About this role
Job summary
Mental Health Practitioner Trainee- Infant and Early Years Practitioner Parent-Infant (IEYP - PI).
This is a 1-year fixed term contract.The successful candidate must be able to start the post on 11th January 2027.
Step2 is an Early Intervention Child and Young People's Mental Health Service working towards improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people in Hertfordshire.
We have an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Trainings: Therapy Trainee (IEYP) to join our team as part of the NHS 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. This is a unique opportunity to apply your learning from weekly teaching into practical clinical interventions working with clients in the service making a direct impact in the lives of children, young people and their families.
*Proposed interview date: 24th September 2026*
Main duties of the job
Course start date: 18th January 2027.
The post holder will be expected to have 2.5 days a week for academic work (teaching and personal study) and 2.5 days based at the service seeing clients (children, young people, and carers) related to training assignments.
Information about the course content and the different modalities can be found on the Anna Freud webpage: https://www.annafreud.org/ucl-postgraduate-study/ucl-postgraduate-programmes/child-and-young-person-iapt-therapy-pg-dip/
For full details see the attached documents: Job Description & Person Specification, Full advert and UCL CYP PT Therapy - Application Guidance for Candidates .
This is a dual application process. You must also complete a UCL application for the Course Team to review.You will only be offered a UCL training place if you are successful in securing this post and you meet the university training requirements.
Candidates who have not applied to the university by the closing date of this advert will not be eligible for offer of an interview.
Online applications for the UCL training are made on the UCL application portal via the following link:https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login_enc?0qhYzuG1h9udTFM8i9sPhtGiUgIR6D6iP0QBDHq24aUE7Anl4FtDGBDmc3LlBtzaLnpmgGfEEG0=
This vacancy will close early if we receive a high volume of applications.
About us
A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.
You'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff.
We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities.
Our staff are proud to be Pioneering, Caring and Inclusive in their work to help achieve the Trust vision.
We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds.
We don't want you to miss out so we'd like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible -Apply now.
You can apply to Access to Work to get money for communication support at a job interview - please use this link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-communication-support-at-a-job-interview-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-access-to-work
The use of AI is monitored and if you have used it then you are required to declare this, as well as what type of AI tools you have used and for what purpose. We reserve the right to further test your individual knowledge and skills in relation to the requirements for the post through robust and thorough interview and assessment.
Job description Job responsibilities
We will communicate any interview arrangements with applicants via e-mail so it is advisable that you check the email address you give on your application on a regular basis.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band. All new appointments (excluding Medical & Dental roles) are subject to a 13 week probation period.
We are proud to be an armed forces friendly employer and support the employment of the armed forces community, including veterans, spouses and partners. For more information, [email protected]
Staff are required to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use with business insurance (unless the member of staff has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
HCT will prioritise recruitment of workers living in England under the new immigration rules for care workers effective from 9 April 2025. Employers must first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This ensures that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Minimum second-class Bachelor's Degree or equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc.) Applicants who do not fulfil the academic criteria but have relevant professional experience are still encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Qualification in a relevant field such as early years child development; parenting; play therapy.
Desirable
Previous 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, psychotherapy, counselling) Ability to study and complete academic work at postgraduate study level. Proven record of previous academic attainment.
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of the importance of the 0-5 years on development and mental wellbeing and understanding of the range of factors that can impact 0-5 developmental and emotional wellbeing. Knowledge of 0-5s services (e.g. health visiting, early help and the need for holistic approaches). Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to the safeguarding of very young children.
Desirable
Knowledge and understanding of theory in relation to early child development.
Experience Essential
Two or more years of experience working with the development and wellbeing of children and young children aged 0-5 and their families. Experience of multi-agency working and liaising across internal & external agencies. Experience of working within a professional setting concerned with the mental health, development and wellbeing of infants aged 0-5.
Desirable
Experience of working with safeguarding issues.
Skills & Abilities Essential
Ability to adopt an observational stance, particularly relating to babies and very young children. Ability to reflect on the connection of own experiences of parenting/being parented. Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with young children and their carers Ability to personally manage sensitive and potentially emotionally distressing caseload material Ability to reflect on own practice (in clinical supervision and practice tutor groups with course peers); Proficient IT skills and the ability to learn the electronic patient record system 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 Able to meet travel demands associated with the role. Ability to be flexible and respond to rapid changes.
Desirable
Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice with children aged 0-5.
Personal Qualities Essential
Strong desire to work with children aged 0-5. Strong interest in developing knowledge of assessment and intervention of the emotional wellbeing of children in their first 60 months of life. Motivated to learn and be challenged. Capacity to work well in teams. Application to UCL for this course has been submitted. Act appropriately within general health, organisational and other occupational policies. Willingness to uphold the Trust's values.
Extra Essential
Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). Eligible to live and work in the UK.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship 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).
Employer details Employer name Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Address Starfish House
3 North Road
Stevenage
SG1 4AT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.hct.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)