Job Description

Children & Young Person's CBT Trainee Therapist (Recruit to Train)

Base: Dartford (with travel across North Kent and Medway)

Fixed-term: 12 months from January 2026 to January 2027

Salary: 32,700.18 - 35,162.46 + travel expenses

North Kent Mind has been funded by NHS England to deliver Recruit to Train placements to grow the children and young people's (CYP) mental health workforce. We are offering an exciting opportunity for a CBT Trainee Therapist, who will study on the Postgraduate Diploma in CYP CBT at King's College London while gaining supervised clinical experience in our CYP services.

This is a funded training role. The post is fixed-term for 12 months from January 2026 and combines 2 days per week university study with 3 days per week in-service delivery. You will complete at least 200 hours of CBT practice across the year and treat at least 8 individual cases, supported by weekly supervision from BABCP-accredited supervisors.

You will work with children and young people experiencing anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, OCD and related difficulties. North Kent Mind will provide access to clients, triage and referral pathways, and ensure you are embedded in our ethos and values.

If you are passionate about supporting children and young people and ready to take the next step in your career, please apply

to both North Kent Mind and the University today!

These are funded training places with limited availability, and applications will be considered as they are received. Early application is strongly encouraged!

Applicants must:

Apply to

North Kent Mind

for the trainee post. Apply to

Kings College London

for the Postgraduate Diploma in ASC/LD Psychological Therapies (CYP-PT programme): https://apply.kcl.ac.uk/
Both applications must be successful for a place to be confirmed.

Purpose of Post

North Kent Mind has been funded by NHS England to deliver a range of 'Recruit to Train' placements to expand the children and young people's (CYP) mental health workforce. This role is a 12-month training post linked to King's College London's Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for CYP.

The post holder will undertake university training (Mondays-Tuesdays) and provide therapeutic interventions in service (Wednesdays-Fridays), working towards completing at least 200 hours of CBT practice across the year and treatment of a minimum of 8 individual cases, each seen for at least six sessions. The role will focus on delivering evidence-based CBT interventions for anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), under close supervision from BABCP-accredited supervisors.

North Kent Mind will support trainees by providing access to appropriate referrals through our established local connections and pathways. This placement forms part of the national strategy to expand access to timely, evidence-based support for CYP and to strengthen the local mental health workforce.

Structure of the Post

The CBT Trainee Therapist will be based at North Kent Mind's Dartford office and will be employed by and fully embedded within North Kent Mind, working in line with the organisation's ethos, vision and values as well as the academic and clinical requirements of the UCL ASC/LD training programme.

The post holder will report to the CYP NHSE Placement Coordinator, who provides line management and day-to-day support, with overall accountability resting with the CYP Manager.

The role involves close collaboration with training providers (KCL), North Kent Mind supervisors, and local partners.

Trainees will attend teaching days at King's College London on Mondays and Tuesdays, with the remainder of the week focused on delivering CBT practice, supervision, and service integration activities.

Travel beyond the contractual base will be claimable in line with North Kent Mind's policies. Flexibility will be essential, as the role combines academic study, placement requirements, and service delivery.

A: DUTIES OF THE POST: GENERAL

These duties apply to all North Kent Mind Staff:

1. To work within a framework which:

i. Abides by all the policies of North Kent Mind, including Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality, Health and Safety, Information Governance, GDPR.

ii. Promotes Social Inclusion, Empowerment, Well-being and the Recovery Model

iii. Respects, encourages and builds on individual clients' coping strategies, skills and autonomy.

iv. Maintains good liaison with any other outside agencies as is necessary

v. Promotes good joint working, links and cross-referral with all North Kent Mind colleagues.

2. To participate in supervision and appraisal.

3. To attend staff meeting and service team meetings.

4. To attend training/meetings and some annual events as required.

5. To undertake any other duties which the CEO or Board of Trustees may, from time to time, reasonably delegate or assign.

B. DUTIES OF THE POSTS: SPECIFIC

The CBT Trainee Therapist will be responsible for balancing academic study with supervised clinical practice, ensuring that all duties are carried out in line with North Kent Mind's policies, vision and values. The post holder will:

Clinical Practice and Training

Deliver a minimum of 200 hours of CBT practice across the year under supervision. Complete treatment with at least 8 individual cases, each seen for a minimum of six sessions. Provide evidence-based CBT interventions for children and young people with anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, OCD and BDD. Work with children, young people and families in a collaborative and respectful manner, considering cultural and social differences. Maintain accurate and timely records of interventions, in line with service and university requirements.

Supervision and Learning

Engage in at least 1 hour per week of CBT supervision from a BABCP accredited supervisor, with 50% of supervision delivered 'live' (e.g. reviewing a recording of the session). Attend an additional minimum of 1 hour per month case management supervision within the service. Participate fully in KCL teaching and training activities, including workshops, role plays, practice tutor groups and intensive teaching weeks. Reflect on practice through clinical supervision, tutor groups and course assignments.

Service Integration

Contribute to North Kent Mind's CYP services, aligning practice with i-THRIVE principles, local care pathways and the organisation's vision and values.

Ensure North Kent Mind's values of being

Open, Together, Responsive, Independent and Unstoppable

are reflected in daily practice with children, young people and families.

Work with the service to identify and accept appropriate referrals to meet placement requirements.

Liaise with multi-disciplinary and multi-agency professionals to ensure joined-up support for young people.

Uphold safeguarding responsibilities, recognising and escalating concerns in line with organisational and statutory requirements.

Performance and Development

Balance academic study with clinical workload to meet all course requirements. Complete academic assignments, including four written case reports and three video assessments. Contribute to monitoring of outcomes, waiting times and service reach through accurate use of data systems. Actively participate in service improvement, feedback and reflective learning processes.

C. QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder must meet the entry requirements for the King's College London Postgraduate Diploma in CBT and demonstrate the professional knowledge, skills and experience needed to train and practise safely within North Kent Mind's CYP services. This relates to the following:

Hold a Minimum second-class Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work, education), proof will be required.

Applicants without academic criteria but with relevant professional experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Have at least 2 years' experience working with children and young people in a mental health setting.

Possess the ability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level.

Be committed to completing the KCL CBT Recruit to Train programme alongside clinical placement for the 12 month duration.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 32,700.18-35,162.46 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Health & wellbeing programme Sick pay
Work Location: In person