Job summary
Trainee Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist - 4-Year Fixed Term Post (Swindon, BSW CAMHS)
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to offer a 4-year fixed-term post for a Trainee Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, based in our Swindon CAMHS team within the BSW (Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire) area. The role begins in September 2025 and is fully funded by NHS England.
You'll be based in clinic four days a week, gaining hands-on experience within a supportive multidisciplinary team, while one day a week will be dedicated to attending your ACP-accredited training course. The funding covers your salary, training fees, and makes a substantial contribution toward personal analysis and travel costs.
You'll need to have completed, or be close to completing, an ACP-recognised pre-clinical course and have secured a place on the full clinical training starting in September 2025. This is a valuable opportunity to train within a well-established NHS service while progressing toward qualification as a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist.
Main duties of the job
The role is to undertake a range of clinical work under supervision whilst undertaking a training at an ACP registered training school. The post holder will be expected to offer advice, consultancy and support to colleagues within the CAMHS team and wider service.
You will be joining a large group of child psychotherapists across Oxford Health who meet regularly for CPD and to discuss our work.
- To be responsible and accountable for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whoseproblems are managed by child psychotherapy based standard care plans.
- To provide specialist child psychotherapeutic advice, guidance and consultation to otherprofessionals contributing directly to clients' formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan.
- To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice inindividual work and work with other team members.
About us
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible
Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"
At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.
The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.
As a leading teaching, training, and research trust, we have close links to Oxford and Oxford Brookes, Buckinghamshire, Reading and Bath universities. We are part of the Oxford Academic Health Science Centre, working closely with our university colleagues to translate their findings into clinical care as quickly as possible, enabling people using our services to benefit from the latest advances in healthcare.
Applicants, as a minimum, will need to have completed the first year of the pre-clinical training recognised by the Association of Child Psychotherapists. This assumes they will already be working with children and young people in a professional capacity and that they have an interest in and some understanding of psychoanalytical thinking. Those undertaking or having already successfully completed an ACP approved pre-clinical training, will also be eligible to apply and may be able to step on in Year 2 and hence complete the training in 5 years.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.
The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.
As a leading teaching, training, and research trust, we have close links to Oxford and Oxford Brookes, Buckinghamshire, Reading and Bath universities. We are part of the Oxford Academic Health Science Centre, working closely with our university colleagues to translate their findings into clinical care as quickly as possible, enabling people using our services to benefit from the latest advances in healthcare.
Applicants, as a minimum, will need to have completed the first year of the pre-clinical training recognised by the Association of Child Psychotherapists. This assumes they will already be working with children and young people in a professional capacity and that they have an interest in and some understanding of psychoanalytical thinking. Those undertaking or having already successfully completed an ACP approved pre-clinical training, will also be eligible to apply and may be able to step on in Year 2 and hence complete the training in 5 years.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undertaking an ACP recognised pre-clinical Child Psychotherapy training and already in year 1 of an ACP recognised pre-clinical training before commencing with the intent to do the full four-year clinical training once the pre-clinical training has been completed.
Desirable
- Post-graduate Mental Health Diploma or higher degree.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge and application of Child Psychotherapy interventions
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with children, young people and families using a therapeutic approach.
Desirable
- Experience of individual therapeutic work with children and young people.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undertaking an ACP recognised pre-clinical Child Psychotherapy training and already in year 1 of an ACP recognised pre-clinical training before commencing with the intent to do the full four-year clinical training once the pre-clinical training has been completed.
Desirable
- Post-graduate Mental Health Diploma or higher degree.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge and application of Child Psychotherapy interventions
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with children, young people and families using a therapeutic approach.
Desirable
- Experience of individual therapeutic work with children and young people.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
