Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity to join our CAMHS teams as a Recruit to Train Trainee / Trainee CBT Practitioner (1 year fixed term), as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Recruit to Train Programme in partnership with Anna Freud, University College London, and Kings College London.
We are recruiting up to eight trainees across West London CAMHS. The post-holders will be training on the Children & Young People Mental Health 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.
This is a training position and so all candidates will usually need to apply for both the trainee role with our organisation and the UCL Post Graduate Diploma in Child and Young Person IAPT Therapy in order to be shortlisted. However, there is currently a delay in the opening of the university portal. Please go ahead and apply for the vacancy. Candidates will be informed once the university portal is open.
Please note that this job vacancy may close early due to a high number of candidates.
Main duties of the job
You will offer a high-quality service to young people, families / carers, alongside working effectively with your colleagues and liaising with other professionals in the network. CYP-IAPT training will enable you to deliver - under intensive supervision - high quality, focused evidence-based CBT interventions for children and young people experiencing moderate mental health difficulties ( low mood and anxiety). This in turn will equip those in post to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven mental health service. The roles will be exciting and varied, including individual and group working in a CAMHS setting, enabling the post holders to develop a range of skills and experience whilst studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Child & Young Person IAPT Therapy (CBT; PGDip). The post provides excellent opportunities for professional development and regular supervision.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
The link below will also provide useful information.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services staff share their stories of working for the NHS. (
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
1. Qualifications that demonstrate a capacity to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level
2. Minimum second-class Bachelor's Degree from a UK University or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject (, psychology, social work etc).
3. Applicants who do not fulfil the academic criteria but with relevant professional experience are encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Desirable
4. A core profession as recognised by BABCP (for example, mental health nursing, social work) or a level 6 qualification (typically this would be an undergraduate degree) and meet the eligibility criteria for the BABCP Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (KSA) route. To be eligible for the KSA route you would need to have a minimum of 2 years' relevant full-time equivalent therapeutic experience in a mental health setting.
Previous experience
Essential
5. A minimum of two years' experience of working with children / young people in a mental health setting.
6. Experience of assessing and managing risk and safeguarding issues
7. Experience of multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary working and liaising across internal & external agencies.
Desirable
8. Previous experience of working within a CBT framework and/or using CBT informed interventions.
9. A year or more experience working within a CBT framework and/or using CBT informed interventions (, PWP, CWP, EMHP and Parent Trainer
10. Experience of monitoring and recording outcome measures for children's emotional wellbeing.
Knowledge
Essential
11. Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to risk and safeguarding children and young people.
12. Ability to be an autonomous practitioner whilst being able to work as an integral part of a multi-agency locality team.
13. Be committed to anti discriminatory/ anti oppressive practice and equal opportunity.
Desirable
14. Foundation knowledge and understanding of CBT theory and its application.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
15. Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with children, young people, and their families, whilst considering social differences.
16. Ability to maintain a reflective stance in emotive/challenging interactions with children and their families.
17. Ability to work in a collaborative and respectful manner with children, young people and their families.
18. Ability to personally manage sensitive and potentially emotionally distressing caseload material;
19. Ability to reflect on own practice (in clinical supervision and practice tutor groups with course peers);
20. Ability to follow local policy and procedures (, within a CBT pathway) and make proposals for change.
21. Ability to maintain accurate clinical records.
22. Ability to complete academic work across different learning environments at postgraduate level and balance the academic demands of the course with clinical placement demands
23. Demonstrates adaptability and able to work with diverse communities
24. IT/Computer literate
25. Able to accommodate travel demands associated with the role
26. Ability to conduct mental health assessments and interventions of children and young people.
27. Ability to make an assessment of risk and to record and communicate it appropriately
28. Ability take appropriate action to mitigate or manage risk.
Desirable
29. Understanding of evidence-based clinical practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences good clinical practice.
Specific Attributes
Essential
30. Full, enhanced and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role.
31. Ability to personally manage a sensitive, and potentially emotionally distressing caseload.
32. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Desirable
33. Proven commitment to continuous professional development.
Personal qualities
Essential
34. Self-motivated, and motivated to learn and be challenged
35. Capacity to work well in teams
36. Good time management and organisational abilities
37. Able to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for any illness or disability.