Trainee Children & Young Peoples Early Years Practitioner

Overview

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust are seeking to recruit a trainee Early Years Practitioner to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Infant and Early Years Practitioner Training. The post holder will be supported to deliver evidence-based psychological treatment to infants, children and their families in one of our established Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) in South Tyneside or Sunderland. The trainee will gain experience of providing psychological therapies on the Parent-Infant pathway and gain accreditation in Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) to support parent-child attachment, addressing parental mental health difficulties and wider systemic factors. The training includes attending and completing the CYP PT Infant and Early Years Practitioner Training Curriculum at the Psychological Therapies Training Centre in Manchester, delivered as a hybrid model (1.5 days teaching/academic learning, 0.5 days supervision, and 3 days per week clinical practice within service). The course commences January 2026, therefore trainees must be available for employment from January 2026. Travel costs will be supported by the trust.

Main duties of the job

The trainee will undertake and successfully complete training in the Post Graduate Diploma in Infant and Early Years Practitioner Training at the Psychological Therapies Training Centre in Manchester within 12 months. Trainees are eligible for training if they have not accessed a CYP-PT funded training programme within the last 2 years of qualifying. Trainees will need to have a professional qualification (Health Visiting, teaching, nursing, SW, AHP, Counselling or within a psychological therapy). Experience of working in assessment and treatment to support the mental health needs of infants, children, young people and their families. Experience of working within the community. Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations. Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children and young people. Knowledge of universal and specialist children\’s mental health service provision. Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Proven time and caseload management skills. Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments. Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other IT packages. Proven organisational skills. Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

• Working Knowledge of universal and specialist children\’s mental health service provision.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.
• Proven organisational skills.
• Proven time and caseload management skills.
• Able to write clear reports and letters. Demonstrates a high standard in both written and oral communication.
• Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
• Ability to work under supervision and make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development.
• Experience of and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the need for evidence-based psychological therapies.
• Demonstrates a knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health.

Physical Skills

• Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
• Ability to manage own time and diary and to manage demands of both training course and work in service.
• Ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role.
• Ability to move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
• Ability to work flexibly sometimes working additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service and ensure a complete understanding is had in relation to care delivery.

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake and successfully complete Post Graduate Diploma in Psychological Training – Infant and Early Years Practitioner Training Curriculum, training at the Psychological Therapies Training Centre in Manchester. The centre is part of Manchester University. The course must be completed within 12 months.
• Professional qualification in teaching, health visiting, nursing, SW, AHP, counselling or within a psychological therapy.
• Trainees are eligible for training if they have not accessed a CYP-PT funded training programme within the last 2 years of qualifying.

Experience

• Experience of working in a children and young people\’s mental health service.
• Experience of offering assessments and treatments to children, young people and their families.
• Experience of working within the community or education setting.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children and young people.
• Working in a service where agreed service targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.

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.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust – There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under-represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description for full duties of the role.

For the post holder to work as a member of the Children and Young People\’s Mental Health Service (CYPMHS).

For the post holder to be part of one of the localities of Sunderland or South Tyneside. To be identified on appointment.

For the post holder to work with infants and children with their families who have a range of mental health problems that can benefit from an early years intervention. The post holder will deliver this in a training capacity.

For the post holder to use evidence-based interventions as per clinical training (Video Interactive Guidance), and deliver training where appropriate.

For the post holder to work with infants, children and their families from different cultural backgrounds and underserved populations, using interpreters when necessary and be committed to providing equal opportunities.

For the post holder to meet targets that are set within the service.

For the post holder to successfully undertake training on the Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Therapies (Parent Infant pathway) course at the Psychological Therapies Training Centre in Manchester, which is part of Manchester University. The course must be completed within 12 months.

Note

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