CBT Trainee

Job summary

Our service has an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Trainings: Therapy Trainee (CBT) to join our team as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programmes. This government-funded initiative promotes the growth and skill of the child mental health workforce to meet much needed demand. NHSE covers salary and training costs for a 1-year position, allowing services to employ trainees to support specialist pathways to bridge the gaps in CYP mental health support. This is a unique opportunity to apply your learning from weekly teaching into practical clinical interventions working with clients in the service making a direct impact in the lives of children, young people and their families. this is a training and employment post and candidates will need to manage a demanding combination of academic work, self-study and clinical case work.

We are seeking highly motivated candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children and young people's mental health through evidence-based interventions based on NICE Guideline recommended treatment. You will be committed to the CYP Psychological Training Programme core principles: Accessibility, accountability, participation, awareness and evidence-based practice and in providing an inclusive and effective service for children and young people, along with a dedication to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Main duties of the job

Please note the position will be based at Eaglestone Health Centre, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes but successful candidates will be expected to travel to Anna Freud in Central London (Rodney St, N1 9JH) for teaching during the training year. 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-progr…

Training Information:

Course start date: 19th January 2026

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.

About us

We are passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patients own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We're always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee were hoping to find our future leaders and well support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

Details

Date posted

29 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum (pro rata P/T) inc HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-D-MK-MH-1281

Job locations

Eaglestone Health Centre

Hospital Campus, Standing Way, Eaglestone

Milton Keynes

MK6 3NG

Job description

Job responsibilities

This intensive training post will equip the post-holder to provide interventions for children,young people or families using the core principles of the CYP Psychological Training Programme and consistent with the evidence base in the area of CBT. The post-holder will work in the service, for at least 2.5 days of the week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme or undertaking self-study days for the remaining days, as required by the education provider.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This intensive training post will equip the post-holder to provide interventions for children,young people or families using the core principles of the CYP Psychological Training Programme and consistent with the evidence base in the area of CBT. The post-holder will work in the service, for at least 2.5 days of the week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme or undertaking self-study days for the remaining days, as required by the education provider.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum second-class Bachelor's Degree or equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc). OR 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

• Previous 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, CWP, EMHP and low intensity therapies)
• Proven record of previous academic attainment

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding children and young people

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of CBT theory and its application

Experience

Essential

• 2 or more years of experience of working with children and young people in a mental health setting
• Experience of multi-agency working and/or multi-disciplinary working and liaising across internal and external agencies

Desirable

• Previous experience of working within a CBT framework and/or using CBT informed interventions
• A year or more experience working within a CBT framework and/or using CBT informed interventions (e.g. PWP, CWP, EMHP and Parent Trainer)
• Experience of assessing and managing risk and safeguarding issues

Skills/Competencies

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with children, young people, and their families, whilst considering social differences
• Ability to maintain a reflective stance in emotive/challenging interactions with children and their carers
• Ability to use supervision to reflect on practice
• Ability to follow policy and clinical governance procedures and make proposal for change
• Ability to maintain accurate records
• Able to accommodate travel demands associated with the role
• Ability to complete academic work across different learning environments at postgraduate level and balance the academic demands of the course with clinical placement demands

Desirable

• Understanding of evidence based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences good clinical practice

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum second-class Bachelor's Degree or equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc). OR 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

• Previous 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, CWP, EMHP and low intensity therapies)
• Proven record of previous academic attainment

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding children and young people

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of CBT theory and its application

Experience

Essential

• 2 or more years of experience of working with children and young people in a mental health setting
• Experience of multi-agency working and/or multi-disciplinary working and liaising across internal and external agencies

Desirable

• Previous experience of working within a CBT framework and/or using CBT informed interventions
• A year or more experience working within a CBT framework and/or using CBT informed interventions (e.g. PWP, CWP, EMHP and Parent Trainer)
• Experience of assessing and managing risk and safeguarding issues

Skills/Competencies

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with children, young people, and their families, whilst considering social differences
• Ability to maintain a reflective stance in emotive/challenging interactions with children and their carers
• Ability to use supervision to reflect on practice
• Ability to follow policy and clinical governance procedures and make proposal for change
• Ability to maintain accurate records
• Able to accommodate travel demands associated with the role
• Ability to complete academic work across different learning environments at postgraduate level and balance the academic demands of the course with clinical placement demands

Desirable

• Understanding of evidence based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences good clinical practice

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).

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.

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

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Eaglestone Health Centre

Hospital Campus, Standing Way, Eaglestone

Milton Keynes

MK6 3NG

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Eaglestone Health Centre

Hospital Campus, Standing Way, Eaglestone

Milton Keynes

MK6 3NG

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)