CYP Mental Health Practitioner Therapy Trainee: ASC/LD Modality

Training Information

This full-time training will begin in January 2027 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.

The course start date is 18th January 2027.

This is a training and employment post. Candidates will need to manage a demanding combination of academic work, self-study and clinical case work.

Clinical

Support triage of referrals for neurodevelopmental assessment;

Participate in diagnostic assessment for autism (and co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions) within a multi-disciplinary team;

Write diagnostic reports;

Mental health assessment of autistic and learning disabled children and young people;

Assessments for suitability for the treatment for which modality specific training is provided;

Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the departments referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary;

Deliver lower-intensity interventions to autistic and/or learning disabled students across special schools in Islington under the supervision of a qualified clinician;

Formulate, implement and evaluate therapeutic intervention for clients in line with their training modality and experience;

Support the delivery of intervention groups to parents/carers and/or teaching staff;

Involve the system around the child in treatment as appropriate, e.g. parent/carer, school, conveying therapy formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language;

Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.

Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate;

Collect and record routine service data including appointment recording, and routine outcome measures.

Training & Supervision

Fulfilling the requirements of and completing a PG diploma at UCL/Anna Freud including practical, academic, and practice-based assessments, alongside private study;

Apply learning from the training programme in practice;

Prepare and present clinical information for all patients on their caseload to clinical and case management supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the clinical governance obligations of the worker, supervisor and service are delivered.

Professional

Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g., BPS, HCPC, BABCP), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health;

Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times and comply with data management systems and processes including submissions to the training provider;

Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of care pathway;

Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development;

Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager;

Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives;

Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments;

Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

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 the attached document 'UCL CYP PT Therapy - Application Guidance for Candidates August 2026' for the university application link and more information on how to apply.

Any queries applicants have on the course i.e. teaching/content can be sent to the course programme team: cyppttherapy@annafreud.org.

Please be aware the information on your application form (name and contact details, qualifications and prior relevant experience) will be shared with the Anna Freud staff team as part of the recruitment process. By submitting your application to this role, you are agreeing to your details being shared with Anna Freud.

Essential: - Meets minimum academic requirements of relevant professional experience or 2nd class bachelor's degree

Desirable: - Previous training in mental health related profession

Essential: - Effective written and oral communication, and good computer literacy; - Good time management and organisational abilities

Desirable: - Able to advocate for the needs of children and young people with autism and/or LD

Essential: - Knowledge and understanding of the unique challenges for autistic/LD CYP and their families; - 2 or more year experience of working with a children and young people's MH setting; - 1 year or more of clinical competence and experience working with autistic and/or LD people

Desirable: - Knowledge of MDT approach; - Experience of safeguarding

Essential: - Motivated to learn and be challenged; - Capacity to work well in teams.