Overview
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust are seeking to recruit a Trainee Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP). The closing date is 05 November 2025.
As a Trainee CWP, you will deliver evidence-based low-intensity psychological therapies to children and young people within one of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services, based in Sunderland, South Tyneside or Gateshead. The successful applicant will gain experience in providing psychological therapies using NICE-recommended low-intensity treatments. As a trainee, you will attend the Children and Wellbeing Practitioner training programme at Northumbria University, commencing January 2026, and must be available for employment from January 2026.
Main duties
As part of their training, successful applicants will deliver psychological interventions in one of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services. Trainees will play a full part in the development of the service and will receive regular supervision.
Applicants will be required to:
* Undertake and successfully complete the Post Graduate Diploma in Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner at Northumbria University within 12 months.
* Be educated to degree level to access the Post Graduate Diploma course as per university requirements.
* Have experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and their families.
* Experience of working within the community.
* Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
* Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children and young people.
* Knowledge of universal and specialist children’s mental health service provision.
* Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Proven time and caseload management skills.
* Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other IT packages.
* Proven organisational skills.
* Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
* Trainees are eligible for training if they have not accessed an CYP-PT funded training programme within the last 2 years of qualifying.
About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust – There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to accessible services and award-winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under-represented groups. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We offer staff benefits including Fitness Centre, libraries at hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.
* Work as a member of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service (CYPMHS).
* Be part of one of the localities: Sunderland, South Tyneside or Gateshead (to be identified on appointment).
* Work with children and young people who have a range of common mental health problems in a training capacity.
* Use evidence-based interventions (Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to deliver group interventions to parents, children and young people, and deliver training.
* Work with children and young people from diverse cultural backgrounds and underserved populations, using interpreters when necessary, and commit to providing equal opportunities.
* Meet targets set within the service.
* Undertake training on the Postgraduate Diploma in Children Wellbeing Practitioner course and complete within 12 months.
Person Specification
Skills and Knowledge
* Knowledge of universal and specialist children’s mental health service provision.
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other IT packages.
* Proven organisational skills.
* Proven time and caseload management skills.
* Able to write clear reports and letters; high standard of written and oral communication.
* Ability to engage vulnerable and underserved populations.
* Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Ability to work flexibly in a variety of environments.
* Ability to work under supervision and use supervisory processes for personal and clinical development.
* Understanding of anxiety and depression in children and young people.
* Understanding of the need for evidence-based psychological therapies.
* Experience with risk assessments within scope of practice.
* Knowledge of child development and links with childhood mental health.
Qualifications
* Willingness to undertake and complete the Post Graduate Diploma in Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner at Northumbria University within 12 months.
* Degree-level education to access the Post Graduate Diploma course as per university requirements.
* Psychology or related degree.
* Professional qualification in teaching, nursing, social work, AHP, counselling or related to psychological therapy.
Physical Skills
* Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
* Ability to manage own time and diary to meet training and service demands.
* Ability to meet mobility requirements of the role.
* Ability to move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
* Ability to work flexibly, including additional or unsocial hours as needed to meet service requirements.
Experience
* Experience of supporting the mental health needs of children, young people and families.
* Experience of working in the community or education settings.
* Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and welfare promotion for children and young people.
* Experience of working in a Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service.
* Experience in a service with agreed service targets and clinical outcomes.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
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