Job Description

Service: Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

Job Title: Trainee IEY Practitioner

Reports To: Team Leader

Location: Hybrid position-remote and face to face with
training from Exeter University, and practice
from community locations countywide

Main Purpose of Post:

This is a training role within the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological
Therapies Programme (CYP IAPT), delivered by NHS England and partners to improve existing
young people’s mental health services working in the community.

The postholder will:
1. Work under supervision, within the Early Years Team, to deliver high-quality, brief outcome

focused evidence-based interventions for children 0-5 and their families in their homes, early
years settings and community spaces

2. Support parents who are experiencing difficulties with feeding, toileting, sleeping or persistent

crying or experiencing difficult behaviour with their children

3. Attend all university-based taught and self-study days required by Exeter University and work
in service for the remaining days using newly developed skills

Main Responsibilities and Duties:

THERAPUTIC SKILLS

• Assess and deliver, under clinical supervision, outcome focused, evidence-based interventions

with parents experiencing difficulties with their children.

• Support and empower parents to make informed choices about the intervention.
  

• Operate at all times from an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects diversity.
  

• Undertake accurate assessment of risk to self and others.
  

• Adhere to the service request for support protocols. Under supervision

signpost unsuitable requests to the relevant service as necessary.

• Through close clinical case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of

need becomes beyond scope, or more severe 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, virtual, by telephone or via other

media.

• Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or parents accessing treatment, where

appropriate.

• Keep timely and accurate records of all activity in line with service protocols using IAPTUS and

use these records and outcome data to inform decision making. Complete all requirements
relating to data collection.

• Work in collaboration with children, families 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.
  

• Attend meetings with academic tutor in relation to course work to meet the required

standards.

• Prepare and present case load information to Clinical Supervisors within the service on an

agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of
the trainee, supervisor and service are delivered.

• Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by Clinical Supervisors in practice.
  

• Engage in Clinical Skills Supervision to improve competences and practice.

PROFESSIONAL

• Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any

regulating bodies, and keep up-to-date on new recommendations/guidelines set by
the relevant departments

• Ensure clear objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with Clinical Supervisor on a

regular basis as part of continuing professional development

• Participate in Line Management, Probation and Appraisal Meetings and respond to agreed

objectives

• Attend relevant training/workshops/Team Days in line with identified professional objectives

Facts and Figures:

Young Somerset (YS) was established in 1997 (as Somerset Rural Youth Project) with a mission to
work with young people, encouraging them to take responsibility, supporting them to overcome
disadvantage, and to become actively involved in shaping the communities in which they live.

Our vision is a Somerset where young people feel a sense of belonging, a desire to contribute to
their communities and have a future that is not limited by poor access to opportunities and
services. This is delivered through three strands of work: Youth Work, Alternative Learning
Provision and Enterprise and Mental Health Support.

Young Somerset supports Mindline; an emotional support and mental health helpline, 9am -
10pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Young Somerset employs in the region of 120+ members of staff, apprentices and several
volunteers; over half of whom work in direct support of high need young people and/or those with
mild to moderate mental health needs.

The postholder will be required to work as part of team comprising Children’s Wellbeing
Practitioners, Education Mental Health Practitioners and Wellbeing Support Practitioners. There is
an expectation that the postholder will attend a number of team days during the year. There are
opportunities to progress which can be discussed at interview. The role is varied and there will be
times when you are expected to support members of staff from other departments in the
organisation.

Additional Information:

The postholder must be able to demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm towards Young
Somerset’s four core values:

• Putting Young People First

• Inspiring

• Collaborating

• Going further
  

An Enhanced DBS clearance is required as post holder will be working in close proximity to
children. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Acts.

The postholder will be required to maintain a suitable, confidential space to work from home.

The postholder will be expected to work across Somerset either virtually or face to face

Salary: September–January: £26,138 per annum (37 hours per week)
From January 2027 (Trainee Salary): £27,675 per annum (37 hours per week)

Holiday entitlement is 27 days, plus 8 Bank Holidays.

1. Qualifications

Essential Desirable

• Minimum Level 5 qualification • Relevant degree/postgraduate degree

• Clean Driving Licence (e.g. Psychology, Social Care, youth-

related)

• Training or qualification in counselling,

nursing, social care, occupational
therapy or within a specific
psychological therapy

• Experience of working in a clinical

environment

2. Work Experience

Essential Desirable

• Relevant experience of volunteering or • Experience of working with children or
working with young people for a minimum of young people with mental health
two years difficulties

• Work as part of a team – provide effective • Worked in a service where agreed
contributions with internal/external multi- targets in place to demonstrating
professional teams outcomes

• Demonstrate high standards of written • Experience of managing caseloads
communication • Trained and experienced in the use of

• Experience of using IT systems risk assessments

• Personal and time management skills