Job summary
The UCLH Dept Child and Adolescent Psychological Medicine / Services has an exciting opportunity for CYP Psychological Trainings: Therapy Trainee ASD/LD to join our team as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programme. The post-holder will work within our Psychological Medicine service delivering, under supervision, high-quality evidence-based interventions for children and young people experiencing moderate mental health difficulties with Autism or Learning Difficulties. 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.

This is a 12 month fixed-term training role within the Child and Young Persons Improving Access To Psychological Therapies Programme (CYP-IAPT). The post-holder will work within the Dept of Children and Young People's Psychological Medicine / Services within the Paediatric and Adolescent Division, providing interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role.

Applicants should also apply directly to the course via the UCL application portal via the following link: https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app&code1=TPPPSYSCYP24&code2=0006

Main duties of the job

• With the assistance of their clinical supervisor accept appropriate referrals; access clients for suitability for the treatment for which modality specific training is provided.
• Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the department's referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapeutic intervention for clients in line with their training modality and experience.
• Involve the system around the child in treatment as appropriate, e.g. parent/carer, school, conveying therapy formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
• Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
• Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
• Fulfilling the requirements of and completing a PG diploma at UCL/Anna Freud including practical, academic, and practice-based assessments, alongside private study.
• Communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with the multidisciplinary team, patients and their family, visitors or carers, and other clinicians involved in the care of the patient, e.g. General Practitioners.

Salary
£47,951 to £56,863 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS. Pay scheme: Agenda for change, Band 6. Contract: Fixed term, 12 months. Working pattern: Full-time.

Job locations
University College London Hospitals, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG, United Kingdom

About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Person Specification
Essential knowledge and qualifications

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

Essential experience

• 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.

Essential skills and abilities

• 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.
• Ability to reflect on own practice (in clinical supervision and practice tutor groups with course peers).
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to complete academic work at postgraduate level and balance the academic demands of the course with clinical placement demands.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• IT/Computer literate.

Essential communication, personal and people development

• Motivated to learn and be challenged.
• Capacity to work well in teams.
• Ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Flexible, creative and problem-solving approach.
• Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team.

Essential equality, diversity and inclusion

• Demonstrable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion within their existing practice and/or knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties.

Essential specific requirements

• Ability and experience of working from home, and at UCLH.
• Flexibility with working hours, according to demands of patients if required.
• Any other duties within the scope of practice as the service needs develop.

Desirable

• Ability to study and complete academic work at postgraduate study level.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.

Employer details
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG, United Kingdom. Website: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk

For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Psychologist Katie McDonnell, katie.mcdonnell1@nhs.net

Date posted: 19 October 2026
Closing date: 02 November 2026
Reference number: 309-UCLH-8342705-A