Mental Health Practitioner Therapy Trainee – IEYP-PI
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 01/09/2026
- Closes
- 11/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Candidates needing sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
HiveMind found a sponsorship-friendly statement in the source advert welcoming applicants who require a visa. Always confirm on the source before applying.
“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.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This is a 1-year fixed-term trainee position for a Mental Health Practitioner, specializing in Infant and Early Years Practitioner Parent-Infant (IEYP-PI) therapy. The role involves academic study for 2.5 days a week and clinical work with children, young people, and carers for the remaining 2.5 days. It is part of an NHS England-funded initiative to expand the child mental health workforce, offering a unique opportunity to apply learning directly in clinical interventions.
Essential criteria
- Minimum second-class Bachelor's Degree or equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc.) Applicants who do not fulfil the academic criteria but have relevant professional experience are still encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Qualification in a relevant field such as early years child development; parenting; play therapy.
Desirable criteria
- Previous training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, health visiting, social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychiatry, psychotherapy, counselling)
- Ability to study and complete academic work at postgraduate study level. Proven record of previous academic attainment.
- Knowledge of the importance of the 0-5 years on development and mental wellbeing and understanding of the range of factors that can impact 0-5 developmental and emotional wellbeing.
- Knowledge of 0-5s services (e.g. health visiting, early help and the need for holistic approaches).
- Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to the safeguarding of very young children.
- Knowledge and understanding of theory in relation to early child development.
- Two or more years of experience working with the development and wellbeing of children and young children aged 0-5 and their families.
- Experience of multi-agency working and liaising across internal & external agencies.
- Experience of working within a professional setting concerned with the mental health, development and wellbeing of infants aged 0-5.
- Experience of working with safeguarding issues.
- Skills & Abilities
- Ability to adopt an observational stance, particularly relating to babies and very young children.
- Ability to reflect on the connection of own experiences of parenting/being parented.
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with young children and their carers
- Ability to personally manage sensitive and potentially emotionally distressing caseload material
- Ability to reflect on own practice (in clinical supervision and practice tutor groups with course peers);
- Proficient IT skills and the ability to learn the electronic patient record system to maintain accurate records.
- Ability to complete academic work at postgraduate level and balance the academic demands of the course with clinical placement demands
- Demonstrates adaptability and able to work with diverse communities
- Able to meet travel demands associated with the role. Ability to be flexible and respond to rapid changes.
- Understanding of evidence-based practice and the ability to demonstrate how this influences clinical practice with children aged 0-5.
- Strong desire to work with children aged 0-5.
- Strong interest in developing knowledge of assessment and intervention of the emotional wellbeing of children in their first 60 months of life.
- Motivated to learn and be challenged. Capacity to work well in teams.
- Application to UCL for this course has been submitted.
- Act appropriately within general health, organisational and other occupational policies. Willingness to uphold the Trust's values.
- Extra
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
- Eligible to live and work in the UK.
- Minimum second-class Bachelor's Degree or equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social work etc.) Applicants who do not fulfil the academic criteria but have relevant professional experience are still encouraged to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Qualification in a relevant field such as early years child development; parenting; play therapy.
- Previous training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, health visiting, social work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychiatry, psychotherapy, counselling)
- Ability to study and complete academic work at postgraduate study level. Proven record of previous academic attainment.
- Knowledge of the importance of the 0-5 years on development and mental wellbeing and understanding of the range of factors that can impact 0-5 developmental and emotional wellbeing.
- Knowledge of 0-5s services (e.g. health visiting, early help and the need for holistic approaches).
- Knowledg
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 6d ago · Closes in 5d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Mental Health Practitioner Therapy Trainee – IEYP-PI
The closing date is 11 September 2026
Job summary
Mental Health Practitioner Trainee- Infant and Early Years Practitioner Parent-Infant (IEYP - PI).
This is a 1-year fixed term contract. The successful candidate must be able to start the post on11th January 2027.
Step2 is an Early Intervention Child and Young People's Mental Health Service working towards improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people in Hertfordshire.
We have an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Trainings: Therapy Trainee (IEYP) to join our team as part of the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People (CYP) Psychological Training Programmes. 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.
*Proposed interview date: 24th September 2026*
Main duties of the job
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