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
Join Our Team as a Children and Young People's Mental Health Practitioner
We are excited to offer a unique opportunity for dedicated individuals to join our team of Children and Young People Practitioners (CYP-MH) in Barking and Dagenham MHST. We are looking for graduate-level practitioners who are passionate about improving mental health services for children and young people in our community. Successful candidates will receive full funding for a one-year postgraduate diploma in Child Wellbeing Practice at King's College London, alongside NHS Agenda for Change Band 4 remuneration.
About the Role:
As a trainee in the Children and Young People's Mental Health (CYP-MH) program, you will work within our community-focused mental health service. Under close supervision, you will deliver high-quality, brief, evidence-based interventions and guided self-help for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. This training role will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to operate effectively in a value-driven service environment.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities:
1. Therapeutic Skills: Assess and deliver outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. Support self-management of mental health difficulties in collaboration with children, young people, and their families. Develop intervention plans and agreed outcomes in partnership with children, young people, and families. Operate from an inclusive values base, recognizing and respecting diversity. Maintain accurate assessment of risk and escalate cases when necessary. Adhere to service protocols and ensure timely access and minimal waiting times.
2. Training and Supervision: Attend all university-based teaching and protected learning time as required. Apply theoretical knowledge from the training program to practical situations. Engage in regular supervision sessions and respond to developmental feedback.
3. Professional Development: Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, and best practices. Ensure confidentiality and maintain professional standards at all times. Participate in continuous professional development and performance reviews.
4. General Duties: Support data collection and contribute to the development of best practices within the service. Ensure compliance with safeguarding legislation and data protection policies.
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 also attracts payment for High-Cost Area Supplement depending on location/base of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,714 and a maximum payment of £5,941 per annum pro rata) for outer London or 5% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £1,303 and a maximum payment of £2,198 per annum pro rata) for Fringe or zero for non 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.
Training and Development:
This is primarily a training role where you will balance academic studies with practical experience. You will attend King's College London for the postgraduate diploma while actively contributing to our service. Training will focus on delivering evidence-based guided self-help for mild to moderate anxiety, low mood, and common behavioural difficulties.
Application Requirements:
Applicants must be ready to start in early to mid-January 2026 and should submit their application to King's College London for the Diploma in Child Wellbeing Practice concurrently with their job application. Please review the job description and person specification to ensure you meet the criteria.
Interview Dates: From week beginning 6th October 2025
Please note HR reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive high volume of applicants.
Information about the Service
The successful candidates would be working within the North East Foundation Trust (NELFT) in the below teams.
·Barking and Dagenham – MHST
We welcome applications from individuals in our local communities and encourage you to join us in making a positive impact on the lives of children and young people in need of mental health support.
For more information and to apply, please visit the King's College London CYP-MH website: King's College London CYP-MH
Please note: This position is subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt unless currently in a probationary period or a bank member of staff.
At NELFT, we prioritize the quality of our services and the proper induction of new starters. All new employees will undergo a comprehensive induction process, including mandatory training and system familiarization, held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Join us and be part of a transformative initiative to improve mental health services for children and young people in our community!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. Undergraduate degree, upper second class
6. Relevant professional experience in CYP Mental Health/Education/Mentorship (to be considered on a case-by-case basis)
Desirable criteria
7. Psychology or related subject, OR any subject with further training or experience in a relevant field
Experience
Essential criteria
8. Previous experience of working with children and young people
Desirable criteria
9. Previous experience of working with children and young people in Mental Health
Skills
Essential criteria
10. Ability to study as a self motivated learner and implement training with appropriate support
11. Knowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health
Desirable criteria
12. Ability to manage own caseload and time
13. Shows enthusiasm in personal statement
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:
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.