Trainee Children Wellbeing Practitioner

ABC Counselling, Play Therapy & Family Solutions

Title: Trainee Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner

Location: Teesside - Stockton on Tees

Service Area: Children, Young People and Families

Reporting to: Designated Line Manager

Accountable to: Director of Services

**Salary**: £23809 whilst in training

ABC Counselling, Play Therapy & Family Solutions is a leading and trusted local children’s mental health provider delivering psychological support and emotional well-being services in primary and secondary schools. ABC delivers a whole school approach to improving children’s mental health and wellbeing. We also provide psychological therapies to children and families with multiple and complex needs, including pre and post adoption, attachment and trauma.

ABC is looking to recruit a full time Trainee Children Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) to start in January 2026. The initial starting salary is £23810 whilst training.

In line with the government’s priority to Increase Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), the Trainee Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner’s role will involve delivering evidence-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) interventions.

The successful applicant will be based at the ABC Family Centre located in Billingham, Stockton on Tees, and will be required to be flexible; learning both remotely, and travelling to Northumbria University for 1-2 days per week to access all training and learning opportunities needed for this post.

The Northumbria University learning programme for this post is due to start in January 2026. Learning will consist of both academic and supervised practice across mental health, community and educational settings.

Delivery of the Northumbria University learning programme will be provided through a combination of taught days within Northumbria University, independent self-guided study days, alongside practice experience gained in education wellbeing and mainstream mental health services.

During training, the trainee Children Wellbeing Practitioner will work under supervision and gain invaluable experience across local healthcare, community and educational settings. This experience will enable the CWP trainee to gain the level of competence required to deliver high quality, safe and effective evidence-based early interventions.

Specific evidence based psychological interventions will be targeted to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs. This will involve working one to one with vulnerable children and young people, and you will be expected to attain level 3 Safeguarding Certification as part of the induction process.

The Northumbria University Academic course is divided into modules, developing skills and knowledge in areas such as:

- Working with children, young people and their parents/carers to support self-management, including development of plans for specific interventions and agreeing outcomes.
- Learning to manage own caseload, gaining the necessary skills to practice a range of interventions such as guided self-help.
- Preparing and presenting caseload information to supervisors.
- Working with colleagues to provide better access to specialist mental health services and supporting referrals where required.
- Supporting colleagues to identify and manage issues related to mental health and wellbeing.

On successful completion of the training, the trainee Children Wellbeing Practitioner will be qualified and equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and competencies to work as an effective, autonomous, ethical and responsible practitioner. This will enable the trainee CWP to practice within the expectations of the service and have the competency and attributes to do so.

For further information in relation to this vacancy, please contact Peter Lowe Executive Director on 01642 913060.

Application Close Deadline: 12/10/2025

Interviews w/c 20/10/2025

Anticipated Start Date: 05/01/2026

**Job Types**: Initially Fixed-Term for 12-months

Starting Salary: £23810 per year

**Job Types**: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: £23,810.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Company pension
- On-site parking

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Stockton-on-Tees: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

**Education**:

- Bachelor's (preferred)

Work Location: In person