In order to undertake this course, we ask that you:

1. have completed our Working with children, young people and families: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7) course or equivalent. (Applicants who have completed an observation course at a training establishment other than Leeds are welcome to apply to the NSCAP for the clinical training, but may have to complete additional requirements prior to acceptance. You must have completed either course to MA level if you have not previously completed an undergraduate degree)
2. have substantial experience of working with children and young people of varying ages, with experience gained in a number of settings including health, education and social care, and
3. are strong in personal suitability

Personal suitability criteria include:

• both sensitivity and resilience to meet the emotional demands of the training
• sustained interest in infants, children and adolescents and the ability to engage and build relationships with them
• awareness of the impact you have on others and the impact of others on you
• respect for others’ difference, identity and individuality
• the ability to keep personal and professional boundaries
• the ability to ask for and use help
• the ability to keep thinking under pressure
• excellent written and spoken communications skills

Please note: although it is not a definite requirement for applicants to have had analysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy during the pre-clinical course, it is strongly recommended that once or twice weekly treatment is undertaken in this period.

If this has not been possible, one or more consultations with a training analyst or psychoanalytic psychotherapist recognised by NSCAP and the ACP is considered to be a necessary part of the process of considering making an application to the clinical training.

This is a funded course. In order to take up a place on the course, all new students need to apply for a fully funded NHS trainee child psychotherapy post in the north of England. There are competitive interviews for these posts. 

Anyone who has been offered a place on the course who is unsuccessful in their application for a trainee child psychotherapist post cannot take up a place on the training and will need to reapply for an NHS trainee post the following academic year.

Assessment

Practice-based learning is ongoing throughout the programme with defined progress points at the end of each year, and joint planning between you, your placement supervisor and your tutor for the next year’s requirements.

This ensures that the required professional competencies can be met by the end of the programme so that you will be eligible for full membership of the ACP. There are also academic submissions each year, building progressively so that by the end of the course you will be ready to submit a substantial portfolio of clinical and research work, which will be assessed by viva.

Attendance

This course is full time, between your clinical work in placement and time for training. For each week of term (three terms of ten weeks each), a full day on Thursday at NSCAP is required, as well as an additional training day on Thursdays at end of each term.

Qualified child psychotherapists can work in public services such as the NHS or voluntary sectors. Given that training posts are fully funded by Health Education England, the expectation is that post-qualification you would work in the NHS or the voluntary sector.

However, you are eligible to work in private practice. It is strongly recommended that child psychotherapists continue to have supervision post-qualification. This is expected by the ACP and is part of continued CPD after qualifying.