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
Child and Young People’s Mental Health Practitioner Therapy Trainee (CBT)
We have an exciting opportunity for CYP Psychological Trainings: Therapy Trainees (CBT) to join our service 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. It is expected that, upon completion of the course, candidates will move into a substantive position in the team where they were placed during their training.
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.
Main duties of the job
More information about the course content and the different modalities can be found on the Anna Freud webpage:
There is also a useful training FAQ section for prospective candidates: Prospective Trainees_ CYP IAPT Therapy Programme FAQ' - Google Docs
Course start date: 19th January 2026
Application Process
This is a dual application process. In addition to applying for this position with us, you must also complete a UCL application for the Course Team to review. The Course Team will liaise with us on whether you meet the academic requirements for the course during the recruitment process. You will only be offered a UCL training place if you are successful in securing this post and you meet the university training requirements.
Please view the attached document ‘UCL CYP PT Therapy – Application Guidance for Candidates August 2025’ for the university application link and more information on how to apply:
Working for our organisation
Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co[1]produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.
They are:
We are kind.
We are respectful.
We work together with our communities.
These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.
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).
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
What are we looking for?
We are seeking highly motivated candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children and young people’s mental health through evidence-based interventions based on NICE Guideline recommended treatment.
You will be committed to the CYP Psychological Training Programme core principles: Accessibility, accountability, participation, awareness and evidence-based practice and in providing an inclusive and effective service for children and young people, along with a dedication to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Please note: The position will be based in Chelmsford but successful candidates will be expected to travel to Anna Freud in Central London (Rodney St, N1 9JH) for teaching during the training year.
This full-time training will begin in January 2026 with around days a week for academic work (teaching and personal study), and days based at the service seeing clients (children, young people, and carers) related to training assignments. Trainees will be both an employee of the service and an enrolled student with UCL/Anna Freud. Upon completion, qualified trainees will receive a UCL Postgraduate Diploma.
Please review the additional documents for more information on the role, person specification other employment documents.
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 to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.
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. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.
Use of AI
Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.
Person specification
Shortlisting
Essential criteria
1. 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
2. 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)
3. 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
4. Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding children and young people
Shortlisting
Essential criteria
5. Ideally at least two years experience of working with children / young people in a mental health setting
6. Experience of multi agency working and liaising across internal & external agencies.
Shortlisting
Essential criteria
7. 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:
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.