Job summary
We are looking for people aspiring to progress their career working with infants and young children via the Recruit to Train programme. You will have applicable experience working with young children. Previous training in a mental-health related profession is desirable. This government-funded initiative promotes the growth and skill of the child mental health workforce to meet much needed demand. The postholder will attend training from January 2026 for 2.5 days per week, applying their new Parent-Infant intervention skills in our Under-5s team the remaining 2.5 days. 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. You will be part of a dedicated multi-disciplinary under-5s team, providing care across Barnet, Enfield and Haringey localities. We are a friendly and supportive team. As well as receiving supervision, some team members have direct experience of completing the IAPT course programme, so you will be well supported.
Main duties of the job
Further to the training in specific modalities that you receive from the IEYP P-I Pathway training, you will end the year with a well-rounded experience of CAMHS work with young children, including:
- Participation intriage and assessment
- Formulation in our MDT meetings and supervision
- Exposure to working with clinicians including Psychology, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, Systemic Psychotherapy, Health Visiting, Speech and Language Therapy
- Opportunities to contribute to audit and/or quality improvement initiatives
Course start date: 19thJanuary 2026 Note: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. 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.
About us
North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.
Our Five-Year Strategy:
- We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
- With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
- We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care
Why NLFT?
- We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
- We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
- NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
- Excellent internal staff network
In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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/There is also a useful training FAQ section for prospective candidates:Prospective Trainees_ CYP IAPT Therapy Programme FAQ's.docx - Google Docs 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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/There is also a useful training FAQ section for prospective candidates:Prospective Trainees_ CYP IAPT Therapy Programme FAQ's.docx - Google Docs 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.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Good written and verbal communication skills Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with clients, staff, administrators and managers.
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with young children and their carers
Desirable
- oPrevious training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, health visiting, social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychiatry, psychotherapy, counselling
- Proven record of previous academic attainment.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with young children and their carers
- Ability to adapt communication style according to the varying needs of families
- Ability to reflect on own practice (in clinical supervision and practice tutor groups with course peers
- Demonstrates adaptability and able to work with diverse communities
- Demonstrates adaptability and able to work with diverse communities
Desirable
- Ability to adopt an observational stance, particularly relating to babies and very young children
- Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice with children aged 0-5
- Ability to reflect on connection of own experiences of parenting/being parented
Experience/ Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with young children and their carers
- Knowledge and understanding issues relating to the safeguarding of very young children
- Knowledge of the importance of the 0-5 years on development and mental wellbeing and understanding of the range of factors that can impact 0-5 developmental and emotional wellbeing
- Understanding of theory knowledge of early child development and of 0-5s services (e.g. health visiting, early help and the need for holistic approaches
Desirable
- Experience of working within a professional setting concerned with the mental health, development and wellbeing of infants aged 0-5
- Experience of working with safeguarding issues
- Knowledge and understanding of theory in relation to early child development
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Motivated to learn and be challenged
- Capacity to work well in teams.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Good written and verbal communication skills Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with clients, staff, administrators and managers.
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with young children and their carers
Desirable
- oPrevious training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, health visiting, social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychiatry, psychotherapy, counselling
- Proven record of previous academic attainment.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with young children and their carers
- Ability to adapt communication style according to the varying needs of families
- Ability to reflect on own practice (in clinical supervision and practice tutor groups with course peers
- Demonstrates adaptability and able to work with diverse communities
- Demonstrates adaptability and able to work with diverse communities
Desirable
- Ability to adopt an observational stance, particularly relating to babies and very young children
- Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice with children aged 0-5
- Ability to reflect on connection of own experiences of parenting/being parented
Experience/ Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with young children and their carers
- Knowledge and understanding issues relating to the safeguarding of very young children
- Knowledge of the importance of the 0-5 years on development and mental wellbeing and understanding of the range of factors that can impact 0-5 developmental and emotional wellbeing
- Understanding of theory knowledge of early child development and of 0-5s services (e.g. health visiting, early help and the need for holistic approaches
Desirable
- Experience of working within a professional setting concerned with the mental health, development and wellbeing of infants aged 0-5
- Experience of working with safeguarding issues
- Knowledge and understanding of theory in relation to early child development
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Motivated to learn and be challenged
- Capacity to work well in teams.
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).
