university based taught and self-study days required by the education provider, as specified within the agreed national curriculum and work in the service for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills.
Main duties of the job
1.1. Assess and deliver, under supervision outcome focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
1.2. Working in partnership, support children, young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and their families in the self-management of presenting difficulties and development of plans for the intervention and agreed outcomes.
1.3. Undertakes accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
1.4. Through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes beyond scope, or more severe ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.
1.5. Provide a range of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help. This work may be face-to-face, by telephone or via other media.
1.6. Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or CYP in treatment, where appropriate.
1.7. Keep coherent records of all activity in line with service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making. Complete all requirements relating to data collection.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential
- Evidence of working with children and young people with mental health difficulties.
- A minimum of 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)
Desirable
- Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a specific psychological therapy
- Psychology or other health /social care/youth related undergraduate degree
- Other relevant postgraduate degree
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of working with children and young people with mental health difficulties
Desirable
- Experience of working in mental health or related services
- Worked in a service where agreed targets in place to demonstrating outcomes
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to study as a self-motivated learner and implement training with appropriate support
- Demonstrates high standards in written and verbal communication
- Team Player
- Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload.
Desirable
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
- Is proficient in a second language
Communication
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- An ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers, and colleagues.
Personal and People Development
Essential
- Ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Flexible, creative and problem-solving approach.
- Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team.
Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:
Essential
- Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
- Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control.
- Including infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal
- Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 05 November 2025
