Dorset HealthCare is delighted to offer Trainee Children's Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) opportunities within our Children and Young People's Mental Health (CYPMH) Service.

This role sits within the developing Getting Help quadrant of our i-Thrive model, supporting children and young people experiencing common mental health difficulties through early intervention and evidence-based support.

We are looking for compassionate, motivated and resilient individuals who are committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and families. You will join a supportive multidisciplinary team delivering high-quality care within an evolving service.

CYPMH Dorset – A Service in Transformation

CYPMH Dorset is entering an exciting period of growth, with investment enabling services to develop in line with Thrive principles. Posts are pan-Dorset and may initially support existing teams during transition. Future service delivery may include extended operating hours.

This is a unique opportunity to develop your skills, contribute to service development and help shape the future of children's mental health support.

Successful applicants will undertake the Postgraduate Diploma in Brief Evidence-Based Interventions for Children and Young People with Common Mental Health Problems at the University of Exeter, commencing January 2027. This 12-month employment-based programme combines academic study, supervised clinical practice and independent learning.

As a Trainee CWP, You Will

Support early intervention and prevention for CYP mental health
Undertake structured mental health assessments
Deliver guided self-help and brief interventions under supervision
Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team
Manage a supervised caseload in line with training expectations
Maintain accurate, timely and confidential clinical records
Engage fully with supervision, training and reflective practice
Demonstrate commitment to evidence-based practice and service development

Start Date

Applicants must be available to commence employment in December 2026 to enable enrolment on the university programme starting in January 2027.

This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.

At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Chloe Duffin Job title: CAMHS CBT Clinical Lead Email address: chloe.duffin@nhs.net Telephone number: 01202646300

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

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Trainee Children's Wellbeing Practitioner