Trainee Children's Wellbeing Practitioner

Job overview

Islington CAMHS are looking to recruit two trainee CWPs to continue to improve children and young people’s mental health services in Islington. The training forms part of the service transformation initiative delivered by Health Education England as part of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health (CYP-MH) programme. Trainees will be employed by Whittington Health, managed and supervised by a CAMHS clinician to train for a one-year post graduate qualification (PG Diploma Child and Young Persons Psychological Wellbeing Practice) through University College London.

PLEASE NOTE: You will need to submit an application to University College London for a place on the programme, in addition to the job application for Islington CAMHS in order to be shortlisted. Please see the UCL Guidance document attached for university entry criteria.

Candidates will need to be in post for 11th January 2027 in order to start the CWP training course with UCL on 15th January 2027.

This post will be capped at 50 applicants so may be subject to closing earlier than the suggested end date.

If shortlisted, we will be asking candidates to send in a short video recording before the interview explaining anxiety. This will be explained to you if you are contacted with an interview date.

There will also be opportunity to meet current CWPs for any questions.

Interview date: Projected for 9th October 2026 (Subject to change)

Main duties of the job

This is a training position; the post holder will undertake online and face to face training at University College London alongside working face to face in service for Islington CAMHS. They will be taught to deliver evidence based guided self-help interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The post holder will use their newly developed skills to support children and young people who are referred into the service and trainees will receive supervision to support their professional development. The training and service experience will equip the post holder with the necessary knowledge, attitude and capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service.

The post holder will attend all university London based taught and self-study days required by the education provider in person and online, as specified within the agreed national curriculum and work in the service for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills. The CWPs therefore must work full time and be available for all training days from January 2027.

The post-holder will work within Islington CAMHS delivering, under supervision, high-quality; brief outcome focused evidence-based interventions and guided self-help for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

Please read all the attached documents before applying for the role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• 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.

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

1.6. Accept referrals within agreed national and local protocols.

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

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

1.9. 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.

1.10. 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.

1.11. 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.

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

1.13. 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.

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

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

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

• 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.

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

2.3. Apply learning from the training programme to practice.

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

2.5. Prepare and present case load information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor and service are delivered.

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.

• PROFESSIONAL

3.1. Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating bodies and keep up-to-date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the relevant departments.

3.2. Ensure that confidentiality is protected at all times.

3.3. Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with supervisor and senior colleagues on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.

3.4. Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.

3.5. Keep all records up to date in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal development plans maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.

3.6. Attend relevant conferences/workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

• GENERAL

4.1. Support the collection of data and facilitate data flow to the New Workforce Development team.

4.2. Contribute to the development of best practice within the service.

4.3. Ensure a comprehensive understanding of the relevant safeguarding legislation, guidance and best practice.

4.4. Maintain up-to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to children and young people’s mental health

4.5. All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.

4.6. It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

• To work flexibly to meet the core aims of service delivery to clients.
• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and professional self-governance in accordance with service and trust policies and procedures.
• To attend Community CAMHS and discipline specific meetings as may be agreed with Professional Lead and Line Manager.
• To carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade, as directed by the line manager.
• This Job Description does not provide an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder in light of service development.

For further details / informal visits contact:

Name

Siobhan Kelly

Job title

CWP Team Lead

Email address

siobhan.kelly17@nhs.net

Telephone number

020 33161824

Additional contact information

Lauren Hassan

020 3316 1824

Lauren.Hassan1@nhs.net

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.