CYP IAPT – Trainee CBT Practitioners

Salus’ Kent Therapeutic Alliance (KTA) has an exciting opportunity for a CYP-PT Therapies Trainee CBT 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). 

CYP-PT Therapies 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.  

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 related to training assignments. Trainees will be both an employee of the service and an enrolled student with King’s College London. Upon completion, qualified trainees will receive a KCL Postgraduate Diploma. 

Application Process  

This is a dual application process. In addition to applying for this position with us, you must also complete a KCL 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 KCL 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 read the application guidance and course brochure attached/linked below for full information and instructions on how to apply and what to include in your application.

Please read the application guidance and course brochure attached/linked below for full information and instructions on how to apply and what to include in your application.

KCL CYP-PT CBT Wave 16 Jan 2027 – KCL Programme Brochure.pdf

KCL CYP-PT Therapies Wave 16 Jan 2027 – Application Guidance.pdf 

2-Year Post-Graduation Rule for Progression to Further NHSE-Funded Training 

Applicants should be aware that individuals who commence an NHSE-funded course listed on the webpage below will normally be required to wait two years from the date of their qualifying exam board before they can start another NHSE-funded training programme: 

https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/mental-health/psychological-professions/funding-psychological-professions-training-programmes

This requirement means that recent graduates of NHSE-funded programmes, including Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) and Education Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) training, are not normally eligible to commence the CYP-PT Therapy PGDip (Recruit to Train) programme until two years have elapsed from their qualifying exam board date. 

Applicants should also consider the impact of this rule on future training opportunities, as it applies to progression from the CYP-PT Therapy programme into other NHSE-funded programmes. For example, trainees starting the CYP-PT Therapy programmes in January 2027 would typically complete their qualifying exam board in April 2028 and would therefore not be eligible to begin another NHSE-funded training programme until two years after April 2028. 

Exceptions may apply where there are extenuating circumstances – candidates with queries around this are encouraged to review the documents linked on the aforementioned webpage, or contact cyp-mh@kcl.ac.uk. 

The following programmes are also exempt from the two-year post-graduation rule (in either direction): 

• CYP-PT Supervision PGCert 
• Senior Wellbeing Practitioner PGDip 
• Leadership PGCert 

Applicants are encouraged to take these requirements into account when planning their training and career progression. 

Salus – Who We Are

Salus’ Kent Therapeutic Alliance (KTA) commissioned by NHS Kent and Medway, supports children and young people who would benefit from support to improve their emotional wellbeing and mental health.     

Growing up can be full of changes and challenges. Many children and young people will navigate this with the support that they have around them, but some will need extra help.

The KTA will work within the i-THRIVE Framework within the quadrants of ‘getting help’, and ‘further support’, to make sure that children and young people can access the support that they need to help improve their emotional wellbeing and mental health. More information about i-THRIVE can be found here: i-THRIVE – Kent Resilience Hub.

Specifically, this service will support those who need:

• Getting help: Children and young people who would benefit from brief, focussed, evidence-based support with clear goals.
• Further Support: Children, young people whose needs cannot be met by advice, signposting, or brief interventions alone, whose needs are significantly impacting their daily life, and who require more structured, ongoing support.

Please note: The position will be based in the county of Kent but successful candidates will be expected to travel to Denmark Hill Campus of King’s College London for teaching during the training year.

More information about the course content and the different modalities can be found on the King’s CYP webpage: https://www.kings-cyp.com/page/recruit-to-train

The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities  

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.

Privacy Notice

How we use recruitment and selection information:

At Project Salus CIC and Salus Solutions Ltd (“Salus”) we are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected and respected. As an organisation, Salus is registered with the Information Commissioner’ Office and acts in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations.

We are both a “data controller” and “data processor” for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998 and (from 25 May 2018) the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (“Data Protection Law”). 

What info do we hold?

As part of the recruitment process, we hold a copy of your application form and any additional information that you have provided us with. This will usually include an address, a phone number, your gender, your entitlement to work in the UK, remuneration and other employee benefits and other personal details.

We also keep notes of our conversations, extra information that was not in the CV, details about the jobs we have put you forward for and any feedback from any interviews.

Where do we keep it?

We are committed to ensuring that your information is safe and take relevant organisation and technical measures to ensure the information we hold is secure.  Salus will keep your emails and records of telephone conversations with all of the above on email, our secure server and any paper copies will be kept in a locked cabinet.   All laptops are encrypted with password protection.

However, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure and so we cannot guarantee the security of the data that you send to us electronically.

How do we obtain it?

The information we have comes initially from you. In certain cases when we have followed up on your references, this information will also go onto our secure locations, see above.

What do we do with it?

All your information is kept confidential and secure. In the case of an interview, if you have agreed to be put forward for a role your application from will be sent across either directly to the selection panel which in some cases may include external partners. All of whom will be required to comply with the details in this notice and our privacy policy. 

If you are offered a telephone/skype interview then those details will be sent across to the selection panel.

Disclosing your Information

We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required to do so by law.

There may be times when we may need to share personal information with third parties for the purposes outlined in this notice, or where we are legally required to do so.  The main examples are as follows:

• To comply with the law or a court order;
• In connection with any court proceedings or legal action; and,
• To assist fraud protection and for safeguarding purposes.

You may request details of personal information which we hold about you under the Data Protection Act.

Data Retention Period

We will keep your data for a maximum period of 6 months. Once we have your details on file we will keep them there either until that time, or you ask for them to be removed, or send us an update on your details, or until we no longer need them.

What if you do not provide personal data?

You are under no statutory or contractual obligation to provide data to Salus during the recruitment process.  However, if you do not provide the information, then we may not be able to process your application properly or at all.

Complaining to the ICO

If you believe we have mishandled your data we would encourage you to raise this with us and see if we can clarify the situation you should contact the DPO at

DPO@salusgroup.org.uk or on 01303817470. If we can’t resolve the situation then you have the right to raise a complaint to the I.C.O.

As you also apply for a training course that is delivered by Kings College London, your data may be shared with them for the purpose of processing your application (shortlisting) and enrolling you onto this programme.

CONTACT

For more information about the role, application related queries or to have a confidential discussion, please reach out to:  

Jody Brown –  Email: Jody.brown@salusgroup.org.uk  – Telephone: 07725595745

Closing Date: 12pm on the 28^th September 2026

Interview Date: 5^th & 6^th October 2026   

Main Duties and Responsibilities

CLINICAL

• Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service 
• Assess clients for suitability for the treatment for which training is provided. 
• Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the department’s referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary.
• Formulate, implement, and evaluate therapy programmes for clients. 
• Involve family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying therapy formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service. 
• Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
• 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.
• Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process 

TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

• Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post.
• Apply learning from the training programme in practice 
• Prepare and present clinical information for all patients on their caseload to clinical case management supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, to ensure safe practice and the clinical governance obligations of the worker, supervisor and service are delivered
• Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.

PROFESSIONAL

• Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g. BPS, UKCP, BABCP), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g. Future in Mind)
• Ensure that client confidentiality is always protected.
• 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.

GENERAL

• To contribute to the development of best practice within the service.
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies, and procedures in relation to children’s mental health and social care needs.
• All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety of colleagues, patients, and the general public. 
• All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies. 
• It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties. 

This Job Description does not provide an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder considering service development.