At Ormiston Families, we believe everyone in the East of England deserves to feel happier, stronger and understood. For more than 45 years, we've been supporting children, young people and families to overcome challenges, improve emotional wellbeing and build brighter futures. Everything we do is rooted in our values of collaboration, compassion and effectiveness, and we're proud to work alongside people rather than simply for them, creating lasting change through trusted relationships, early intervention and evidence-based support.
Our people are at the heart of our success. We know that when our colleagues feel valued, supported, and empowered, they can make the greatest difference to the lives of others. That's why we're committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming workplace where everyone can thrive, develop and feel proud of the impact they make. Whether you're working directly with families or supporting our services behind the scenes, you'll be part of a dedicated team that shares a common purpose: helping children, young people and families build resilience, strengthen connections and create positive, lasting change in their communities. If you're looking for a rewarding career where your skills, ideas and compassion can genuinely transform lives, we'd love you to join us.
Our Supporting Smiles service 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 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, and promotes shared decision-making, partnership working, and proactive prevention.
We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated candidates who are:
- Passionate about improving children's and young people’s mental health.
- Committed to evidence-based practice, accessibility, equity, and inclusion.
- Able to study and write at postgraduate level (degree-level qualification required).
- Flexible and willing to travel across Norfolk & Waveney and to London for training.
- Experienced in working with children/young people in a mental health or related setting (desirable).
The post holder will undertake training at University College London alongside working in service for Supporting Smiles. They will be taught to deliver evidence-based guided self-help interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. They will also be taught how to deliver interventions in the community, for example, participation activities, training, and group delivery. The post holder will use their newly developed skills to support children and young people referred to the service, and trainees will receive supervision to support their professional development and will be expected to actively engage local communities.
As a trainee, you will:
- Assess and deliver, under supervision, outcome-focused, evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties within the community
- Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post, including practical, academic and practice-based assessments.
- Gain a UCL Postgraduate Diploma in Child Wellbeing Practice upon successful completion.
Applicants will need to be ready to start work in early to mid-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 UCL for a place on the Diploma in Child Wellbeing Practice. The application form details are in the CWP Recruitment Pack and will need to be completed at the same time as your application for a post.
The salary for this post is £25,147 per annum, based on 37.5 hours per week.
This is a full-time, 12-month fixed-term training post, starting in January 2027.
Location: Norwich Hub (with travel across Norfolk & Waveney and to Anna Freud, London, for training).
For further information and to apply, please visit our website: https://www.ormiston.org/work-with-us/our-vacancies.
Direct UCL application link: https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login_enc?0qhYzuG1h9udTFM8i9sPhtGiUgIR6D6iP0QBDHq24aV3AVw8VNXRYxDmc3LlBtzaFHDKnOhbH0M=
For more information about UCL, please click on the following link: https://www.annafreud.org/ucl-postgraduate-study/ucl-postgraduate-programmes/child-and-young-persons-psychological-wellbeing-practice-pg-dip/
Closing Date: 9am, Friday 9th October 2026
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.
Pay: £25,147.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: In person
