Hours: 37.5 (full-time) hours per week
Salary: £27,485 per annum
Contract: One year Fixed Term Contract starting in January 2026.
Location: Roles will work in the community and GP practices. Role will be assigned to specific locations but may need to have flexibility to be able to travel to sites across Rural North Chichester, Chichester, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Chanctonbury, Worthing, Shoreham and Southwick. You will also attend the University of Sussex, Falmer, multiple times per week throughout the course.
West Sussex Mind Values:
Excellence, Equitable, Open, Together, Curious, Unstoppable
Winner of National Mind Anti-Stigma Award 2021
Overview:
Ready to make a real difference in young lives?
We’re offering an exciting chance to join West Sussex Mind as one of four full-time trainee Children’s Wellbeing Practitioners, starting in January 2026. This is more than just a job — it’s your opportunity to earn a nationally recognised NHS qualification while working hands-on in a passionate, values-driven mental health charity.
Whether you’ve recently completed a degree (2:2 or above) and have some experience with children, or you’re ready to pivot your career and follow your passion for helping others, this could be your next big step.
As a successful candidate, you will:
- Enrol in a graduate or postgraduate diploma at the University of Sussex, attending all university-based training in Falmer and progressing through all assessments.
- Train on the job with West Sussex Mind, delivering brief, evidence-based interventions and guided self-help to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges.
This is your chance to build a meaningful career — and change lives along the way
Please watch this video produced by the University of Sussex for further information
Please see the Job Description, Person Specification and Guidance below for further detail.
All posts will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. If successfully shortlisted, you will attend a joint interview with the Assistant Professor from the University of Sussex and Head of Children, Young People and Family Services from West Sussex Mind.
Closing date: 4:00 pm on Friday 24th October
Interview date: Tuesday 11th or Thursday 13th November in person at our Southwick office, 45 Southwick Street, Southwick, Brighton BN42 4TH
If you are unable to make either of these interview dates for any reason or have a preference on date, please indicate this on your application form.
How to apply:
Please email completed applications to recruitment@westsussexmind.org
If you would like to have an informal discussion prior to applying or have any questions after reading the documents, please email kim.anthony@westsussexmind.org
Please note we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must therefore be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.
Applicants need to meet the criteria for university 'home fees'. The link for information about what this means is https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/fees-funding/tuition-fees/fee-status
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time once we receive sufficient applications and encourage all interested applicants to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
No agencies or CV .
West Sussex Mind is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff, and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. Here is a link to our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion statement - West Sussex Mind | Equality, diversity and inclusion statement.