South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Trainee Childrens Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP)
The closing date is 05 November 2025
The Trust is seeking to recruit a Trainee Childrens Wellbeing Practitioner. If successful you will be delivering evidence-based low intensity psychological therapies to children and young people in one of the children and young people’s mental health services based in either Sunderland, South Tyneside or Gateshead.
As a trainee you will also be expected to attend the Children and Wellbeing Practitioner training programme at the University of Northumberland at Newcastle (UNN) which will enable you to deliver these interventions. The training course with the University commences in January 2026; therefore it is essential that the trainee will be available for employment January 2026.
Main duties of the job
As part of their training, successful applicants will deliver psychological interventions in one of the children, young people and mental health services. The practitioner will play a full part in the effective development of the services. Regular supervision is an important aspect of the work of the service and trainees will receive regular supervision.
Applicants will be required to:
* Undertake and successfully complete training in the Post Graduate Diploma in Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner at Northumbria University within 12 months.
* Be educated to degree level in order to access the Post Graduate Diploma course as per the 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 associated 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 a 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 our 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 peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under-represented groups. Looking after our workforce health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. 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 also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre, libraries at both 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 individual 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.
* Post holder to work as a member of the Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Service (CYPMHS).
* Post holder to be part of one of the localities of Sunderland, South Tyneside or Gateshead.
* Post holder to work with children and young people who have a range of common mental health problems in a training capacity.
* Post holder to use evidence-based interventions as per clinical training (Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), to deliver evidence-based group work interventions to parents, children and young people, and deliver training.
* Post holder to work with children and young people from different cultural backgrounds and underserved populations, using interpreters when necessary and be committed to providing equal opportunities.
* Post holder to meet targets that are set within the service.
* Post holder to successfully undertake training on the Postgraduate Diploma in Children Wellbeing Practitioner course at Northumbria University and complete it within 12 months.
Skills and Knowledge
* Knowledge of universal and specialist children's mental health service provision.
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other associated IT packages.
* Proven organisational skills.
* Proven time and caseload management skills.
* Ability to write clear reports and letters.
* Demonstrates a high standard in both 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 make good use of the supervisory process for personal and clinical development.
* Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how this may present in children and young people.
* Demonstrates an understanding of the need for evidence-based psychological therapies.
* Received training either formal or through experience and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice.
* Demonstrates a knowledge of child development and the links with childhood mental health.
Qualifications
* Willingness to undertake and successfully complete training in the Post Graduate Diploma in Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner at Northumbria University within 12 months.
* Be educated to degree level in order to access the Post Graduate Diploma course as per the University requirements.
* Psychology or other related degree.
* Professional qualification teaching, nursing, SW, AHP, Counselling or within a psychological therapy.
Physical Skills
* Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
* Ability to manage own time and diary and to manage demands of both training course and work in service.
* Ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role.
* Ability to on occasion, move and handle objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids.
* Ability to work flexibly sometimes working additional or unsocial hours as necessary to meet the needs of the service and ensure a complete understanding is had in relation to care delivery.
Experience
* Experience of working to support the mental health needs of children, young people and their families.
* Experience of working within the community or education setting.
* Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the promotion of welfare in children and young people.
* Experience of working in a Children and young people’s mental health service.
* Working in a service where agreed service targets are in place that demonstrates clinical outcomes.
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.
Employer name
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
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