Job overview
Our service has an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Trainings: Therapy Trainee (ASC/LD) to join our team 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.
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.
Please note you need to complete 2 applications one for the CAMHS roles and the other for the University Course.
Main duties of the job
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Our service has an exciting opportunity to join the NDT CAMHS teams as a Recruit to Train Trainee, part of the National Health Service England (NHSE) funded Recruit to Train Programme in partnership with the Anna Freud Centre and University College London. The post-holders will be training on the Children & Young People Mental Health (CYP-MH) ASC/LD modality 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 to work and train within our service. The training post will equip the post-holder to provide interventions for children, young people or families using evidence-based interventions consistent with the course they are attending. The post holders will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages and developmental needs, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Working for our organisation
East London NHS Foundation Trust – This is an exciting time for ELFT. Our vision is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations. We want to improve the health of the populations we serve, improve their experience of care, improve staff experience and improve value. Working with our communities and partners is to key to achieving this.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please also refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
This full-time training will begin in January 2026 with around 2.5 days a week for academic work (teaching and personal study), and 2.5 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.
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 page below - Applying to the Postgraduate Diploma in Children and Young Person’s Psychological Trainings: Therapy - UCL & Anna Freud for the university application link and more information on how to apply.
Direct UCL application link:
Application guidance document for candidates:
For more information about the course and minimum entry criteria, please see the course page and brochures:
Information about the Service
The successful candidates would join our thriving and innovative multi-disciplinary service. Luton specialist NDT CAMHS which is a multi-disciplinary team delivering a wide range of mental health assessments and therapeutic interventions to children, young people between the ages of 0-18 with neurodevelopmental needs and their families
Luton is fast growing hubs and multi-ethnic communities with excellent rail links to London. The Trust has an arrangement for 50% discount on season ticket fares with Thameslink, the rail provider, for its staff.
South Bedfordshire and Luton Specialist CAMHS are part of ELFT (East London Foundation Trust), which also provides CAMHS services in East London. They are well-established multidisciplinary services that provide a comprehensive stepped model of care for children, young people and their families in the locality. CAMH Access Services provide a first step level of early intervention (mild to moderate) mental health care through GP practices, schools, provisions and Early Help services. For our second level of care we provide four discrete pathways (for moderate to severe mental health): emotional & behavioural difficulties in childhood and adolescence (EBT), adolescent complex and crisis care (AMHT), neurodevelopmental child & adolescent care (NDT), and our county wide eating disorders care (CEDS). We also have a well-established Crisis and Home Treatment Team service providing care for those children and young-people presenting with high levels of need and risk.
Please note: The position will be based at Luton and South Bedfordshire CAMHS at Charter House, Alma Street, Luton, LU1 2PJ and a successful candidate will be expected to travel to Anna Freud in Central London (Rodney St, N1 9JH) for teaching during the training year.
More information about the course content and the different modalities see the page below.
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.
This role will be best suited for applicants that are able to balance a very busy work and study schedule. You will be an employee at the service but also enrolled on a Postgraduate Diploma course. As this is a Postgraduate level training, you will be required to study and perform at academic level. Applicants must be prepared to work towards their studies outside of protected study time (such as on weekends and after work). Protected study time or teaching days are typically two days a week during term (with possibility of extra university days near start) and will be a mixture of in person and online sessions. Applicants must be willing to travel into London to attend their lectures.
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic practitioner who is keen to develop further experience, training and knowledge of delivering evidence-based interventions to children and their carers/families. The successful candidate will work in one of our core specialist CAMHS pathways providing interventions for a range of moderate to severe mental health problems under supervision from a senior colleague.
Responsibilities will include direct clinical work and management of complex and sometimes high risk cases with support of your line manager and clinical supervisor. You will be a member of the MDT and involved in multi-disciplinary meetings and broader service developments. You will be expected to liaise with other agencies involved in the care of the children and young people on your caseload, including schools, social care or other community agencies.
This is a fixed term post with this training year funded by NHSE. After successful completion of the course the fixed term training contract will end and were available applicants would be encouraged to apply for any vacant posts within the service.
Please review the additional documents for more information on the role, person specification other employment documents.
Course start date: 19th January 2026
For further information regarding this post, please contact:
Dr Ellen Mackey, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Neuro-developmental Team (NDT) CAMHS,
Natalie Chakaduka, Operational Lead, Neuro-developmental Team (NDT) CAMHS,
Telephone number: 01525 638614 or 01525 638613.
We are expecting a high number of applicants for this post, so please apply early. We will need to close the advert before the official closing date, if we have reached our agreed maximum number of applicants.
As you also apply for a training course that is delivered by Anna Freud and UCL, your data may be shared with them for the purpose of processing your application (shortlisting) and enrolling you onto this Programme.
Person specification
Educational/Qualification
Essential criteria
1. Degree in a mental-health, health or social care related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, social-work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy) & CYP IAPT ASD/LD Training
Desirable criteria
2. Knowledge of adapted CBT principles and PBS orientated approaches
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Experience of having worked with children/ adolescents with neuro-developmental disorders and comorbid mental health difficulties for at least two years
4. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
5. Experience in assessments (i.e. use of screening tools, or school observations) of children/ adolescents with suspected ASD
Desirable criteria
6. Experience in delivering adapted CBT for ASD and comorbid anxiety/depression
7. Experience in delivering interventions informed by PBS principles
8. Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
9. Knowledge of features/ symptoms of ASD/LD, aetiology, comorbidities, and challenges associated with ASD/LD
10. Knowledge and understanding of NICE Guidelines
11. Understanding of issues related to post-diagnosis
12. Ability to work effectively as part of a team
13. Knowledge and understanding of importance to modify, adapt methods of communication and intervention for this population
14. Ability to be flexible and creative in facilitating engagement with children/ adolescents with ASD and/or LD and their families
15. Ability to maintain a reflective stance in emotive/challenging interactions with children and their carers
16. Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload
17. Able to record and report on clinical information as required
18. Highly competent in use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SPSS
19. Good research and statistical skills, including ability to access and search evidence based resources
20. Aware of the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health
21. Able to be flexible and adapt approach according to need
22. Able to work independently and to seek support as appropriate
23. Able to use supervision well to improve output
Desirable criteria
24. Understanding of the range of factors that can impact on emotional well-being of children and young people with ASD and/or LD and their families
25. Experience in working with other agencies with this population
26. Ability to maintain an observational stance, particularly in relation to children and young people with ASD and/or LD who do not express themselves verbally
27. Having experience of contributing to assessment reports for children with ASD/LD in a mental health settin
28. Having experience of using outcome measures and producing reports
Personal
Essential criteria
29. Ability to engage with young people individually and in groups
30. Able to contain and work with organisational stress and able to hold the stress of others
31. Able to sit in constrained positions for a substantial proportion of working time
32. Able to concentrate intensely for a substantial proportion of working time, during client contact, teaching sessions, team meetings, preparing written work etc.
33. Able to effectively manage exposure to distressing/highly emotional circumstances
34. Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals. Willing to negotiate and can handle confrontation effectively and professionally