Job summary
SWLSTG NHS Trust runs a well established MHST and CWP service having been an early implementer of both programmes from 2017. Our supervision and in house training is widely recognised as excellent. The training year is well structured within our Trust, starting with all our new trainees meeting together for in service training days throughout the first term to complement the university training.
We are looking for enthusiastic, collaborative, thoughtful trainees with good schools or mental health experience to join our teams in Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth. You will evidence strong organisational skills, good self-awareness plus an ability to reflect on experiences and learn quickly while on the job. We give our trainees a lot of additional training and support and it's important to us that our staff feel happy and appreciated. In return, we expect you to work hard; be proactive with school engagement; travel within borough to meet service need and take appropriate responsibility for making the most of your learning opportunities.
These are full time positions but we can also offer term time only working options if desired.
Applicants will need to be ready to start work on Friday 16th January 2026.
All applicants also need to submit an application form to KCL for a place on the relevant course.
Please apply to KCL at the same time as applying to this post on Trac to enable your application to be checked prior to interview. Instructions are attached.
Main duties of the job
EHMPs offer guided self-help Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and parenting interventions within primary and secondary schools as well as a whole school approach to mental health.
Each team is led and supervised by an experienced Clinical Psychologist. Trainees are part of a wider, supportive CWP and EMHP network across the Trust with opportunities for peer mentoring and joint training days with other teams.
These posts are Agenda for Change Band 4 (plus London weighting) and also fully funded for a one year post graduate diploma in Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing through Kings College London University.
Upon successful qualification, trainees will move within the service into band 5 positions. Please state if you have a preference for being based in either Merton, Sutton or Wandsworth on your application form.
Successful applicants will be asked to sign a learning agreement, committing to remain employed within the Trust for a minimum of another year post qualification but the hope is that you will stay for longer.
Applicants will require:
- A good degree or a level 5 or 6 qualification plus strong experience
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to work cohesively within small teams
- Motivation to learn and be challenged
- Ability to use feedback and adapt accordingly
- Good organisational skills
- Experience of working in mental health and / or schools
- Experience of working with children and young people
- Commitment to using data to assess clinical outcomes
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'.
We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
About our locations:
Our Trust headquarters is located within the impressive grounds of Springfield University Hospital in Tooting.
During the first term we will meet with you at Springfield for whole group training days so it is important that you can travel there but your main ongoing base will be in the schools in the borough in which you will work - either Merton, Sutton or Wandsworth.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work under the direction, supervision and support of a Clinical Supervisor and Service Coordinator, usually a Clinical Psychologist.
- Provide low-intensity interventions in relation to anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties within schools.
- Provide groups, workshops and webinars as appropriate within the role
- Use outcome and other measures to demonstrate the quality, effectiveness and safety of the teams work.
- Complete both formal CWP / EMHP training at Kings College London and Trust mandatory training.
- Work within the CAMHS clinical governance structure.
- Work within the Trusts policy framework.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Therapeutic Skills:
- Assess and deliver, under supervision, outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
- Work in partnership to support children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties, and their families, in the self-management of presenting difficulties.
- Work in partnership with children, young people and families in the development of plans for an intervention with associated outcomes.
- Support and empower children, young people and families to make informed choices about the interventions.
- Operate at all times from an inclusive values base that recognises and respects diversity.
- Accept referrals within agreed national and local protocols.
- Undertake accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
- Adhere to the service referral protocols. Under supervision, signpost unsuitable referrals to the relevant service as necessary.
- Through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes more severe or beyond scope, ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.
- Provide a range of information and support for evidence-based psychological treatments. This may include guided self-help. This work may be face-to-face, by telephone or via other media.
- Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts offered, and sessions carried out per week, in order to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.
- Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or CYP in treatment, where appropriate.
- Keep coherent records of all activity in line with service protocols and use these records and outcomes to inform decision making. Complete all requirements relating to data collection.
- Assess and integrate issues relating to transitions, education, training and employment into the overall therapeutic process
- Work within a collaborative approach involving a range of relevant others when indicated.
- Work in collaboration with children, young people and communities to enhance and widen access.
Training and Supervision:
- Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post including practical, academic and practice-based assessments.
- Apply learning from the training programme to practice.
- Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.
- Prepare and present caseload information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and that the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor and service are met.
- Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in practice.
- Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competencies and practice
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work under the direction, supervision and support of a Clinical Supervisor and Service Coordinator, usually a Clinical Psychologist.
- Provide low-intensity interventions in relation to anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties within schools.
- Provide groups, workshops and webinars as appropriate within the role
- Use outcome and other measures to demonstrate the quality, effectiveness and safety of the teams work.
- Complete both formal CWP / EMHP training at Kings College London and Trust mandatory training.
- Work within the CAMHS clinical governance structure.
- Work within the Trusts policy framework.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Therapeutic Skills:
- Assess and deliver, under supervision, outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
- Work in partnership to support children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties, and their families, in the self-management of presenting difficulties.
- Work in partnership with children, young people and families in the development of plans for an intervention with associated outcomes.
- Support and empower children, young people and families to make informed choices about the interventions.
- Operate at all times from an inclusive values base that recognises and respects diversity.
- Accept referrals within agreed national and local protocols.
- Undertake accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
- Adhere to the service referral protocols. Under supervision, signpost unsuitable referrals to the relevant service as necessary.
- Through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes more severe or beyond scope, ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.
- Provide a range of information and support for evidence-based psychological treatments. This may include guided self-help. This work may be face-to-face, by telephone or via other media.
- Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts offered, and sessions carried out per week, in order to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.
- Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or CYP in treatment, where appropriate.
- Keep coherent records of all activity in line with service protocols and use these records and outcomes to inform decision making. Complete all requirements relating to data collection.
- Assess and integrate issues relating to transitions, education, training and employment into the overall therapeutic process
- Work within a collaborative approach involving a range of relevant others when indicated.
- Work in collaboration with children, young people and communities to enhance and widen access.
Training and Supervision:
- Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post including practical, academic and practice-based assessments.
- Apply learning from the training programme to practice.
- Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.
- Prepare and present caseload information to supervisors within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and that the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor and service are met.
- Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in practice.
- Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competencies and practice
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A levels or equivalent
- A first degree graded at Upper Second or above or Level 5 qualification PLUS very strong experience working in mental health and / or schools N.B. we will not shortlist anyone without this
Desirable
- Training in a specific psychological therapy
- Received formal or on-the-job training in risk assessment
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with children and young people with emotional/ mental health difficulties
- Experience of working in mental health or related services and/or Experience of working in a school environment
Desirable
- Worked in a service where there are targets in place that demonstrate outcomes
- Has carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Ability to translate training into both practice and evaluation of practice
- Demonstrable understanding of children and young peoples' mental health difficulties and how these may present
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including on the telephone
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A levels or equivalent
- A first degree graded at Upper Second or above or Level 5 qualification PLUS very strong experience working in mental health and / or schools N.B. we will not shortlist anyone without this
Desirable
- Training in a specific psychological therapy
- Received formal or on-the-job training in risk assessment
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with children and young people with emotional/ mental health difficulties
- Experience of working in mental health or related services and/or Experience of working in a school environment
Desirable
- Worked in a service where there are targets in place that demonstrate outcomes
- Has carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Ability to translate training into both practice and evaluation of practice
- Demonstrable understanding of children and young peoples' mental health difficulties and how these may present
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including on the telephone
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
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).
