Trainee Children's Wellbeing Practitioner

About the Role

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust is offering positions for Trainee Children's Wellbeing Practitioners (CWP) within its Children and Young People's Mental Health (CYPMH) Service. This role is based in Charlton Down, England, and operates within the early intervention quadrant of the i-Thrive framework, targeting children and adolescents facing common mental health challenges through evidence-based support.

The organization is seeking empathetic, driven, and resilient candidates dedicated to enhancing the mental health outcomes of young people and their families. Successful candidates will join a multidisciplinary team delivering quality care while the service undergoes significant transformation and growth aligned with Thrive principles, including potential extended operating hours.

Employment in this role includes enrollment in a 12-month, university-based postgraduate diploma program beginning January 2027 at the University of Exeter. This diploma focuses on brief, evidence-based interventions for youth with common mental health concerns and blends academic learning, supervised clinical experience, and self-directed study.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide early intervention and preventive mental health support for children and young people
• Conduct structured mental health assessments
• Deliver guided self-help and brief interventions under supervision
• Collaborate within multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams
• Manage a supervised caseload consistent with training requirements
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential clinical documentation
• Participate fully in supervision, training sessions, and reflective practice
• Commit to evidence-based approaches and contribute to service development

Additional Information

The position requires availability to start employment by December 2026 to facilitate university program enrollment in January 2027. The appointment is fixed-term. Candidates currently employed within NHS services must seek permission for secondment prior to applying, as the role may only be offered on a secondment basis for existing staff.

About Dorset HealthCare

Dorset HealthCare is dedicated to empowering individuals by providing integrated and exemplary community and mental health services to nearly 800,000 residents. The Trust manages multiple community hospitals and specialist facilities, earning an “outstanding” rating from the CQC in 2019. Staff satisfaction is high, and the organization values inclusivity, equal opportunity, and professional development, fostering a workplace where diversity is celebrated and individuals can thrive.

Contact Information

For further details or to arrange an informal discussion, contact Chloe Duffin, CAMHS CBT Clinical Lead, by phone at 01202646300 or email at [email protected].