Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist | University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Company:
Company: University College Hospital
Salary: £58,133 - £65,261 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Pro rata)
We are looking for a compassionate and skilled band 7 ACP registered
Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist to join our large and supportive Child Psychotherapy team at UCLH.
Due to the very short-term nature of this post we are looking for a candidate with previous experience of working in an acute hospital setting, or a setting very closely related to this work.
This is varied and meaningful therapeutic work with patients from infancy to young adulthood (0-24) who are under medical care here as both outpatients and inpatients. You will bring a flexible and creative approach to working therapeutically with babies, children, adolescents, families and the complex medical teams around them. A strong ability to work well within multi-professional teams and with children and families in highly distressing and uncertain situations is essential.
We are looking for somebody who can hold the experience and needs of
the child/young person at the centre of clinical decision making while
working across complex systems. A clinician who can hold a psychoanalytic framework alongside a genuine interest in multi-disciplinary approaches to understanding the links between the body and the mind (including where there is trauma and/or neurodivergence) and with a commitment to their own ongoing learning and development. You will be able to communicate clearly and sensitively with a range of professionals and patients
We are a team of 6 ACP Child Psychotherapists and 3 ACP trainees. We
sit within the Department of Child & Adolescent Psychological Medicine at
UCLH, made up of psychiatry, clinical psychologists and mental health
nurses. The team is well-established, and the work of child psychotherapy is valued and widely understood amongst our medical colleagues. There is a strong tradition of multi-professional working and close collaboration with medical colleagues to work towards sensitive and holistic ways of
supporting patients with complex, chronic and life limiting medical
conditions.
The Paediatric and Adolescent Division is large and busy. It includes
secondary care paediatric clinics for our local communities; and several
tertiary specialties including specialist services for children and young
people with cancer; and a specialist service for complex adolescent health conditions (TRACCS).
You will provide specialist assessments, liaison work, short term and
longer-term psychotherapy to children and young people receiving
outpatient and inpatient medical care. You will also support the treatment of children and young people through offering consultations and reflective practice where appropriate to medical teams. While members of the psychotherapy team are closely linked to specific MDTs and clinical specialties, we also ensure that all members have a varied caseload from across the department.
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
- University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
- University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
- Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
- University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
- University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
This will be a fixed term post to cover a planned career break of an existing member of the team until 5th March 2027.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit:Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?
This advert closes on Monday 19 Oct 2026
£58,133 - £65,261 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Pro rata)
£47,951 - £56,863 Per annum inclusive of HCAS
£34,186 - £37,389 per annum inclusive of HCAS
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Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist | University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust employer: University College London Hospital
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is an exceptional employer, renowned for its commitment to staff development and a supportive work culture. With a focus on professional growth, UCLH offers extensive training opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and a vibrant environment that fosters teamwork and innovation, making it the top NHS trust to work for in England for two consecutive years.
Contact Details:
University College London Hospital Recruitment Team
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We think this is how you could land Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist | University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Credentials:When applying for a physician role, make sure to highlight your medical qualifications and any special certifications you have. We want to see your medical degree, residency training, and any additional certifications that set you apart, like specialised training in paediatrics or geriatrics. Don’t leave out those all-important letters after your name!
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How to prepare for a job interview at University College London Hospital
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Brush up on your clinical knowledge, particularly in areas relevant to the role at University College London Hospital. Expect questions about diagnosis, treatment plans, and patient management. Be ready to discuss case studies or even do some role-playing with hypothetical patient scenarios for a more practical assessment.
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