CBT Trainee @ CHUMS

Job summary

CHUMS has an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Therapies CBT Trainee placement as part of NHS England (NHSE) funding.

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 develop 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 an experienced organisation making a direct impact in the lives of children, young people and their families.

We are seeking highly motivated and clinically experienced candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children and young peoples mental health through evidence-based interventions based on NICE Guideline recommended treatment. You will have a registerable professional qualification in a relevant subject with experience working with children, young people and their families in a mental health setting. Please see the job description and specification for more details.

Please note: The position will be part of the Milton Keynes Wellbeing service and will therefore require community working in Milton Keynes. The trainee will aslo expected to travel to London for teaching during the training year.

Main duties of the job

The PG Dip in CYP PT course starts in January 2027 and will be completed over 1 year. Students will study their modality (CBT) Modules alongside Core Skills Modules. Students will be required to attend university regularly each week. The remaining time in role will be spent working clinically within your service with children, young people with symptoms of anxiety or depression, their families, schools and wider systems.

The ideal candidates will have a background in a core profession or extensive experience as a CAMHS practitioner, as well as some experience of working with children and young people up to the age of 18 with a range of mild to moderate mental health difficulties, either individually or in groups.

Please note: The position will be part of the Milton Keynes Wellbeing service and will therefore require community working in Milton Keynes. The trainee will also be expected to travel to London for teaching during the training year.

About us

CHUMS is an innovative, dynamic and employee-owned Social Enterprise. CHUMS left the NHS in 2011 to become an independent Social Enterprise affording more freedom to offer its services in a way that best suits the needs of children, young people and families. As an organisation we now deliver over 10 services across 4 counties.

Applicants will need to complete the CHUMS application form and the UCL application at the same time. UCL: 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 Child and Young Person Psychological Therapy in order to be shortlisted (for more information about the course and minimum entry criteria, please see the course page: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/child-young-person-iapt-therapy-pg-dip). Please complete your university application using the UCL University Application Guidance supplied.

Job description Job responsibilities

The Children and Young Peoples Psychological Therapies (CYP-PT) is a service transformation programme that aims to improve existing children and young peoples mental health Services (CYP MHS) working in the community.

Job Purpose

This is an NHSE funded training post as part of the Child and Young Peoples (CYP) Psychological Therapies training programme which involves part time working as a Practitioner in the CHUMS Milton Keynes Wellbeing Service and part time studying with UCL/Anna Freud.

We are seeking highly motivated and clinically experienced candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children and young peoples mental health through evidence-based interventions based on NICE Guideline recommended treatment. You will have a registerable professional qualification in a relevant subject with experience working with children, young people and their families in a mental health setting.

This intensive training post will equip the post-holder to provide interventions for children and young people experiencing anxiety or low mood presentations consistent with the evidence base in the area of CBT. The post-holder will work in the service, for at least 2.5 days of the week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme or undertaking self-study days for the remaining days, as required by the education provider.

You will be committed to the CYP Psychological Therapy 5 core principles and to providing accessible, compassionate and effective support for children and young people, along with a dedication to equity, diversity and inclusion.

The post holder will hold an appropriate training case load and complete the necessary assignments to meet the course requirements at the equivalent of an NHS band 6.

Important: Candidates will need to apply to and be accepted by both CHUMS for their placement and UCL for their academic studies. Candidates cannot progress if they are not accepted by both organisations.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

With the assistance of their clinical supervisor accept appropriate referrals;

Assess clients for suitability for the treatment for which modality specific training is provided;

Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the departments referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary;

Undertakes accurate assessment of risk to self and others.

Formulate, implement and evaluate therapeutic intervention for clients in line with their training modality and experience;

Involve the system around the child in treatment as appropriate, e.g. parent/carer, school, conveying therapy formulations and care plans with sensitivity in easily understood language;

Assess and integrate issues relating to transitions, education and training/employment into the overall therapeutic process.

Work in collaboration with children, young people and communities to enhance and widen access.

Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate;

Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service;

Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols;

Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up, step-down and signposting arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.

Operate at all times from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.

Training & Supervision:

Fulfilling the requirements of and completing a PG diploma at UCL/Anna Freud including practical, academic, and practice-based assessments, alongside private study;

Apply learning from the training programme in practice;

Prepare and present clinical information for all patients on their caseload to clinical, case management supervisors and practice tutors on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the clinical governance obligations of the worker, supervisor and service are delivered.

Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in practice.

Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and practice

Professional:

Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g., BPS, HCPC, BABCP), and keep up to date on up to date professional best practice recommendations/guidelines

Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times and comply with data management systems and processes including submissions to the training provider;

Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of care pathway;

Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development;

Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager;

Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts offered, and sessions carried out per week in order to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.

Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives;

Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments;

Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

Behave in a professional manner at all times.

General:

To contribute to the development of best practice within the service;

To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to childrens mental health and social care needs;

All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public;

All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the GDPR and Security and Confidentiality Policies;

It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

To provide hybrid based support i.e. virtual and face to face based on the needs of the service user

This job description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the post, and the post holder may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to the pay band. The post may change over time to reflect the developing needs of CHUMS and its services, as well as the personal development of the post holder.

Person Specification

Experience Essential

Two or more years of qualified experience working with children, young people and families in a mental health setting; Experience of multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary working and liaison across internal and external agencie

Desirable

Previous experience of working within a CBT framework and/or using CBT informed interventions; A year or more experience working within a CBT framework and/or using CBT informed interventions (e.g. PWP, CWP, EMHP and Parent Trainer); Working with marginalised populations Experience of supporting CYP with needs relating to neurodiversity or understanding of the relationship between neurodivergence and mental health needs

Skills/ Competencies Essential

Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with children, young people and their families, whilst considering social differences; Ability to maintain a reflective stance in emotive/challenging interactions with children and their carers; Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with children, young people and their families; Ability to manage sensitive and potentially emotionally distressing caseload material; Ability to reflect on own practice in clinical supervision and peer groups; Professional experience and understanding of evidence-based practice and its influence on good clinical practice; Ability to follow policy and clinical governance procedures and maintain accurate records; Ability to complete postgraduate academic work and balance course and placement demands; Adaptable and able to work with diverse communities; Excellent time management and organisational abilities, including autonomous management of a complex caseload; Effective oral and written communication and excellent IT skills; Able to accommodate travel demands associated with the role; Where English is not the first language, proficiency at IELTS Band D or equivalent is required. Knowledge, understanding and practical experience of risk and safeguarding assessment and management concerning children and young people.

Desirable

Knowledge and understanding of CBT theory and its application.

Qualifications Essential

Minimum second-class Bachelors Degree or equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc); OR 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. A registerable professional qualification in a relevant field with therapy experience (e.g. psychology, CWP, EMHP and low intensity therapies, nursing, health visiting, social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychiatry, psychotherapy, counselling).

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name CHUMS

Address Wrest Park Enterprise Centre

Wrest Park

Silsoe

MK45 4HS

United Kingdom

Employer's website http://chums.uk.com/ (Opens in a new tab)