Job Description

One fixed-term training post (1.0 WTE total) is available in Islington's School Wellbeing Service.



Our service has an exciting opportunity for a NHSE funded training post as part of the Child and Young People's (CYP) Psychological Trainings; which involves part time working as a Practitioner in Islington's School Wellbeing Service and part time studying with University College London(UCL)/Anna Freud Centre undertaking a programme of training in Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression in adolescents (IPT-A).



This intensive training post will equip the post-holder to provide interventions for children, young people or families using the core principles of the CYP Psychological Training Programme and consistent with the evidence base in the area of IPT-A. The post-holder will work in the service, for at least 2.5 days of the week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme or undertaking self-study days for the remaining days, as required by the education provider.



The post holder will hold an appropriate training case load and complete the necessary assignments to meet the course requirements. The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.



We are seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic mental health practitioners to work and train within our service.



The successful applicant will join one of our two locality teams in Islington's School Wellbeing Service. This intensive training post will equip the post-holder to provide interventions for children, young people or families using the core principles of the CYIAPT Training Programme and consistent with the evidence base in the area of IPT-A. The post-holder will work in the service, for at least 2.5 days of the week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme or undertaking self-study days for the remaining days, as required by the education provider.



The post holder will hold an appropriate training case load and complete the necessary assignments to meet the course requirements. The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.



The position will be based in the Laycock Centre, N1 1TH and across schools in Islington. Successful candidates will also 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 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/



This is a great time to join our service. We are a strong, well established friendly team with professionals from a wide range of therapeutic backgrounds and experiences. We are excited about developing the MHST in Islington so that more children and families can receive this vital support at an earlier stage in their schools.



We are committed to supporting staff development and offer additional training opportunities and reflective spaces to support your wellbeing and further promote your development as a clinician while working with us.



The community served is multi-ethnic and culturally diverse and we welcome applicants who are skilled at working with the richness and complexity of our multicultural context. We are keen to recruit applicants that reflect the local community and support them to remain in post.



We offer an exciting and dynamic environment where your ideas and career development will be valued. You will be supported directly by senior colleagues and we will develop the service together.



Please see attached JD/PS for job description for full details.



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 in Islington School Wellbeing Service but also enrolled on a Postgraduate Diploma course. 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/Anna Freud. Upon completion, qualified trainees will receive a UCL Postgraduate Diploma. 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.



Please note that IPTUK accreditation requirements mean that applicants must have:



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 Training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. EMHP, PWP, MH nursing, psychotherapy, counselling) AND Registered/accredited Professional Qualification in a MH profession - this is a pre-requisite for future registration with IPTUK (see https://www.iptuk.net/accreditation-standards.html ).



Candidates will need to be ready to start work on Monday 12th January 2026 and posts cannot be offered to candidates unless they can guarantee this start date.



Please note that applications will not be considered from applicants who are formally registered (or re-sitting examinations) for another concurrent programme of study at UCL or any other Higher Education Institution.



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.



More information about the courses and how the training works can be found here (AFC website) including the course brochures, and we strongly recommend you read the FAQs.



NHSE have implemented a rule regarding beneficiaries of their training year funding - this affects candidates who have been on one of the courses listed on the NHSE website from 1 st August 2022. We recommend you read this if you plan to apply to future trainings.



If you apply to this job, you are giving permission for information to be shared between the Course Team at the HEI and the Recruitment team at the Service. The only information that is shared will be relevant to establishing eligibility for the job/course. No irrelevant information will be disclosed or discussed in relation to your application.



As these are training positions, please be aware that this is a dual application process where you must be employed in a Recruit to Train funded job to also receive a place on the course, and vice-versa. If you are ineligible for the University Course, we will be unable to be offer the role. If you withdraw from an employment offer but you have accepted a university offer, you will be unable to join the course.



Please note in this instance the course is not optional; the roles are dependent on meeting all course requirements. Applicants for this training at UCL will need to be available to start by the 12th of January 2025 at the latest (with the course starting on the 19th January 2026)



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.