Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video
Job overview
Exciting Opportunity: Join Our Recruit to Train Programme!
Our service is thrilled to announce multiple openings for the Recruit to Train Trainee posts, funded by NHS England (NHSE) and in partnership with Anna Freud, University College London (UCL), and Kings College London (KCL). These roles offer an excellent opportunity to train on the Children & Young People Mental Health (CYP-MH/CYP IAPT) Therapy Course while gaining valuable clinical experience in our service. We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic mental health practitioners to join our team and enhance their skills in providing evidence-based interventions for children, young people, and families.
Main duties of the job
Information about the Service
Successful candidates will work within the CAMHS or MHST services in either Barking and Dagenham or Havering. Our team is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion, and we welcome applicants from all cultural backgrounds.
Information about the Training & the Job Role
This is a fixed-term post funded by NHSE for the training year. Upon successful completion of the course, the fixed-term training contract will end. However, we are very keen to retain the practitioners post qualifying and work closely with all the teams for a retention plan.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Train on the CYP-MH/CYP IAPT Therapy Course.
2. Carry out clinical work in our service to complement studies.
3. Provide interventions for children, young people, or families using evidence-based approaches.
4. Work with diverse cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary.
Requirements:
5. Ability to balance a busy work and study schedule.
6. Enrolment in a Postgraduate Diploma course.
7. Commitment to studying and performing at an academic level, including working towards studies outside of protected study time.
8. Willingness to travel to London for in-person lectures.
Working for our organisation
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
High-Cost Area Supplement
This post may attract payment for High-Cost Area Supplement depending on location/base of either 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,714 and a maximum payment of £5,941 per annum pro rata) if in outer London, 5% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £1,303 and a maximum payment of £2,198 per annum pro rata) if in fringe or zero if outside HCAS zones.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.
Certificates of Sponsorship
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points based system. Please note when calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High Cost Area Supplement) is not included for non-registered roles. This ensures fairness and consistency within our organisation, as some of our sites fall under outer, fringe and none
Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Application Process
9. Apply for both the trainee role with our organization and the University Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Young Person IAPT Therapy. Thus, applying to both the job position and the corresponding university course simultaneously.
10. In both applications, please mention which modality/modalities you are applying for and why in your personal statement.
·Your name and relevant information will be shared between the service and the HEI to confirm eligibility and application status. Only those eligible to do the training can be offered a post where the job offer/position will continue to be subject to being able to meet the clinical and University requirement
·Applicants must be ready to start by beginning of January 2026 for our comprehensive Trust induction process and programme.
University details
For these modalities: ASC/LD, IPT-A, please apply to UCL (University College London)
Course Page: UCL Child and Young Person IAPT Therapy PG Dip
For these modalities: CBT, SFP (CDD), please apply to KCL (Kings College London)
Course Page: KCL Child and Young Person IAPT Therapy PG Dip
Information about the Service
The successful candidates would be working within the North East Foundation Trust (NELFT) CAMHS or MHST service in either Barking & Dagenham or Havering.
· Barking and Dagenham CAMHS – CBT, IPT-A
Barking and Dagenham MHST – CBT, IPT-A
·Havering MHST – ASC(LD), CBT, SFP
In your personal statement, please specify your top 3 modalities with the borough of preference as highlighted above.
Additional Information:
11. The post will be subject to a probationary period, except for internal applicants (with certain conditions).
12. Prospective employees must complete an online literacy and numeracy test.
13. New starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and undergo a comprehensive induction program.
For more detailed information about the courses and training, please refer to the AFC website and the respective university websites. We strongly recommend reading the FAQs and course brochures.
Join us in making a difference in the lives of children, young people, and families through dedicated training and service!
Interview dates: Week beginning 6th October 2025
Please note HR reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive high volume of applicants.
Person specification
Shortlisting
Essential criteria
14. Qualifications that demonstrate a capacity to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level. A registerable professional qualification in a relevant subject ( psychology, social work, counselling, nursing, occupational therapy etc) from a UK university or equivalent. Applications MAY be considered from those who do not have a registerable professional training if they have at least 3 years’ experience in a CAMHS or equivalent setting
Desirable criteria
15. Minimum second-class Bachelor’s Degree from a UK University or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject ( psychology, social work etc)
16. 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. A training in a mental-health related profession ( psychology, nursing, health visiting; social-work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychiatry, other psychotherapy, counselling).
Shortlisting
Essential criteria
17. Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding children and young people
Shortlisting
Essential criteria
18. Ideally at least two years experience of working with children / young people in a mental health setting
19. Experience of multi agency working and liaising across internal & external agencies.
Shortlisting
Essential criteria
20. Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level, including IELTS or equivalent to the appropriate level for students with English as a foreign language (BAND D)
Benefits
We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:
21. A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
22. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity.
23. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
24. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.