CYP-PT: Therapy Trainee [Parent Training] in London

Search here to find a new job, a new career, an opportunity to up skill or to simply change your career direction. Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others. There’s a place for you at CNWL. We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run. Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff. We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare.

We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries. We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview: Our service has an exciting opportunity to join our team as a CYP-PT Therapy Trainee, part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded programme in partnership with The Anna Freud Centre, University College London, and Kings College London. The post-holder will be training on the Children & Young People Psychological Therapies (CYP-PT Trainee) Therapy Course and carrying out clinical work in our service to complement their studies and use their newly developed skills. We are seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic mental health practitioners to work and train within our service. The training post will equip the post-holder to provide interventions for children, young people or families using evidence-based intervention consistent with the course they are attending. The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Main duties of the job: This is a fixed term post with this training year funded by NHSE. After successful completion of the course the fixed term training contract will end however applicants would be encouraged to apply for any vacant posts within the service and will be provided support and advice in job applications. This role will be best suited for applicants that are able to balance a very busy work and study schedule. You will be an employee at the service but also enrolled on a Postgraduate Diploma course. As this is a Postgraduate level training, you will be required to study and perform at academic level. Applicants must be prepared to work towards their studies outside of protected study time (such as on weekends and after work). Protected study time or teaching days are typically two days a week during term (with possibility of extra university days near start) and will be a mixture of in person and online sessions. Applicants must be willing to travel into London to attend their lectures and our clinic which is based in Harrow.

More information about the courses and how the training works can be found here (AFC website) and here (KCL website) including the course brochures, and we strongly recommend you read the FAQs.

NHSE have implemented a rule regarding beneficiaries of their training year funding – this affects candidates who have been on one of the courses listed on the NHSE website from 1st August 2022. We recommend you read this if you plan to apply to future trainings.

The post holder will be expected to support their team, department and organisation to achieve the Trust’s Values in their day to day work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities: Job description and person specification attached.

Training Information: This full-time training will begin in January 2026 with around half a week for academic work (teaching and personal study), and half a week based at the service seeing clients related to training assignments. Trainees will be both an employee of the service and an enrolled student with KCL/Anna Freud. Upon completion, qualified trainees will receive a KCL Postgraduate Diploma.

Application Process: This is a dual application process. In addition to applying for this position with us, you must also complete a KCL application for the Course Team to review. The Course Team will liaise with us on whether you meet the academic requirements for the course during the recruitment process. You will only be offered a KCL training place if you are successful in securing this post and you meet the university training requirements (such as academic background, relevant experience, visa approval).

Please use the following link to apply for the university training programme: Qualifications that demonstrate a capacity to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level. Degree level qualification (if you do not have a degree level qualification you can submit alternative evidence of your academic capability. A 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).

Knowledge: Demonstrates an appreciation of the importance of working with parents to address child behavioural problems. Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding children. Demonstrates an appreciation of the range of factors that can impact on the presentation of child behavioural problems. Demonstrates an understanding of services that work with children and families with behavioural problems. Demonstrates knowledge of theory in relation to child conduct problems (e.g., social learning theory).

Experience: Two years professional experience working with children with behavioural problems and their families. Experience of working with safeguarding issues. Experience of multi-agency working and liaising across internal & external agencies. Experience of working with child behaviour problems using parenting approaches.

Other: Able to travel to meet the requirements of the post. Team player; mentor, teach and support others in the team.

Skills and Abilities: Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with families, children and their network, e.g., schools, nurseries etc. Ability to adapt communication style according to the varying needs of families. Ability to maintain a reflective stance in emotive/challenging interactions with children and their carers. Ability to use supervision to reflect on practice. Ability to organise own time and diary. Ability to follow policy and make proposals for change. Ability to maintain accurate records. Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level, including IELTS or equivalent to the appropriate level for students with English as a foreign language (BAND D). Ability to adopt a collaborative approach to working with parents of children with behavioural problems. Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work. Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience. AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience. Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success. We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period. If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges: You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.