Groundwork London’s Youth Department is committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children, young people, and their families across the London. Our services are rooted in compassion, accessibility, and evidence-based practice, ensuring that young people feel seen, heard, and supported through the challenges they face. We are proud to be working in partnership with King’s College London to offer a unique opportunity for professionals passionate about child and adolescent mental health to train as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT), specialising in work with Children and Young People (CYP) on the Psychological Therapies (PT) Recruit to train pathway (Rtt), formerly known as CYP-Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).
Job Purpose
This is a training position, where you will be employed by Groundwork London’s Youth Team, while undertaking the Postgraduate Diploma in CBT for Children and Young People at King’s College London. The course is part of the Children and Young People’s Psychological Trainings programme. Applicants will be required to hold a relevant undergraduate degree and have two years’ experience working as a qualified therapist with children and young people as a minimum.
You will receive weekly teaching from King’s College London on Mondays and Tuesdays and concurrently work clinically within our services, providing CBT-based 1:1s to children and adolescents with common mental health difficulties, under regular supervision, to meet the requirements of the course and the needs of our service users.
Therapeutic interventions will initially be delivered across The Nest in Peckham, working with ages 11-25s, and the Roots in Waltham Forest working with ages 11 – 17. The therapeutic work will be conducted in person at our hub in Peckham, at a base in Walthamstow, or online with some use of other satellite locations in Southwark possible, with some of these sessions being outside office hours. Therefore, an ability and willingness to work flexibly, outside of office hours and travel across Southwark and Waltham Forest is a requirement of the post.
Shortlisted candidates will also need to apply separately to King’s College London and meet their entry requirements. Guidance will be provided.
Appointment is subject to acceptance onto the KCL CYP CBT training programme, which includes an academic interview.
You must be available to begin training in January 2027 and commit to mandatory attendance at King’s College London for teaching on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Key requirements
- Minimum of two years' experience working as a qualified therapist with children, young people, or families.
- A relevant degree (e.g., psychology, social work, counselling, mental health nursing, education) or equivalent professional qualification.
- Demonstrated experience of delivering 1:1 therapeutic interventions under supervision.
- Knowledge of child and adolescent development and the impact of mental health issues on functioning.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to engage young people from diverse backgrounds.
- Commitment to completing the postgraduate training, including all university and placement requirements.
Stage 1 will be Online via Microsoft Teams on 20th Oct 2026 and stage 2 will be in person, w/c 26th October 2026.
Language English
Job type Youth work
Work location Pan London with a focus on Southwark and Waltham Forest
Region Groundwork London
Working hours 37.5 per week
Role type Full time
Contract type Fixed Term (Paid) - Fixed term for 12 months dependent upon successful
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Trainee CBT Therapist (Children & Young People) employer: Groundwork
Groundwork NE & Cumbria is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the community. With a supportive work culture that values empathy and collaboration, you will have the opportunity to empower young individuals aged 18-24, helping them overcome barriers and achieve their career aspirations. Located in a vibrant area, the company offers unique advantages such as flexible working arrangements and access to professional development resources, ensuring that you thrive both personally and professionally.
