Job summary
This is a unique opportunity to train as a Children's Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) within National Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. The post holder will be working with Deaf Children with emotional/behavioral problems, their parents, schools, and other agencies in the community. This role would suit a deaf or hearing, BSL using and non-BSL using clinician.
The post is salaried and fully funded for a one-year qualification in Children's Wellbeing Practice, through the University of Sussex University and NHS England. Further intensive supervision and on-the-job training will be provided by a Clinical Psychologist in a CWP Lead role.
Video link about CWP training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyEus6q7MnA
Main duties of the job
This post will require:
o Strong communication skills
o The ability to work cohesively within a small team
o Motivation to learn and to be challenged
o The ability to use feedback and adapt accordingly
o Good organisational skills
o Experience of working within a mental health setting or school pastoral care
o Experience of working with children and an understanding of how to talk with them
o Commitment to using data and relevant measures to assess clinical outcomes
Candidates will be able to evidence ability to study at degree level. The course is available at 2 levels (a graduate and post-graduate diploma). The minimum required qualification for the postgraduate diploma is a 2:2 degree. The minimum for the graduate diploma is A-levels at AAB-BBB or to meet the eligibility for a contextual offer of BBB-BBC.Please see the University of Sussex website for more information on contextual offers. Candidates will need to be ready to start work week commencing 5th January 2026. As the course fees are paid by NHS England, candidates will need to be eligible for 'home fees' for university study (please refer to the information on this link about fee status: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/tuition-fees/fee-status )
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
The Kent team is a small, friendly, innovative, and bilingual; made up of deaf and hearing staff. They have strong links with the National Deaf CAMHS teams in the North / South- West and Central England and often come together for training, service development, research, and audit purposes.
About our locations:
- The National Deaf CAMHS, South-East of England Service is based in Coxheath Village. Coxheath is in a pleasant rural location just outside of Maidstone Kent. The post holder will be able to work using the Hybrid/Agile working approach and will therefore only have to attend the unit for specific assessments and meetings.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The successful candidate would be expected to work autonomously and collaboratively with both deaf and hearing colleagues, supporting a therapeutic service to deaf children and young people, and their families/carers, across the South-East of England region, from a range of community settings, or using virtual meeting technology. This role will appeal to someone who is deaf or hearing and has experience working with deaf children. Those wishing to gain experience and are unfamiliar working within this specialist area will have the opportunity to learn about deaf culture.
- This is a training role, where you will be enrolled in a graduate diploma or postgraduate diploma training course at the University of Sussex. This course will deliver the national curriculum for CWPs. You will attend all elements of the university-based teaching activities and successfully progress through assessments, to work towards attaining an academic and professional qualification.
- For the remaining part of the week, you will work as a trainee in your service, using your newly developed skills. You will work within the limits of your experience and competence for your stage of training. You will be delivering brief, evidence-based interventions and guided self-help for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. You will receive high-quality supervision and support throughout.
- The training and service experience will equip you with the necessary knowledge, attitude, and capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service.
- Under clinical supervision from a suitably qualified professional, the post holder is expected to undertake structured psychological assessments of clients, including self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and assessment conversations with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. To help in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems. To work collaboratively with relevant others to provide early intervention to children and young people, including to attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings.
- Teaching, training, and supervision: The post holder is expected to receive regular clinical supervision following professional practice guidelines. To develop skills and competencies that help in the delivery of current duties.
- The successful candidate would be expected to work in a variety of sites, including mainstream and specialist schools or across other community sites, or use virtual meeting technology. The work would be virtual and face to face and you would be expected to work with British Sign Language and /or spoken Interpreters.
The trainee CWP will work under the supervision of the qualified Clinical Psychologist, to support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service
The CWP trainee will be expected to work independently and with colleagues according to a Job Plan agreed with a Clinical Psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures and in agreement with Sussex University CWP programme.
The post holder would be expected to have innovative, flexible, and adaptable approach to their work.
All post holders would be expected to follow Trusts lone working and complete mandatory training. Travel is a requirement of the role so car driver with valid licence and insurance with business miles would be desirable.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- The successful candidate would be expected to work autonomously and collaboratively with both deaf and hearing colleagues, supporting a therapeutic service to deaf children and young people, and their families/carers, across the South-East of England region, from a range of community settings, or using virtual meeting technology. This role will appeal to someone who is deaf or hearing and has experience working with deaf children. Those wishing to gain experience and are unfamiliar working within this specialist area will have the opportunity to learn about deaf culture.
- This is a training role, where you will be enrolled in a graduate diploma or postgraduate diploma training course at the University of Sussex. This course will deliver the national curriculum for CWPs. You will attend all elements of the university-based teaching activities and successfully progress through assessments, to work towards attaining an academic and professional qualification.
- For the remaining part of the week, you will work as a trainee in your service, using your newly developed skills. You will work within the limits of your experience and competence for your stage of training. You will be delivering brief, evidence-based interventions and guided self-help for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. You will receive high-quality supervision and support throughout.
- The training and service experience will equip you with the necessary knowledge, attitude, and capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service.
- Under clinical supervision from a suitably qualified professional, the post holder is expected to undertake structured psychological assessments of clients, including self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and assessment conversations with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. To help in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems. To work collaboratively with relevant others to provide early intervention to children and young people, including to attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings.
- Teaching, training, and supervision: The post holder is expected to receive regular clinical supervision following professional practice guidelines. To develop skills and competencies that help in the delivery of current duties.
- The successful candidate would be expected to work in a variety of sites, including mainstream and specialist schools or across other community sites, or use virtual meeting technology. The work would be virtual and face to face and you would be expected to work with British Sign Language and /or spoken Interpreters.
The trainee CWP will work under the supervision of the qualified Clinical Psychologist, to support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service
The CWP trainee will be expected to work independently and with colleagues according to a Job Plan agreed with a Clinical Psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures and in agreement with Sussex University CWP programme.
The post holder would be expected to have innovative, flexible, and adaptable approach to their work.
All post holders would be expected to follow Trusts lone working and complete mandatory training. Travel is a requirement of the role so car driver with valid licence and insurance with business miles would be desirable.
Person Specification
Experience
Desirable
- Knowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.
- It is desirable that the applicant have previous experience of working with children and young people
- Lived experience of mental health issues
- An understanding of mental health and its relationship with deafness
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Ability to study at degree level. The University of Sussex offer the level 6 graduate diploma programme, for those that do not have a degree.
- Proven record of previous academic attainment.
- Good solid basic literacyand numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2
Desirable
- British Sign Language Level 1 - 2
Person Specification
Experience
Desirable
- Knowledge of children and young people gained through academic study in child development, child wellbeing or mental health.
- It is desirable that the applicant have previous experience of working with children and young people
- Lived experience of mental health issues
- An understanding of mental health and its relationship with deafness
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Ability to study at degree level. The University of Sussex offer the level 6 graduate diploma programme, for those that do not have a degree.
- Proven record of previous academic attainment.
- Good solid basic literacyand numeracy qualifications at a minimum of level 2
Desirable
- British Sign Language Level 1 - 2
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
