Mental Health Practitioner Trainee- Autism Spectrum Condition or Learning Difficulties (ASC/LD)

This is a 1-year fixed term contract. The successful candidate must be able to start the post on 11th January 2027.

Step2 is an Early Intervention Child and Young People's Mental Health Service working towards improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people in Hertfordshire.

We have an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Trainings: Therapy Trainee (ASC/LD) 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.

*Proposed interview date: 22nd September 2026*

Main duties of the job
Course start date: 18th January 2027.

The post holder will be expected to have 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.

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/

For full details see the attached documents: Job Description & Person Specification, Full advert and UCL CYP PT Therapy - Application Guidance for Candidates .

This is a dual application process. You must also complete a UCL application for the Course Team to review. You will only be offered a UCL training place if you are successful in securing this post and you meet the university training requirements.

Candidates who have not applied to the university by the closing date of this advert will not be eligible for offer of an interview.

Online applications for the UCL training are made on the UCL application portal via the following link: https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login_enc?0qhYzuG1h9udTFM8i9sPhtGiUgIR6D6iP0QBDHq24aUE7Anl4FtDGBDmc3LlBtzaLnpmgGfEEG0=

This vacancy will close early if we receive a high volume of applications.

About us
A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.

You'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff.

We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities.

Our staff are proud to be Pioneering, Caring and Inclusive in their work to help achieve the Trust vision.

We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds.

We don't want you to miss out so we'd like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now.

You can apply to Access to Work to get money for communication support at a job interview - please use this link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-communication-support-at-a-job-interview-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-access-to-work

The use of AI is monitored and if you have used it then you are required to declare this, as well as what type of AI tools you have used and for what purpose. We reserve the right to further test your individual knowledge and skills in relation to the requirements for the post through robust and thorough interview and assessment.

Details
Date posted: 28 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 812-26-KR-Step2-CYP1096
Job locations: Starfish House, 3 North Road, Stevenage, SG1 4AT, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
We will communicate any interview arrangements with applicants via e-mail so it is advisable that you check the email address you give on your application on a regular basis.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band. All new appointments (excluding Medical & Dental roles) are subject to a 13 week probation period.

We are proud to be an armed forces friendly employer and support the employment of the armed forces community, including veterans, spouses and partners. For more information, contact hct.armedforcesrecruitment@nhs.net

Staff are required to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use with business insurance (unless the member of staff has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

HCT will prioritise recruitment of workers living in England under the new immigration rules for care workers effective from 9 April 2025. Employers must first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This ensures that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
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 have relevant professional experience.
• Ability to study and complete academic work at postgraduate study level and balance the academic demands of the course with clinical placement demands.

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development
• 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)
• Proven record of previous academic attainment

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of the key features and symptoms associated with Autism and/or Learning Disabilities
• Knowledge and understanding of the unique challenges for Autistic/LD children and young people and their families
• Awareness and understanding of the significantly increased risk of co-morbid mental health challenges and other neuro-developmental challenges within the Autistic population
• Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding children.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the MDT approach and collaborative working with other agencies to ensure the needs of Autistic/LD children and young people are understood and effectively met (i.e. education and social care agencies)
• Knowledge of legislation and policy and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group and mental health

Experience
Essential

• 2 or more years of experience working within a children and young people's mental health setting (e.g. mental health worker)
• 1 year or more of clinical competence and experience working with Autistic and/or LD individuals.

Desirable

• Previous experience of working with safeguarding issues
• Experience of working as part of the multi-disciplinary team with children and young people with Autism and/or LD and their families

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Ability to have a flexible and creative approach to facilitating engagement with Autistic and/or LD children and young people
• Ability to adapt methods of communication and intervention for the varying needs and levels of the children and young people's Autistic and/or LD population
• Ability to maintain a reflective stance in emotive/challenging interactions with children and their carers.
• Ability to personally manage sensitive and potentially emotionally distressing caseload material.
• Proficient IT skills with the ability to learn the electronic patient record system and maintain accurate records.
• Ability to work in isolation, manage own caseload be flexible and respond to rapid changes and maintain intense concertation on a frequent basis.
• Ability to follow policy and clinical governance procedures.
• Able to accommodate travel demands associated with the role.

Desirable

• Ability to adopt multi-agency working, especially in relation to complex cases with multiple needs, where a more systemic approach is required.
• Ability to advocate for the needs of children and young people with Autism and/or LD and their families.
• Ability to maintain an observational stance, particularly in relation to children and young people with Autism and/or LD who do not express themselves verbally.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice.

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Willingness to uphold the Trust's values
• Eligible to live and work in the UK
• Hold a full, valid, UK driving license and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
• Motivated to learn and be challenged
• Capacity to work well in teams
• Application to UCL submitted

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Address: Starfish House, 3 North Road, Stevenage, SG1 4AT, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.hct.nhs.uk

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Team Leader, Kirsty Robertson, kirsty.robertson12@nhs.net