6 Practitioner jobs in East of England

We’re currently recruiting for one full-timeTrainee Children Wellbeing Practitioners (CWP)to work directly with young people within our mental health services. For this post you need to have a Undergraduate degree, second class or above, in a mental health of child development related subject OR any subject with further training or experience in a relevant field. We are also looking for someone with an open and flexible attitude; excellent engagement skills and a passion for working with children and young people around mental health. 

Responsibilities include offering a CBT based self-guided mental health interventions to young people and their families including individual, parent-led and group-based support; workshops; crisis support; mental health themed activities. 

This post is based on-site and may require flexibility to work across different service areas and interventions. Some evening and/or weekend work may be necessary to meet the needs of young people. 

This is a training position where the post holder will undertake training at Kings College London alongside working in service for Off The Record. Applicants will need to be ready to start work in early January 2027 and posts cannot be offered to candidates unless they can guarantee this start date. 

Shortlisted candidates will also need to submit an application form to KCL for a place on the Postgraduate Diploma in Child Wellbeing Practice (CWP). Please see links below.

The full Job Description and Person Specification are attached. 

Applying for the Posts 

To be considered for the position, the Application Form needs to be completed and return via email to the email address on the application form by Sunday 20th September 2026.   

We understand some candidates may want to use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we also want to learn more about the authentic you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences wherever possible. In the spirit of transparency - we also ask that you indicate if you have used AI in your application.

Decisions about who to invite for interview will be based on how well someone demonstrates that they meet the person specification for the specific post, so please make sure you complete the application form fully and accurately, giving evidence of how you meet each point in the person specification and indicating your relevant knowledge, skills and experience. Please note that CVs will not be considered. 

Email applicants will receive a confirmation of receipt and shortlisted candidates will be contacted as soon as possible after the closing date. 

We’re currently recruiting 4 full-time Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHP) to work directly with young people in our Croydon Mental Health Support Team (MHST). For this post you need to have an Undergraduate degree, second class or above, in a mental health of child development related subject (e.g., Psychology, Education, Childhood development, Social Work etc), OR any subject with further training or experience in a relevant field (e.g., Teaching/TA; Learning Support; HCA; Youth Work; etc). We are also looking for people with an open and flexible attitude; excellent engagement skills and a passion for working with children and young people around mental health. 

Responsibilities include offering CBT based, self-guided mental health interventions to primary and secondary aged children and young people and their families. This involves individual and group-based support directly with young people, parent-led support, and supporting schools to implement a whole school approach to emotional wellbeing. The posts have scope and opportunity for developing new initiatives and ways of working to support young people’s mental health across South London. 

All posts are based on-site (office/school) and may require flexibility to work across different service areas and interventions. Some evening and/or weekend work may be necessary to meet the needs of young people. 

This is a training position where the post holder will undertake training at Kings College London alongside working in service for Off The Record. Applicants will need to be ready to start work in early January 2027 and posts cannot be offered to candidates unless they can guarantee this start date. 

Shortlisted candidates will also need to submit an application form to KCL for a place on the Postgraduate Diploma in Child Wellbeing Practice (CWP). Please see links below. 

The full Job Description and Person Specification are attached. 

Applying for the Posts 

To be considered for the position, the Application Form need to be completed and return via email to email address on the application by the end of Sunday 20th September 2026.

We understand some candidates may want to use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we also want to learn more about the authentic you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences wherever possible. In the spirit of transparency - we also ask that you indicate if you have used AI in your application.

Decisions about who to invite for interview will be based on how well someone demonstrates that they meet the person specification for the specific post, so please make sure you complete the application form fully and accurately, giving evidence of how you meet each point in the person specification and indicating your relevant knowledge, skills and experience. Please note that CVs will not be considered. 

Email applicants will receive a confirmation of receipt and shortlisted candidates will be contacted as soon as possible after the closing date. 

Children & Young People’s Practitioners, Children’s Home
Hours: Full-Time (36 hrs p/wk) or Part-Time (24 hrs p/wk)
Salary: £26,400 plus £1,500 in bonuses, rising to £29,000 pa + benefits FTE, pro rata for Part Time
Location: A Children home in London, SW8 (Zone 2)

Could you make a BIG difference to a young person’s life?

We’re looking for people with energy, warmth, ambition, and personality who want more than just a job.

At Young Futures, you’ll have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with young people in care, help them develop confidence and independence, and support them to achieve things they may not yet believe are possible.

We invest in you, too

We’re passionate about learning and professional development. As soon as practicable, we’ll enrol you onto a relevant Diploma programme and give you the time, support and incentives to succeed and progress your career.

Could this be you?

We’re particularly interested in people who bring:

• Experience with young people – perhaps through mentoring, coaching, teaching, youth work, or a similar role.
• Warmth, kindness, and humour – the qualities that help genuine relationships grow.
• Strong values and a real commitment to inclusion and opportunity.
• Good judgement – including the ability to recognise risk and respond confidently and appropriately.
• Ambition and curiosity – with a desire to learn, develop and become exceptional at what you do.

A role with variety and purpose

You’ll play an active role in supporting each young person’s health, education, relationships, independence, and everyday life.

You’ll also have the chance to lead a specialist area of work, bringing your own strengths and interests to the home — for example sport, culture, and the arts (SCAs).

Working hours are daytime shifts, scheduled between 8am and 9pm, giving you the opportunity to be present for the parts of the day that matter most — from morning routines and education through to activities, appointments and evening support.

This is an important, hands-on role where your ideas, energy and relationships can have a lasting impact.

Please note that only women are eligible to apply for the Residential Practitioner position at our all-female unit, under Section 7(2) (b) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. 

Timescales

Applications submissions: ASAP and before 7pm Wednesday 16th September
Interviews: 1st Round online on Teams from Friday 18th September
Start date: October 2026

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.

Youth Impact Advert

Permanent

Hours: 0 hour contract, sessional hours, working flexibly.

Please note the number of hours for this position cannot be defined in advance, sessional hours are provided on a rota basis and will be arranged as and when required. Likely hours are afternoons/evenings and some weekends. Your availability will be discussed at interview, if successful at shortlisting stage.

Hourly rate: £16.15 per hour

Location: Newham, London

Benefits include but not limited to:

-We match up to 8% pension

-Free counselling service

-Opportunities to develop and widen your skills

-2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation

About us:The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.

Our Youth Impact domain creates impact for children and young people. With highly skilled and experienced staff working across England and Wales, we provide direct support to children, young people, parents and carers, as well as conduct research and influence Government to make changes. We also provide training for professionals. Our value driven team change the lives of children in this country for the better — and with your help and expertise, tomorrow we can support even more.

About the role:You'll play a key part in our Time for young people, Newham service - an exciting opportunity to be a part of The Children's Society's mission to reverse the decline of children's wellbeing by 2030. We believe support should be provided at the earliest possible opportunity, before young people reach crisis point.

We are looking to recruit a bank of sessional workers with youth work, therapeutic and trauma informed skills to deliver 1:1 interventions and group work sessions with young people both at our hub in Plaistow and through additional delivery sites in the community. We will be offering additional training in the above areas.

We are striving to build a unique, multi-skilled team who are passionate about social justice, inclusion and have excellent knowledge of the complex issues that young people and families face. We are looking for individuals who can work well on their own initiative and have great new ideas to bring to the team.

We are also looking for people who have a good understanding of the diversity and complexities of the borough of Newham and the surrounding areas. It would be a bonus to have individuals apply who are representative of the cultures and faiths of Newham and who speak languages common to the local area. We welcome applications from a range of genders, and from people with lived experience of some of the challenges and experiences young people will be having.

Key skills and experience:

The required skills and competencies for this role are:

-Experience of delivering 1:1 and group-work sessions

-Excellent understanding of the emotional health and wellbeing needs of children and young people in the local community

-Experience of working in a trauma-informed and inclusive way.

It would also be an advantage if you have any of the following skills and competencies:

-Knowledge and experience of delivering therapeutic interventions [e.g. solution focused therapy]

-Experience of working within a drop-in model

-Local knowledge of the London Borough of Newham

Closing date: Midnight on Friday 11th September 2026Interviews: Date to be confirmed

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 5 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.

AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters.

About the role 

The Survivor Movement and Participation Lead is a strategic leadership role at the heart of the Enhanced Mental Health Pathway (EMHP) Alliance Partnership, dedicated to amplifying survivor voices and driving systemic change.

You will lead the development of a high-quality survivor involvement programme across the Alliance, ensuring that the voices, experiences and expertise of survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault and sexual violence shape service design, referral pathways, workforce development, communications and evaluation.

This role is grounded in trauma-informed, anti-racist and culturally grounded care frameworks, ensuring survivors are not only heard but actively shape strategies, influence policy and lead change.

Job description 

As the Survivor Movement and Participation Lead you will:

• Design, establish and coordinate an Experts with Lived Experience (ELE) Network, developing a survivor involvement framework that promotes safe, ethical, inclusive and meaningful participation, with appropriate emotional support, safeguarding, debriefing and payment arrangements in place.
• Design, facilitate and evaluate peer support groups and survivor-led spaces, creating opportunities for survivors to influence strategic decision-making, project governance and service evaluation at every stage.
• Train and mentor survivors in facilitation, peer support and leadership, building capacity for survivor-led design, delivery and evaluation of services.
• Lead the co-production and delivery of training with Experts with Lived Experience, covering areas such as trauma-informed practice, responding to disclosures and reducing re-traumatisation, working in partnership with NHS mental health providers, specialist sexual violence services and the voluntary sector.
• Develop tools to assess survivor influence and leadership across programmes and governance, facilitating reflective learning spaces and co-authoring learning briefs and policy insights to promote survivor-led approaches.

Supporting Statement Guidance

Your supporting statement should clearly demonstrate how your experience, knowledge, skills, and qualifications meet the requirements of the role. Please address the key criteria outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification, providing specific examples of achievements and responsibilities that evidence your suitability for the position.

Focus on relevant professional experience, transferable skills, and the impact of your work. Where possible, use concise examples to illustrate how you have successfully applied these skills in practice.

The supporting statement should be no more than 500 words and should complement, rather than repeat, the information contained in your CV or application form.

Closing date and interviews

This vacancy will close at 9am on Monday 14 September 2026. Interviews will take place shortly thereafter, and shortlisted candidates will be notified of the arrangements.

The selection process will consist of two interview stages. Interview panels will include representatives from partner organisations within the EMHP Alliance, reflecting the collaborative nature of the role. Candidates invited to interview will receive full details of each stage in advance.

About us 

Women and Girls Network (WGN) is a pan-London organisation that supports women and girls affected by all forms of gendered-based violence. Our overall aim is to promote, preserve and restore the mental health and well-being of women and girls who have experienced, or are at risk of, gendered-based violence, whilst working towards a society free of gendered-based violence.

We do this by:

• Providing women-only holistic and seamless therapeutic services, which meet women and girls’ needs and contribute to total and sustainable recovery from the experiences of violence.
• Evidencing the impact of gendered-based violence and presenting this information in appropriate forums to affect social change in attitudes towards, and responses to, gendered-based violence.
• Developing good practice in the sector by providing training and guidance on specialist service provision and the development of culturally appropriate service delivery.

WGN is proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer and a member of The London VAWG Consortium, Halo Code, and Helplines Partnership.

Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

We are deeply committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity, resilience and strength of the women and girls we serve. We strongly encourage applications from Black and Global Majority women and applicants with Lived Experience, including those who may not meet every criterion.

WGN is an equal opportunities employer.

Exemption

This post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1, and is open to female applicants only, due to the nature of the role.