About this role
Job summary
Our service has an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Training: Infant and Early Years Practitioner (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.
Main duties of the job
This Trainee Infant and Early Years Early Childhood pathway post combines formal teaching at Anna Freud/UCL with a caseload within the Trust's Wandsworth Under 5's CAMHS service line. The position will be based in the community around Wandsworth and successful candidates will be expected to travel to Anna Freud in Central London (Rodney St, N1 9JH) for teaching during the training year. Upon completion of the training year, the postholder will be encouraged to apply for Under 5's CAMHS Practitioner roles, although please note that currently we are unable to guarantee that these roles will be available in the Trust.
Course start date: 18th January 2027
Training Information
This full-time training will begin in January 2027 with around 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. Trainees will be both an employee of the service and an enrolled student with UCL/Anna Freud. Upon completion, qualified trainees will receive a UCL Postgraduate Diploma.
About us
Unless expressly stated in the job advert this role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical and Clinical Research
1. To assist qualified psychotherapists and applied psychologists in the implementation of delivery of psychological interventions for infants, children and their parents or carers accessing the Under 5s service.
2. To assist with the provision of information and self-help material for service users under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist or psychotherapist
3. To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of children and their carers applying psychological, including self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients and others involved in the clients care.
4. To assist in the formulation and delivery of mental health care involving psychological interventions in line with Under 5 CAMHS services, under the clinical supervision of qualified professional psychotherapists and psychologist as appropriate across community settings.
5. To assist, and where appropriate lead, in the coordination and running of groups and workshops.
Teaching, Training and Supervision 1. In common with all applied therapists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines and clinical governance guidelines.
2. To complete the Anna Freud/UCL training programme and assignments to further develop skills in therapeutic interventions and risk assessment.
3. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
4. To support the leads and service in the regular and systematic entry of clinical data on IAPTus according to Trust protocols and to highlight areas of difficulty to the Under 5 service lead as soon as they arise.
5. To contribute to the training and support of others, including staff and workers in the non-statutory sector enabling them to provide effective mental health care.
6. To inform primary care practitioners and users about local statutory and voluntary services to whom children and young people can be signposted.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications
If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.
Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.
Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications Essential
A second-class honours degree or higher Professional qualification as a Psychotherapist, Creative therapist, CWP, EMHP, nurse, social worker, occupational therapist, drama therapist or art therapist, CBT therapist, systemic practitioner Registration with appropriate professional body (where applicable)
Desirable
Further post graduate training in relevant areas of mental health practice and/or research design and analysis Training in therapeutic approaches used in Under 5's services
Experience Essential
2 or more years of experience working with the development and wellbeing of children and young children aged 0-5 and their families. Experience of children aged 0-5 and their development in a personal, voluntary or observational capacity Experience of multi-agency working and liaising across internal & external agencies. Experience of relevant work within Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services / or working with Under 5's services Strong experience of working with children, young people and families with mental health problems and/or other disabilities Demonstrates adaptability and experience of working within an ethnically and racially diverse community Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team Considerable experience in delivering both group and individual interventions
Desirable
Experience of risk assessment and management Experience of working within NHS settings
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 South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Address Springfield University Hospital
Springfield Drive London
London
SW17 0YF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)