Job summary
Southwark CAMHS Recruit to Train - Band 6 Training post in Infant Mental Health/Under 5s
Post Title: CAMHS Practitioner (CYP-IAPT Trainee)
Southwark CAMHS are delighted to be advertising a CYP-MH/CYP-IAPT training post in Infant Mental Health/U5s (training at UCL)
Interview date 18th November 2025
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a committed and enthusiastic CAMHS practitioner who would like to undertake training in evidence-based therapy in Infant Mental Health/Under 5s. You may be a nurse, social worker or occupational therapist or other professional with experience of working in CAMHS or transferrable skills. The successful post-holders will complete a post-graduate diploma through University College London, whilst working in one of our multi-disciplinary clinical teams. The post will be based in our CAMHS Early Help Team. You will be expected to carry a clinical caseload, including assessment, care co-ordination and therapy. The post-holder will be trained to offer parent-child assessment, and evidence-based interventions including delivering Incredible Years programmes.
About us
Southwark CAMHS is a thriving service serving a diverse inner London population. We provide comprehensive assessment and a range of evidence-based therapies. We have strong links to National and Specialist Services and to the IoPPN at KCL and are actively involved in clinically relevant research and PPI initiatives. The service has well-established connections with other local services including education and social care, and local voluntary agencies.
The posts are based in 3 of our teams:
Early Help CAMHS works closely with the local authority's Family Early Help Service and with local schools. We work with children and young people across the age range. We offer advice, consultation, assessment and treatment to children and young people with moderate severity mental health concerns. The team has a well-established neurodevelopmental pathway.
The Adolescent Team works with young people aged 12 to 18, with more severe and complex mental health difficulties.
The Neurodevelopmental Team works with children with autism and/or learning disabilities with complex mental health difficulties.
Each of our teams has a strong multi-disciplinary ethos with contributions from psychology, various psychological therapists, nursing, social work, occupational therapy and psychiatry. Our teams are driven by their commitment and values and maintain a welcoming and supportive ethos and a commitment to evidence-based practice
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a training position and so all candidates will need to apply for both the trainee role within our organisation and to the UCL Post Graduate Diploma in Child and Young Person IAPT Therapy in order to be shortlisted.
For applications to UCL Courses: Infant Mental Health/U5s
You only need one application to the UCL no matter how many Recruit to Train job posts you apply for. However, it is very important to mention which modality/modalities you are applying for and why you are qualified & interested in them in your personal statement as this will be assessed by the course team to determine course/modality suitability. More information about the course content and the different modalities can be found on the Anna Freud webpage:https://www.annafreud.org/ucl-postgraduate-study/ucl-postgraduate-programmes/child-and-young-person-iapt-therapy-pg-dip/
Please view:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QJmV_HmF4fL9yMk-ufoIgXGe0z1BDo6V/edit
for the UCL application link and more information on courses and how to apply.Any queries on the course i.e. teaching/content can be sent to the course programme team:cyppttherapy@annafreud.org
Please note due to a change in process for this recruitment cycle, only shortlisted candidates will receive information on applying to UCL.
Please note that when you apply to this role, your name will be shared with the Higher Education Institute (HEI) running the course. The service will usually be the Course Teams main way of contacting you until you have been sent an Offer, and so the Course Team at the HEI may ask for information if it is relevant to deciding course eligibility. Other information that might be shared:
- Reason behind ineligibility for the course.
- Queries regarding application
- Name change - confirm with service to ensure that they are reviewing the correct candidate.
This is an integral part of the process to confirm that you have applied to the University and that you meet their course requirements. Please apply to the University at the same time as applying to this job position. Please note that anyone starting an NHSE-funded course is required to wait two years after their graduation exam board before starting another NHSE funded course.If you apply to this job, you are giving permission that information relevant to establishing eligibility can be shared between the HEI and the Service. No irrelevant information will be disclosed or discussed.
As this is a training position, please be aware that this is a dual application process where you must be employed in a Recruit to Train funded job to also receive a place on the course, and vice-versa. If you are ineligible for the University Course, we will be unable to be offer the role. If you withdraw from an employment offer but you have accepted a university offer, you will be unable to join the course. You must apply to the course at the same time as this job.
Please note in this instance the course is not optional; the roles are dependent on meeting all course requirements.Applicants for this training post, will need to be available to start by 12th January at the latest (with the course starting on 19th January).
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a training position and so all candidates will need to apply for both the trainee role within our organisation and to the UCL Post Graduate Diploma in Child and Young Person IAPT Therapy in order to be shortlisted.
For applications to UCL Courses: Infant Mental Health/U5s
You only need one application to the UCL no matter how many Recruit to Train job posts you apply for. However, it is very important to mention which modality/modalities you are applying for and why you are qualified & interested in them in your personal statement as this will be assessed by the course team to determine course/modality suitability. More information about the course content and the different modalities can be found on the Anna Freud webpage:https://www.annafreud.org/ucl-postgraduate-study/ucl-postgraduate-programmes/child-and-young-person-iapt-therapy-pg-dip/
Please view:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QJmV_HmF4fL9yMk-ufoIgXGe0z1BDo6V/edit
for the UCL application link and more information on courses and how to apply.Any queries on the course i.e. teaching/content can be sent to the course programme team:cyppttherapy@annafreud.org
Please note due to a change in process for this recruitment cycle, only shortlisted candidates will receive information on applying to UCL.
Please note that when you apply to this role, your name will be shared with the Higher Education Institute (HEI) running the course. The service will usually be the Course Teams main way of contacting you until you have been sent an Offer, and so the Course Team at the HEI may ask for information if it is relevant to deciding course eligibility. Other information that might be shared:
- Reason behind ineligibility for the course.
- Queries regarding application
- Name change - confirm with service to ensure that they are reviewing the correct candidate.
This is an integral part of the process to confirm that you have applied to the University and that you meet their course requirements. Please apply to the University at the same time as applying to this job position. Please note that anyone starting an NHSE-funded course is required to wait two years after their graduation exam board before starting another NHSE funded course.If you apply to this job, you are giving permission that information relevant to establishing eligibility can be shared between the HEI and the Service. No irrelevant information will be disclosed or discussed.
As this is a training position, please be aware that this is a dual application process where you must be employed in a Recruit to Train funded job to also receive a place on the course, and vice-versa. If you are ineligible for the University Course, we will be unable to be offer the role. If you withdraw from an employment offer but you have accepted a university offer, you will be unable to join the course. You must apply to the course at the same time as this job.
Please note in this instance the course is not optional; the roles are dependent on meeting all course requirements.Applicants for this training post, will need to be available to start by 12th January at the latest (with the course starting on 19th January).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- All applicants will require a professional training and relevant CAMHS experience in combination with professional registration
Experience
Essential
- clinical experience working with children and adolescents with mental health problems/needs
- A good understanding and some experience of the following: Group, individual and family work, multi-disciplinary work, clinical governance and audit and the process of clinical supervision in CAMHS
Desirable
- Working with families in a multi-racial urban environment
Knowledge
Essential
- A good working knowledge of Mental health disorders in children and adolescents
- knowledge of Assessment of risk and management of risk factors
- The principles of clinical governance and practice and confidentiality and information sharing
Desirable
- knowledge of Relevant research and its application to assessment and treatment of CAMH disorders. Research informed and evidence based methods of assessment and treatment
- Skill in using a specific therapy in practice
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work therapeutically with the client group, using a range of therapeutic interventions
- Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level
- Good written and verbal presentation skills
- Demonstrate an ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- All applicants will require a professional training and relevant CAMHS experience in combination with professional registration
Experience
Essential
- clinical experience working with children and adolescents with mental health problems/needs
- A good understanding and some experience of the following: Group, individual and family work, multi-disciplinary work, clinical governance and audit and the process of clinical supervision in CAMHS
Desirable
- Working with families in a multi-racial urban environment
Knowledge
Essential
- A good working knowledge of Mental health disorders in children and adolescents
- knowledge of Assessment of risk and management of risk factors
- The principles of clinical governance and practice and confidentiality and information sharing
Desirable
- knowledge of Relevant research and its application to assessment and treatment of CAMH disorders. Research informed and evidence based methods of assessment and treatment
- Skill in using a specific therapy in practice
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work therapeutically with the client group, using a range of therapeutic interventions
- Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level
- Good written and verbal presentation skills
- Demonstrate an ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
