Trainee Child and Young People’s Mental Health Practitioner - Isle of Wight Youth Trust

Job Posted: 17 October 2025

• Contract Term: Permanent
• Location: Newport, Isle of Wight
• Contract Type: Full time
• Salary: £31,500-£33,500
• Industries: Health & Social Care Social Work

Child and Young People’s Mental Health Practitioner Therapy Trainee: ASC/LD

Isle of Wight Youth Trust is an independent local charity, working in our local community for over 40 years, delivering confidential, professional counselling, therapeutic and wellbeing services for children and young people. We have an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Trainings: Therapy Trainee (ASC/LD) to join our team as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programmes (Recruit to Train).

This government-funded initiative promotes the growth and skill of the child mental health workforce to meet much needed demand. NHSE covers salary and training costs for a 1-year position, allowing services to employ trainees to support 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.  

What are we looking for?

We are seeking highly motivated candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children and young people’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. 

If you want to make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people, we want to hear from you. We are looking for someone with:

• Minimum second-class Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc);
• 2 or more years of experience working within a children and young people’s mental health setting (e.g. mental health worker);
• 1 year or more of clinical competence and experience working with Autistic and/or LD individuals.

Please note: The position will be based at Isle of Wight Youth Trust, Newport, Isle of Wight but successful candidates will be expected to travel to Anna Freud in Central London (Rodney St, N1 9JH) for teaching during the training year. 

More information about the course content and the different modalities can be found on the Anna Freud webpage: https://www.annafreud.org/ucl-postgraduate-study/ucl-postgraduate-programmes/child-and-young-person-iapt-therapy-pg-dip/

There is also a useful training FAQ section for prospective candidates: Prospective Trainees_ CYP IAPT Therapy Programme FAQ's.docx - Google Docs

Please review the additional documents for more information on the role, person specification other employment documents.  

The closing date for applications is: Friday 31^st October at 12 noon

For more information about the role or to have a confidential discussion, please reach out to: Kathy Whitewood, Head of Service – 01983 529569

For application-related queries, please contact: [email protected]

Addition to IOWYT Privacy Notice: As you also apply for a training course that is delivered by Anna Freud and UCL, your data may be shared with them for the purpose of processing your application (shortlisting) and enrolling you onto this Programme. 

Course start date: 19^th January 2026

Training Information

This full-time training will begin in January 2026 with around 2.5 days a week for academic work (teaching and personal study), and 2.5 days based at the service seeing clients (children, young people, and carers) related to training assignments. Trainees will be both an employee of the service and an enrolled student with UCL/Anna Freud. Upon completion, qualified trainees will receive a UCL Postgraduate Diploma.

Application Process 

How to apply to IOWYT: If you want to join our dedicated team, please visit our website via the link below to view the full job description and apply via our recruitment portal. It is essential that you outline how you meet the requirements of the post in your covering letter. Applications not made via the Youth Trust recruitment portal will not be considered. 

How to apply to UCL: This is a dual application process. In addition to applying for this position with us, you must also complete a UCL 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 UCL training place if you are successful in securing this post and you meet the university training requirements.

Please view the attached document ‘UCL CYP PT Therapy - Application Guidance for Candidates August 2025’ for the university application link and more information on how to apply.

Contract type: This will be for a 1-year training contract, working within the main Youth Trust service, leading into a permanent role as an ASC/LD CYP-IAPT Practitioner working across the service. 

Hours: 37.5 hours (full time)

Salary: Band 2b - £31,500-33,500

Applications close: Friday 31^st October 2025 at 12pm

Interview dates: tbc