Home > Therapeutic Practitioner: CYP-PT Trainee – Autism Spectrum Conditions and Learning Disabilities (ASC/LD) Pathway (X2) – Supporting Smiles

Therapeutic Practitioner: CYP-PT Trainee – Autism Spectrum Conditions and Learning Disabilities (ASC/LD) Pathway (X2) – Supporting Smiles

Location: Norwich Hub (with travel across Norfolk & Waveney and to Anna Freud, London for training) 

Salary: £34,467.72 per annum 

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours 

Start date: 6th January (university start date is 19th January) 

Contract: 1-year fixed-term training post      

About the Role

This is a full-time CYP-PT (Recruit to Train) ASC/LD trainee position within the NHS England (NHSE) funded Children and Young People’s (CYP) Psychological Training Programme (formerly CYP-IAPT).

The CYP-PT ASC/LD pathway is designed to build the workforce of specialist practitioners supporting children and young people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) and/or learning disabilities (LD).

This unique opportunity allows trainees to:

• Apply academic learning from weekly teaching directly into practice.
• Deliver structured, evidence-based interventions tailored for children and young people with ASC/LD.
• Support families and carers in promoting wellbeing, resilience, and communication.

About Supporting Smiles

Supporting Smiles provides professional mental health support to children and young people across Norfolk and Waveney through our therapeutic pathways and Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner teams. Our holistic approach combines the expertise of our therapeutic practitioners, counsellors, and children’s wellbeing practitioners. We aim to deliver accessible, inclusive, and community-driven mental health support to children, young people, and families.

Our service’s name, Supporting Smiles, was co-created with input from the children and families we support. We are part of Norfolk & Waveney’s Children and Young People’s Alliance, an integrated mental health service network guided by the THRIVE principles – ensuring support is needs-led, accessible, outcome-informed, promotes shared decision-making, partnership working, and proactive prevention.

Within this framework, Supporting Smiles primarily delivers care within the Getting Help quadrant of the THRIVE Framework. This means we provide focused, evidence-based interventions for children and young people who need more targeted support with their mental health and emotional wellbeing, but who do not require highly specialist or intensive services.

We also work closely with partners across the other quadrants (Getting Advice, Getting More Help, and Risk Support) to ensure children, young people, and families receive the right level of support at the right time.

(For more information about the THRIVE Framework principles, see: https://implementingthrive.org/principles-of-the-thrive-framework/)

Training Information

The training will begin on 19th January 2026 and combines academic study with practical experience.

Around 2.5 days per week will be dedicated to teaching and personal study, while 2.5 days per week will be spent in service working on clinical cases linked to training assignments.

Trainees will be jointly employed by Supporting Smiles and enrolled at UCL/Anna Freud, receiving a UCL Postgraduate Diploma upon successful completion.

Successful candidates will be required to travel to Anna Freud, Central London (Rodney Street, N1 9JH) for teaching during the training year.

About You

We are seeking highly motivated candidates who are:

• Passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people with ASC/LD.
• Committed to delivering accessible, inclusive, and evidence-based interventions.
• Flexible, resilient, and reflective in their practice.
• Able to work in partnership with families, schools, and multi-agency professionals.
• Dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery.

Applicants must be able to study and write at postgraduate level and demonstrate the ability to balance academic demands with clinical responsibilities.

Application Process

This is a dual application process:

You must apply for this position with Supporting Smiles/Ormiston Families.

To apply please click on the apply online button

You must also complete a UCL application for the course team to review.

Direct UCL application link: https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login_enc?0qhYzuG1h9udTFM8i9sPhtGiUgIR6D6iP0QBDHq24aUE7Anl4FtDGBDmc3LlBtzaVi6cWmaNYWo=

Application guidance document: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17bbinRzAlIfH8SKe3t18I2m14L7sli5e?usp=drive_link

The course team will liaise with us to ensure you meet the academic requirements. You will only be offered a UCL training place if you are successful in securing this post and meet the university’s entry requirements.

For more details on the programme, see the Anna Freud CYP IAPT Therapy Programme webpage

Any queries, please email:   brittanie.collins@ormistonfamilies.org.uk

Closing Date for Applications: 9am, Friday 26th September 2025

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

Ormiston Families is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

We are an equal opportunities employer; we value diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.