Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence-based Psychological Approaches for Children & Young People (CYP IAPT) – Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) pathway – BABCP Level 2 Accredited

About the programme

This programme is a Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence-based Psychotherapies for children and young people, validated by the University of Manchester. The programme is part of the national Children and Young People - Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) project and has gained validation by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP). It is a full-time programme (two days per week teaching/ supervision, with the rest of the week spent in clinical practice with a small caseload of CBT clients), in three 10-week terms, commencing in January each year. The aim of the programme is to provide health and social care professionals working in CYP IAPT services with the opportunity to develop general core clinical skills and theoretical knowledge, with specialism in cognitive and behaviour therapy interventions for internalising disorders (8-18 year olds).

The programme is grounded in evidence-based practice and is informed by the latest advances in clinical and experimental research. The attainment of clinical competence is measured by validated assessment tools.

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Programme Aims

  • Provide high quality training in the core therapy skills relevant to CBT for students working with CYP and their families with disorders of anxiety and depression. This will be done by presenting the relevant theoretical bases of the therapies alongside research evidence of their effectiveness. Students will develop an understanding of the links between research in the relevant areas of psychological science and practical applications of these therapies.
  • Provide training consistent with all current key governmental objectives for the CYP IAPT project, including training in evidence-based practice. The Diploma is a postgraduate qualification programme, suitable for health, mental health and social care professionals with suitable knowledge and experience, which aims to develop and extend professional competence.
  • Specifically, to be consistent with the National Department of Health priorities for mental health. To create a pool of suitably qualified graduates, trained to standards meeting with the provision of services as specified by the National Service Framework for Mental Health (National Health Service Executive). The National Service Framework promotes the training of staff and the need for the increased provision of evidence-based psychotherapy to service users.
  • Provide practical support, guidance and supervision in the practice of CBT delivered to CYP and/or their families with affective and anxiety disorders, and to help programme participants to develop the clinical skills necessary for working with these client groups.
  • Ensure that all graduates of the programme meet recognised minimum clinical competence in working with CBT with clients with affective and anxiety disorders.
  • The programme is accredited at Level 2 by the British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies (BABCP).

Who Can Apply

You cannot apply directly to the training centre for this course.

Eligible applicants will be working within the Northwest CYP IAPT Collaborative, either as existing staff or recruited into posts via the Recruit to Train process. Recruitment is a joint process between the Psychological Therapies Training Centre and collaborative partners (please see How to Apply section below). 

 

Applicants will be predominantly qualified members of the main mental health professions (Mental Health Social Workers, Psychiatric Nurses, Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Occupational Therapists in Mental Health, Accredited Counsellors). Please consult the following link for a list of all health, mental health and social care professions currently accepted by BABCP as a recognised core profession, which will be accepted as entry criteria: Core Professions (babcp.com)

 

Applicants without one of these recognised core professions will be considered for eligibility via the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) framework based on that developed by the BABCP.  The KSA requirements for this training programme will be sent out to applicants.  An example of KSA requirements can be found on the BABCP website Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (babcp.com)

 

Successful candidates will usually have some existing knowledge and experience of cognitive and/or behavioural therapy.  Experience of at least 2 years post core professional qualification clinical work with children and young people is essential, but 3-4 years are usually required for applicants coming via a KSA entry route. Applicants should normally have studied at level 6, however those without an undergraduate degree may be accepted on the basis of passing an entrance essay.

North West Collaborative

The Northwest CYP IAPT Collaborative is a partnership between The University of Manchester, Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust and over 70 providers and commissioning bodies of children and young people’s mental health services across NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary sectors working in the Northwest, Yorkshire and West Midlands.

It’s one of five Learning Collaboratives across England that are part of the CYP IAPT country-wide transformation programme. The collaborative seeks to improve services through better evidence-based practice, better collaborative practice, authentic participation and better use of feedback and clinical outcomes across all services.

 

 

Training Component

The training component is in the form of lectures, seminars and supervision of clinical practice. Following an initial induction, attendance will mainly be on two days each week (Wednesdays and Thursdays) over three 10-week terms.   During the year there may be some occasional changes to teaching days to accommodate regional training events facilitated by national and international leaders in the development of CBT. Training provision is a blend of online and face to face learning.

The course curriculum covers the topics set out in the National CYP IAPT Curriculum. This includes both core skills and CBT specific topics - see CYP IAPT (hee.nhs.uk) for details.

Assessment of competence is ongoing throughout the year and consists of an essay or exam, four case reports (including one verbal presentation), three tapes of clinical sessions, and a portfolio demonstrating clinical work undertaken over the year. A significant amount of private study is required.

How to Apply

Internal Recruitment Speak to your local CYP IAPT Lead in the first instance if you wish to apply.  If you do not know who this is, please speak to your service manager. You will need the support of your service manager before applying. Services apply for funded places as early as May for the following January so plan ahead. Application forms are available via CYP IAPT Leads within Children & Young People’s services across the Northwest Collaborative from August.  Completed application forms with Service Manager and the CYP IAPT Lead approval should be sent to the CYP IAPT Lead. They then send them on to the Training Centre. This process happens annually opening in late summer and closing early autumn. Applications must be funded either with service/CCG approval if they are funding the course, or with a confirmed Recruit to Train place from HEE (confirmed by the CYP IAPT Lead). Applicants are invited to interview through the autumn in preparation for the course starting in January.

Applications sent directly to the training centre by the applicant will not be accepted.

 

External recruitment: Training posts are advertised by services through the summer and autumn for the January intake. Training posts are usually 1-year contracts initially to cover the length of the course. Applying for the post and for the course is a combined process with a joint interview. Applicants must be in post and able to attend the training for the commencement of the course.

The Training Centre does not have any involvement with the advertising of these posts.

Contact Us

If you have any queries regarding this course not covered in the information detailed in any of the sections above or in the FAQ section of this website, please email: PTTCenquiries@gmmh.nhs.uk.  In the Subject Line please ensure you put the full title of the course to enable us to forward it to the appropriate programme team.  We will not be able to forward or respond to any emails received without this.

We are happy to answer questions related to the course itself, but unfortunately are unable to provide any general career advice.

 

As a patient

As a service user, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support. 

Find resources for carers and service users  Contact the Trust