Children's Wellbeing Practitioner Trainee

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Therapeutic skills

1.1. Assess and deliver, under supervision outcome focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties within the community

1.2. Working in partnership, support children, young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties and their families in the self-management of presenting difficulties.

1.3. Work in partnership with children, young people and families in the development of plans for the intervention and agreed outcomes.

1.4.Support and empower children, young people and families to make informed choices about the intervention.

1.5. Regularly undertake the planning, delivery, and implementation of participation activities in service and in the community.

1.6. On occasion, prepare and deliver training sessions to professional groups within service and in the community and evaluate the impact and outcomes of such training sessions.

1.7. Contribute to networking and building close working relationships with community groups and

organisations to improve access to psychological support and enhance the overall impact of CWP role within in the community.

1.8. Operate at all times from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.

1.9. Accept referrals within agreed national and local protocols.

1.10. Undertakes accurate assessment of risk to self and others.

1.11. Adhere to the service referral protocols. Under supervision signpost unsuitable referrals to the relevant service as necessary.

1.12. Through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes beyond scope, or more severe ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.

1.13. Provide a range of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments, primarily guided self-help. This work may be face-to-face, by telephone or via other media.

1.14. Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts offered, and sessions carried out per week in order to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.

1.15. Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or CYP in treatment, where appropriate.

1.16. Keep coherent records of all activity in line with service protocols and use these records and outcome data to inform decision making. Complete all requirements relating to data collection.

1.17. Assess and integrate issues relating to transitions, education and training/employment into the overall therapeutic process.

1.18. Work within a collaborative approach involving a range of relevant others when indicated.

1.19. Work in collaboration with children, young people and communities to enhance and widen access.

2. TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

2.1 Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post including practical, academic and practice-based assessments.

2.2 As well as attendance at the University for training, fulfil private study requirements to enhance learning and prepare assignments for examination.

Apply learning from the training programme to practice.

2.3 Receive practice tutoring from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.

2.4 Prepare and present case load information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and supervisor and service are delivered.

2.5 Prepare and present case information and videos to course staff in practice tutor groups and other small groups in the university setting on an agreed and scheduled basis, to enhance clinical skill development.

2.6 Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in practice.

2.7 Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and practice.

Course start date: 19th January 2026

Training Information

This full-time training will begin in January 2026 with around 2.5 days a week for academic work (teaching and personal study), and 2.5 days based at the service seeing clients (children, young people, and carers) related to training assignments. Trainees will be both an employee of the service and an enrolled student with UCL/Anna Freud. Upon completion, qualified trainees will receive a UCL Postgraduate Diploma.

Application Process

This is a dual application process. In addition to applying for this position with us, you must also complete a UCL application for the Course Team to review. The Course Team will liaise with us on whether you meet the academic requirements for the course during the recruitment process. You will only be offered a UCL training place if you are successful in securing this post and you meet the university training requirements.

Direct UCL application link: https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login_enc? 0qhYzuG1h9udTFM8i9sPhtGiUgIR6D6iP0QBDHq24aV3AVw8VNXRYxDmc3LlBtzaVi6cWmaNYWo=

Please view the attached document UCL CYP PT Therapy - Application Guidance for Candidates August 2025 for the university application link and more information on how to apply.

For a more detailed description of the role, please see attached JD and PS.

PRIVACY NOTICE: As you also apply for a training course that is delivered by Anna Freud and UCL, your data may be shared with them for the purpose of processing your application (shortlisting) and enrolling you onto this Programme.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

Essential

• Undergraduate degree, upper second class or above, in Psychology OR related subject (e.g., Psychology, Education, Childhood development, Social Work etc), OR any subject with further training or experience in a relevant field (e.g., Teaching/TA; Learning Support; HCA; Youth Work; Counselling etc)
• OR relevant professional experience in CYP Mental Health/Education/Mentorship (to be considered on a case-by-case basis

Desirable

• Training in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, counselling or within a specific psychological therapy
• Psychology or other health /social care/youth related undergraduate degree
• Other relevant postgraduate degree

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Previous experience of working with children and young people

Desirable

• Experience of working in mental health or related services
• Worked in a service where agreed targets in place to demonstrating outcomes
• Experience of working with diverse populations

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY

Essential

• Ability to study as a self-motivated learner and implement training with appropriate support
• Demonstrates high standards in written and verbal communication
• Demonstrates ability to work well with other professionals/ colleagues
• Ability to personally manage a sensitive, traumatic and potentially emotionally distressing caseload.

Desirable

• Ability to manage own caseload and time
• Speaks a second language
• Demonstrate ability to present mental health psychoeducation to non-mental health audiences

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships

OTHER

Essential

• Full, enhanced and current satisfactory DBS disclosure for the role.
• Able to travel to meet post requirements

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

99 Waverly Road

99 Waverley Road

St Albans

AL3 5TL

Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)