Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity to join our West London NHS CAMHS 0-5s team as a Therapy Trainee Practitioner on the Early Years and Infant Mental Health Pathway (1 year fixed term), as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Recruit to Train Programme in partnership with Anna Freud Centre and University College London.

We are recruiting trainees across West London CAMHS. The post-holders will be training on the Child and Young People's Psychological Trainings: Early Years and Infant Mental Health Course and carrying out clinical work in our service to complement their studies and use their newly developed skills. We are seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic mental health practitioners with a passion for working with families and children age 0 to 2 or 3 to 5 years old to work and train within our service. This posts may suit a professional with an existing core training who is looking to develop their expertise in clinical, therapeutic practice with children age 0-5 and their families.

This is a training position and so all candidates will need to apply for both the trainee role with our organisation and the UCL Post Graduate Diploma in IEYP Early Childhood Pathway Course in order to be shortlisted. Please see attached documentation detailing the application process for the academic course.

Please note that this job vacancy may close early due to a high number of candidates.

Main duties of the job
You will offer a high-quality service to children age 0-2 or 3-5 and their families / carers, alongside working effectively with your colleagues and liaising with other professionals in the network. The training will enable you to deliver, under intensive supervision, high quality, focused evidence-based individual and group interventions for children age 0-2 or 3-5 and their parents or carers. The training will equip those in post to develop and operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven mental health service and team working specifically with children age 0-2 or 3-5 years old. The roles will be exciting and varied, including individual and group working in a CAMHS setting and also working in community Children's Centre or Family Hub settings, offering consultation and support to parents and professionals. The development role enables the post holders to develop a range of clinical skills and experience whilst studying for a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Infant or Early Years Mental Health. The post provides excellent opportunities for professional development and regular supervision.

About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Qualifications

• 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 are still encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Include any service-specific requirement for a core professional qualification where relevant.

Skills competencies

• 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 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 follow policy and clinical governance procedures and make proposals for change;
• 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;
• Demonstrates adaptability and able to work with diverse communities;
• Good time management and organisational abilities and ability to work autonomously where required;
• Effective oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to observe, assess, and think about children's emotional wellbeing and relational needs within their family and caregiving context.

Knowledge

• 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 early child development theory and of 0-5 services (e.g. health visiting, early help, and holistic approaches);
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues relating to very young children.
• Knowledge of the importance of the parent-child relationship and early relational development in supporting emotional wellbeing across the 0-5 period.

Experience

• 2 or more years of experience working with the development and wellbeing of children and young children aged 0-5 and their families.
• Experience of children aged 0-5 and their development in a personal, voluntary or observational capacity.
• Experience of multi-agency working and liaising across internal & external agencies.
• Experience of observing and thinking about children's emotional wellbeing, relationships, and caregiving contexts across the 0-5 age range.

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.