Job summary
- Main area
- Recruit to Train
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Training Contract)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00)
- Job ref
- 395-EC287-25
- Employer
- NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Mid & South Essex MHST
- Town
- TBC
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/10/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 17/10/2025
Employer heading

Recruit to Train CYP - CBT Anxiety & Depression
NHS AfC: Band 6
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 five 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
Exciting Opportunity: Join Our Recruit to Train Programme!
Our service has an exciting opportunity for a Recruit to Train Trainee CYP RtT - CBT Anxiety and Depression to join our team as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programmes (formerly CYP-IAPT).
Recruit to Train is a government-funded initiative aiming to grow the child mental health workforce to meet much needed demand. To help reach this goal, NHSE covers salary and training costs for a 1-year post, allowing services to employ trainees to aid in implementing new or expanding existing 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: The position will be based within MHSTs across Mid and South Essex with a negotiable base and successful candidates will be expected to travel in the role and to Anna Freud in North London (Rodney St, N1 9JH) for teaching during the training year.
Main duties of the job
What are we looking for?
We are seeking highly motivated candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children’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.
Training Information
This full-time training will begin in January 2025 with around 2.5 days a week for academic work (teaching and personal study), and 2.5 days based at the service seeing clients 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.
Working for our organisation
Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-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.
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Application 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 (such as academic background, relevant experience, visa approval). Please note due to a change in process for this recruitment cycle, only shortlisted candidates will receive information on applying to UCL.
Please review the additional documents for more information on the role, person specification other employment documents.
Key Responsibilities:
- Train on the CYP-MH Therapy Course.
- Carry out clinical work in our service to complement studies.
- Provide interventions for children, young people, or families using evidence-based approaches.
- Work with diverse cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary.
Requirements:
- Ability to balance a busy work and study schedule.
- Enrolment in a Postgraduate Diploma course.
- Commitment to studying and performing at an academic level, including working towards studies outside of protected study time.
- Willingness to travel to London for in-person lectures.
More information about the course content and the different modalities can be found on the Anna Freud webpage: https://www.annafreud.org/ucl-postgraduate-study/ucl-postgraduate-programmes/child-and-young-person-iapt-therapy-pg-dip/
There is also a useful training FAQ section for prospective candidates: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KlJh8GmnzJKonKFYJISG7apA9KBJNf5LYZRh6QJUXL0/edit?usp=sharing
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
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- For CYP - PT (CBT) a minimum of a second class bachelors degree in a relevant subject and/or a recognisable professional qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- At least 2 years working in mental health / education setting with CYP.
- Experience of multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary working and liaising across internal and external agencies.
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience of working within a CBT framework and/or using CBT informed interventions
- Previous training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, health visiting, social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychiatry, psychotherapy, counselling, CWP, EMHP and low intensity therapies)
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to study at postgraduate level
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
If you require any additional support during the application process please contact [email protected]. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment journey.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Melanie Kemp
- Job title
- Operational Manager Mid Essex MHST
- Email address
- [email protected]
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