Job summary
- Main area
- CYP IAPT ASC-LD Training Role (Recruit To Train Therapist)
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed term: 12 months)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 260-TP-999
- Employer
- Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £46,419 - £55,046 Per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 20/10/2025 08:00
Employer heading
CYP IAPT ASC-LD Training Role (Recruit To Train Therapist)
NHS AfC: Band 6
It is a condition of this employment that you must live in and remain a resident of the United Kingdom during your employment with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
Covid-19 Vaccination
Getting vaccinated, and getting a booster, remains the best defence against COVID-19.
We encourage and support staff to get COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose as and when they are eligible.
Please note in order to progress your application, your data will be processed by our 3rd party recruitment providers – North London Partners Shared Service, who conduct recruitment activities on behalf of The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
___________________________________________________________________________________
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health trust with a focus on training and education alongside a full range of mental health services and psychological therapies for children and their families, young people and adults.
We are committed to improving mental health and emotional wellbeing, believing that high quality mental health services should be available for all who need them. We bring a distinctive contribution based on the importance we attach to social experience at all stages of people’s lives, and our focus on psychological and developmental approaches to the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of mental ill health
We contribute to the pool of ideas through our own research and development, but are also committed to bringing together the best ideas of the time, old and new, from inside and out, together with the most gifted and able professionals in our fields of endeavour. We aim to share our ideas and practice through as many routes as possible.
As a Trust we aim constantly to be evolving in nature and form in relation to the environment in which we work, to ensure that our contribution remains relevant.
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Job overview
CYP IAPT ASC-LD Training Role (Recruit To Train Therapist)
We are advertising 1 post in MOSAIC CAMHS, a Specialist Disabilities CAMHS service in Camden, one in the Tavistock Autism and Leaning Disabilities Team.
Further information about the service is available through the links below:
MOSAIC
https://tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/services/camden-mosaic/
Job overview
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust has an exciting opportunity for a Recruit to Train Trainees (ASC-LD) to join one of our teams as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programmes.
We are looking for a dynamic clinicians with a passion for working innovatively to promote the well-being of Children, Young People and their Families to apply for these fully funded posts. This is an exciting opportunity to combine clinical experience and training and to work within a multidisciplinary team to offer therapeutic services to autistic children and young people and with ASC and/or learning disabilities.
The post holders will provide assessment and interventions and evidence-based interventions, whilst undertaking a programme of training. Applicants will be able to balance a busy work and study schedule, and to study and write academic material at postgraduate diploma level. Applicants must be prepared to study and complete assignments outside of protected study time (such as on weekends and after work).
Main duties of the job
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 related to training assignments. Trainees will be both an employee of the service and an enrolled student with UCL. 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 (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 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
Working for our organisation
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health trust with a focus on training and education alongside a full range of mental health services and psychological therapies for children and their families, young people and adults.
We are committed to improving mental health and emotional well-being, believing that high quality mental health services should be available for all who need them. We bring a distinctive contribution based on the importance we attach to social experience at all stages of people’s lives, and our focus on psychological and developmental approaches to the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of mental ill health
We contribute to the pool of ideas through our own research and development, but are also committed to bringing together the best ideas of the time, old and new, from inside and out, together with the most gifted and able professionals in our fields of endeavor. We aim to share our ideas and practice through as many routes as possible.
As a Trust we aim constantly to be evolving in nature and form in relation to the environment in which we work, to ensure that our contribution remains relevant.
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
**Please see the attached Job Description and Person specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.**
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Qualifications that demonstrate a capacity to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level
Desirable criteria
- Minimum second-class Bachelor’s Degree from a UK University or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc).
- OR Applicants who do not fulfil the academic criteria but with relevant professional experience are encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- A training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, health visiting; socialwork, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychiatry, other psychotherapy, counselling)
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of the unique challenges associated with ASC and/or LD for children, young people and their families
- Demonstrates awareness of the significantly increased risk of co-morbid mental health and other neuro-developmental problems in this population.
- Knowledge and understanding of the key features and symptoms associated with ASC and/or LD.
- Knowledge and understanding of importance to modify, adapt methods of communication and intervention for this population.
- Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding children
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrates an appreciation of the range of factors that can impact on emotional well-being of children and young people with ASC and/or LD and their families
- Demonstrates an appreciation of the MDT approach and involving other agencies, such as education and social care in order to ensure that the needs of children and young people with ASC and/or LD are well understood and effectively met.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Two years’ experience of working within a professional setting concerned with the mental health of children and young people or families (e.g. as a mental health worker, nurse, Child Wellbeing Practitioner, social worker)
- Basic level of clinical competence and experience of having worked with this clinical group for at least one year (e.g., as an OT, Assistant Psychologist, teaching assistant, learning support assistant/mentor within an SEN setting).
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working as part of the multidisciplinary team with children and young people with ASC and/or LD and their families.
- Experience of working within a professional setting concerned with the mental health, development and wellbeing of children and young people with ASC and/or LD and their families.
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to be flexible and creative in facilitating engagement with children and young people with ASC and/or LD and their families.
- Ability to adapt communication style according to the varying needs and levels of comprehension of children and young people with ASC and/or LD.
- Ability to maintain a reflective stance in emotive/challenging interactions with children and their carers.
- Ability to use supervision to reflect on practice
- Ability to organise own time and diary
- Ability to follow policy and make proposal for change
- Ability to maintain accurate records
- Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level, including IELTS or equivalent to the appropriate level for students with English as a foreign language (Level: GOOD) https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/graduate/english-languagerequirements
Desirable criteria
- Ability to adopt a multi-agency working, especially in relation to complex cases with multiple needs, where a more systemic approach is required.
- Ability to advocate for the needs for children and young people with ASC and/or LD and their families
- Ability to maintain an observational stance, particularly in relation to children and young people with ASC and/or LD who do not express themselves verbally.
- Understanding of evidence based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Kanan Pandya-Smith
- Job title
- Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
Training Information
This full-time training will begin in January 2026 with around 2 days a week for academic work (teaching and personal study), and 3 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. 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 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
Please note due to a change in process for this recruitment cycle, only shortlisted candidates will receive information on applying to UCL.
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 at the team above, but successful candidates will be expected to travel to Anna Freud in North London (Rodney St, N1 9JH) for teaching during the training year.
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
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.Please review the additional documents for more information on the role, person specification other employment documents.
List jobs with Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors