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- Tasks: Join our team to support children's mental health through evidence-based interventions.
- Company: Early Years Alliance, dedicated to improving child mental health services.
- Benefits: 25 days annual leave, enhanced sickness pay, and birthday leave for your well-being.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children and families while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Postgraduate diploma level qualifications or relevant experience in mental health services.
- Other info: Comprehensive training and development opportunities with a supportive team.
About The Role
The Early Years Alliance has an exciting opportunity for a Recruit to Train Therapy Trainee (Systemic Family Practice) to join our team as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programmes (formerly CYP-IAPT).
Recruit to Train is a government-funded initiative aiming to grow the child mental health workforce to meet much needed demand. To help reach this goal, NHSE covers salary and training costs for a 1-year post, allowing services to employ trainees to aid in implementing new or expanding existing 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.
You will be working as part of a CYP-MH Parenting Team based in Lewisham, South London, working with children and young people with Conduct Disorder for part of each week, but successful candidates will be expected to travel to Denmark Hill Campus of King’s College London for weekly teaching during the training year.
More information about the course content and the different modalities can be found on the King’s CYP webpage: https://www.kings-cyp.com/page/recruit-to-train.
What are we looking for?
We are seeking highly motivated candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children’s mental health through evidence-based interventions based on NICE Guidelines recommended treatment.
You will have qualifications that demonstrate a capacity to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level, as well as a registerable professional qualification (e.g. clinical or educational psychology, social work, counselling, mental health nursing, occupational therapy etc). Minimum second-class Bachelor’s Degree from a UK University or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc).
Applications MAY be considered from those who do not have a registerable professional training if they have at least 2 years’ experience in a CAMHS or equivalent mental health service setting and can demonstrate equivalence through the RPL (recognition of prior learning) process.
You will be committed to the CYP Psychological Training Programme core principles: Accessibility, accountability, participation, awareness and evidence-based practice, and in providing an inclusive and effective service for children and young people, along with a dedication to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Please review the job description, person specification, and additional documents linked below for more information on the role.
The closing date for applications is: Sunday 2nd November 2025, at 12 noon.
For more information about the role or to have a confidential discussion, please reach out to: Dawn Ashley, CYP-MH Officer at dawn.ashley@eyalliance.org.uk.
Benefits
- A comprehensive induction and training support package will be provided to the successful candidate.
- 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part time employees.
- Additional annual leave for long service.
- Enhanced sickness pay.
- Employer and employee contribution pension scheme.
- Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being.
- Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities.
- A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
- Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
- Savings of up to 25% on O2 Refresh Airtime Plan on any new phone or tablets.
- A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well being.
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 read the application guidance and course brochure linked below for full information and instructions on how to apply and what to include in your application.
KCL CYP-PT SFP Wave 15 Jan 2026 – KCL Programme Brochure.pdf
KCL CYP-PT Therapies Wave 15 Jan 2026 – Application Guidance.pdf (same application guidance applies for any of the 3 KCL modalities – CBT, SFP (CDD or ED), Parenting).
About The Service
The Alliance is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation.
The charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and equal opportunities in employment.
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THERAPY TRAINEE - SYSTEMIC FAMILY PRACTICE employer: Early Years Alliance
Contact Detail:
Early Years Alliance Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land THERAPY TRAINEE - SYSTEMIC FAMILY PRACTICE
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to professionals in the field of child mental health, especially those who have been through similar training programmes. They can offer insights and may even know about job openings that aren't advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to systemic family practice. Think about how your experiences align with the role and be ready to share specific examples of how you've made a difference in children's lives.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your passion for evidence-based interventions! During interviews, highlight your commitment to NICE Guidelines and how you plan to implement these in your work with children and families.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team and making a real impact in the field of child mental health.
We think you need these skills to ace THERAPY TRAINEE - SYSTEMIC FAMILY PRACTICE
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Carefully: Before you start writing, take a good look at the job description. Make sure you understand what we're looking for in a candidate and tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences match those requirements.
Show Your Passion for Mental Health: We want to see your enthusiasm for making a difference in children's mental health. Use your application to share any relevant experiences or motivations that drive you to work in this field. Let your passion shine through!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and make sure your sentences are easy to read. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets your message across effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures that we receive all the necessary information and can process your application smoothly. Plus, it shows you're following our guidelines!
How to prepare for a job interview at Early Years Alliance
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re familiar with the key principles of the CYP Psychological Training Programme. Brush up on NICE Guidelines and evidence-based interventions, as these will likely come up in conversation. Showing that you understand the framework will impress your interviewers.
✨Show Your Passion
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for making a difference in children's mental health. Share personal experiences or motivations that led you to this field. The interviewers want to see that you genuinely care about the impact of your work on children and families.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Expect to discuss real-life scenarios or case studies during your interview. Think about how you would apply your training in practical situations, especially when working with children and young people with Conduct Disorder. This will show your ability to translate theory into practice.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about the team dynamics, training opportunities, or how the service measures success. It shows that you’re engaged and thinking critically about your potential role within the organisation.
