We will soon be open to receiving Expressions of Interest from services looking to create new CWP posts within their service.
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About the CWP programme
The national CWP programme was established as a response to the target for offering an evidence based intervention to 70,000 more children and young people annually by 2020, by training up 1,700 new staff in evidence based treatments, outlined in Implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health
The CWP Programme is a fantastic opportunity for services to access a funding package to:
- Increase capacity by expanding the workforce through creating a new sub-service with close links to local providers
- Focus on prevention and early intervention – diverting children and young people from specialist services through guided self-help for anxiety, low mood and common behavioral problems
- Meet the gap in services – increasing accessibility and seeing children and young people who might not meet the threshold for current services
There have been 3 cohorts of CWP training in London and the South East to date, with 182 CWPs (including current trainees) based in 29 different services including NHS, Voluntary Sector and Local Authority.
The CWP programme in London and the South East has produced some impressive outcomes for children and young people. You can find a thorough evaluation of the first year of the CWP programme here
You can see a variety of different CWP service models here: CWP Booklet: Reflections from Year One
The Offer to Services
Providers (NHS, Local Authority, Voluntary Sector) and CCGs can apply in partnership for a funding package to create up to 4 CWP training posts at band 4, which in previous cohorts has included:
- 1 year certificate level CWP training course at University College London or Kings College London for trainee CWPs
- Salary support at the equivalent of NHS mid-point band 4 for each trainee CWP (in addition to on costs and high-cost living area weighting where applicable)
- Placement support funding for each service to recruit a CWP Supervisor/Service Development lead to provide intense supervision and support for 1 day a week per CWP within their service
- A training course for new CWP supervisors
PLEASE NOTE: We are currently awaiting news from Health Education England (HEE) about funding for the October 2019 cohort and so we will confirm the final offer as soon as possible.
Training Provided
CWPs will undertake postgraduate certificate level training for 1 year, hosted by either University College London (UCL) or Kings College London (KCL).
The CWPs will be trained over the course of a year to offer brief, focused evidence- based interventions in the form of low intensity support and guided self-help to young people who demonstrate mild/moderate:
- Anxiety (primary and secondary school age)
- Low mood (adolescents)
- Common behavioural difficulties (working with parents for under 8s)
Supervisors new to the CWP model will also be able to attend a training course to equip them with the skills to support the CWPs and to develop the service.
Next steps for interested services
Services interested in the CWP programme should contact cwp@annafreud.org as a first step to discuss further.
All interested services will need to fill in an Expression of Interest form (you can download below), which serves as an application/bid for trainee CWP places and should include details about:
- How your service plans to recruit trainee CWPs
- Sustainability plans beyond the initial funded training year
- Plans for local integration and pathways
- Plans for support and supervision of CWPs
Services are more likely to be allocated funding if they can demonstrate robust sustainability plans and clear and comprehensive supervisory arrangements.
The following timeline is a guide for key dates in the application process (PLEASE NOTE: this is a guide – timeline will be updated as new information becomes available)
| Mid March | Expression of Interest form is circulated to services and window of application begins |
| Mid May | EoI deadline |
| Late May | EoIs processing and CWP place allocation (dependent on funding confirmation from HEE) |
| Early June | Offers to services go out and sites sent recruitment and finance information |
| Mid June – Mid August | Sites can begin recruitment processes: advertise, shortlist and interview (as this is a training role, candidates will also need to apply to the university in tandem with their job application) |
| Early Oct | Training begins (Date TBC) |
More Information
For more detailed information about the CWP programme, please see the FAQ documents below:
A template job description and person specification for the CWP role can also be viewed here:
The course brochure can be accessed below:
You can see a variety of different CWP service models here:
If you have any questions please contact cwp@annafreud.org
If you are a graduate or individual interested in a place on the CWP programme, please express your interest via this link to receive updates and find out more on the CWP candidates page: cypiapt.com/cwp-candidates/
