Parenting Training for Conduct Disorders Pathway (CYP IAPT) Postgraduate Diploma

The formal aims of the programme are to:

Provide high quality training in the core therapy skills relevant to PT for students working with CYP and their families with disorders of conduct, anxiety and, depression and self-harm. This will be done by presenting the relevant theoretical bases of the therapies alongside research evidence of their effectiveness to enable students to 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’ and the provision of ‘lifelong learning’. As the Diploma is a postgraduate qualification programme, suitable for health, mental health and social care professionals with suitable knowledge and experience, the programme aims to develop and extend professional competence in all relevant professions.

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 therapies delivered to CYP and/or their families with affective disorders, conduct problems and international concerns, 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 PT for Conduct Disorders with parents and children (between 3 and 10 years of age).

The programme is also accredited at Level 2 by the British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies (BABCP).

You cannot apply directly to the training centre for this course

Eligible applicants will be working within Northwest CYP IAPT Collaborative. Recruitment is a joint process with collaborative partners. 

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). 

Candidates will have some existing knowledge and experience of cognitive and/or behavioural therapy, parenting for conduct disorders, or systemic family practice. Experience of at least 2 years clinical work with children and young people is ideally needed with a core profession or at least 4 years full time relevant knowledge, skills and experience is needed if applying through the KSA route. Candidates should also have an undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification (level 6) or demonstrate competency to work at a postgraduate level through an entry essay following interview.

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.

The training component is in the form of lectures, workshops and supervision of clinical practice. Following the initial five day induction week, and the three day accredited Incredible Years Course, attendance is weekly on mainly two days each week (Wednesdays and Thursdays) over three 10 week terms.  

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.

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