Children’s Trauma & Bereavement Service Manager (Bedfordshire & Luton)

Are you a qualified, bereavement- and trauma-trained therapist ready to lead a team that helps children reclaim their childhood after loss or a frightening event?

An exciting opportunity has arisen at CHUMS to lead our Bedfordshire and Luton Children’s Trauma and Bereavement Service. You will bring together two of our longest-standing specialist services: evidence-based trauma therapy for children and young people who have experienced a single traumatic event or traumatic bereavement, and our community bereavement programme for children, young people and their families.

This role is ideal for an experienced clinician who wants to step up into service leadership, or an established manager who wants to keep a hand in direct clinical work within a passionate, employee-owned organisation.

About the service

CHUMS has supported bereaved children and young people across Bedfordshire and Luton for nearly 30 years. The service you will lead has two strands:

• Trauma Service – NICE-informed, trauma-focused therapy for children and young people aged 5–18 who have experienced a single traumatic event (such as a road traffic accident, medical emergency, fire, assault or witnessing a distressing event) or a traumatic bereavement (sudden, accidental, violent or suicide-related death). We offer 1:1 therapy (6–12 sessions) using approaches such as TF-CBT and EMDR, 6-session structured group programmes, and consultation and liaison with families, schools and professionals.
• Bereavement Service – community-based therapeutic support for children and young people aged 6–18 and their parents and carers. Families are assessed by a CHUMS therapist and invited to an annual programme of monthly creative, nature-inspired family workshops that follow the rhythm of the year, with individual support for those unable to access a group.

We work as part of a “team around the child” alongside CAMHS, Early Help, schools and local support organisations, and our Children and Young People and Parent and Carer Participation Forums help shape everything we do.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, line manage and clinically support a team of therapists, practitioners, volunteers and trainees on placement
• Oversee referral management, triage and assessment, ensuring eligibility criteria and risk assessment are applied consistently
• Ensure the safe, high-quality delivery of trauma-focused 1:1 and group interventions and the family bereavement workshop programme
• Hold a small clinical caseload of trauma and/or bereavement work (flexible to your accreditation requirements)
• Lead on safeguarding and clinical risk within the service, supporting staff with escalation to Social Care and CAMHS
• Provide consultation, advice and training to schools and other professionals supporting bereaved and traumatised children, including our new RSHE bereavement training for education settings
• Monitor routine outcome measures and produce quarterly and annual reports for commissioners and funders
• Embed service user participation and co-production in service design and delivery
• Build strong partnerships across Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton, and contribute to service development and bids

About you

We’d love to hear from you if you are:

• A qualified and experienced therapist, registered with a professional body (e.g. HCPC, BACP, UKCP, BABCP)
• Trained in trauma-focused therapy (e.g. TF-CBT or EMDR) and in bereavement and grief work with children and young people
• Experienced in delivering both individual and group therapy for children, young people and families
• Knowledgeable about clinical risk and safeguarding, with a strong, evidenced track record
• Experienced in, or ready to develop, supervising and managing staff and volunteers
• Confident working in multi-agency settings and delivering consultation and training to professionals
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and write clear reports
• A car driver, able to travel across Bedfordshire and Luton

What we offer

You’ll join a supportive, employee-owned social enterprise that works to our ACE values: Accessible, Compassionate, Effective. In return we offer:

• Flexible working – ideal for those balancing childcare or other commitments
• Supportive leadership – direct support from our Clinical and Associate Clinical Directors, and strong links with managers across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes
• Development opportunities – including supervision training, safeguarding and management skills development
• Regular clinical supervision and a Clinician on Duty rota, so you’re never on your own with a difficult decision
• A voice in how the organisation is run through our Staff Partnership Forum, plus our Wellbeing Team, Buddy Groups and annual staff Away Day
• Access to BUPA support and Blue Light discounts for charity workers
• Offices set in the beautiful surroundings of Wrest Park, Silsoe
• Most of all, the knowledge that you are making a real difference to children, young people and families at some of the hardest moments of their lives

Details of the role

Working hours – 15 hours per week

Salary –  FTE £42,000 – £45,000 based on experience (actual £16,800 – £18,000)

For more information, to discuss the role, or to email an application form, please contact recruitment@chums.uk.com. All completed application forms should be sent to this address.

Please note: CVs will not be accepted for this role – please complete an application form.

CHUMS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, including people with lived experience.

CWP Trainee

CHUMS CIC Social Enterprise is an NHS Approved provider of clinical services to children and families. The service left the NHS in 2011 to become an independent Social Enterprise, affording the organisation more freedom to offer its services in a way that best suits the needs of the service users.

CHUMS is a Children and Young People’s Psychological Therapy (CYP-PT) compliant service and has been successful in setting up an early intervention service which comprises of a large CYP-PT training hub. We have Family Wellbeing Teams in our BLMK wellbeing services.

The aims of this service are to meet the emotional wellbeing needs of children and their families through advice and guidance, guided self-help, brief solution focused support in the community. We have the opportunity to extend the team to include 10 further trainee CWP places predominantly covering Milton Keynes with travel to Luton, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire localities, with some virtual support.

These are training posts to provide support to children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The ideal candidates will have an undergraduate degree (psychology or similar) or be able to demonstrate academic ability to meet the requirements of the course, as well as some experience of working with children and young people up to the age of 18 with a range of mild to moderate mental health difficulties, either individually or in groups.

The post holder will be taught to deliver evidence based guided self-help interventions with children and young people or their parents/carers when the CYP is 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. Trainees will receive supervision to support their professional development.

Post holders will be required to travel independently as needed within the community.

Applicants will need to be ready to start work in early/mid-January 2027and posts cannot be offered to candidates unless they can guarantee this start date.

Interview dates and information:

• Candidates will be initially invited to a face-to-face group task lasting an hour and a half at Wrest Park, Silsoe to determine whether candidates move forward to a 1:1 interview.
• These groups will happen twice, one on the week beginning 19^th October and the next on the week beginning 26^th October. Successful candidates will be offered online interviews later in the week following their group task.
• UCL applications need to be submitted at the same time with their application portal closing in early November at the latest.

If you would like to attend a webinar on 21/09/2026 6pm-7pm for more information, please email trainee-recruitment@chums.uk.com requesting a Teams link.

Closing date for applications is 12pm, 28/09/2026

Salary: £26,530 (review pending)

Hours: 37.5 per week, 1 year fixed term contract

Location: Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and home

For more information, to discuss the role or to email an application form, please contact trainee-recruitment@chums.uk.com

 Please note: CV’s will not be accepted for this role and will be rejected

CBT Trainee

CHUMS is an innovative, dynamic and employee-owned Social Enterprise.  CHUMS left the NHS in 2011 to become an independent Social Enterprise affording more freedom to offer its services in a way that best suits the needs of children, young people and families.  As an organisation we now deliver over 10 services across 4 counties.

CHUMS has an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Therapies CBT Trainee placement as part of NHS England (NHSE) funding. This government-funded initiative promotes the growth and skill of the child mental health workforce to meet much needed demand. NHSE covers salary and training costs for a 1-year position, allowing services to develop trainees to support specialist pathways to bridge the gaps in CYP mental health support. This is a unique opportunity to apply your learning from weekly teaching into practical clinical interventions working with clients in an experienced organisation making a direct impact in the lives of children, young people and their families.

We are seeking highly motivated and clinically experienced candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children and young people’s mental health through evidence-based interventions based on NICE Guideline recommended treatment. You will have a registerable professional qualification in a relevant subject with experience working with children, young people and their families in a mental health setting. Please see the job description and specification for more details.

Please note: The position will be part of the Milton Keynes Wellbeing service and will therefore require community working in Milton Keynes. The trainee will also be expected to travel to London for teaching during the training year.

The PG Dip in CYP PT course starts in January 2027 and will be completed over 1 year. Students will study their modality (CBT) Modules alongside Core Skills Modules. Students will be required to attend university regularly each week. The remaining time in role will be spent working clinically within your service with children, young people with symptoms of anxiety or depression, their families, schools and wider systems.

The ideal candidates will have a background in a core profession or extensive experience as a CAMHS practitioner, as well as some experience of working with children and young people up to the age of 18 with a range of mild to moderate mental health difficulties, either individually or in groups.

Applicants will need to complete the CHUMS application form and the UCL application at the same time. UCL: This is a training position and so all candidates will need to apply for both the trainee role with our organisation and the UCL Post Graduate Diploma in Child and Young Person Psychological Therapy in order to be shortlisted (for more information about the course and minimum entry criteria, please see the course page: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/child-young-person-iapt-therapy-pg-dip). Please complete your university application using the UCL University Application Guidance supplied.

If you would like to attend a webinar on 21/09/2026, 6pm-7pm for more information, please email trainee-recruitment@chums.uk.com requesting a Teams link.

Salary: £37,338

Hours: 37.5 per week, 1 year fixed term contract

Location: Milton Keynes

For more information, to discuss the role or to email an application form, please contact trainee-recruitment@chums.uk.com  

Please note: CV’s will not be accepted for this role and will be rejected

ASC/LD Trainee

CHUMS is an innovative, dynamic and employee-owned Social Enterprise.  CHUMS left the NHS in 2011 to become an independent Social Enterprise affording more freedom to offer its services in a way that best suits the needs of children, young people and families.  As an organisation we now deliver over 10 services across 4 counties.

CHUMS has an exciting opportunity for a CYP Psychological Therapies Autism and Learning Disability (ASC / LD) trainee placement as part of NHS England (NHSE) funding. This government-funded initiative promotes the growth and skill of the child mental health workforce to meet much needed demand. NHSE covers salary and training costs for a 1-year position, allowing services to develop trainees to support specialist pathways to bridge the gaps in CYP mental health support.

This is a unique opportunity to apply your learning from weekly teaching into practical clinical interventions working with clients in an experienced organisation making a direct impact in the lives of children, young people and their families.

We are seeking highly motivated and clinically experienced candidates who are enthusiastic about making a difference to children and young people’s mental health through evidence-based interventions based on NICE Guideline recommended treatment. You will have a registerable professional qualification in a relevant subject with experience working with children, young people and their families in a mental health setting. Please see the job description and specification for more details.

Please note: The position will be part of the Milton Keynes Wellbeing service and will therefore require community working in Milton Keynes. The trainee will also expected to travel to London for teaching during the training year.

The PG Dip in CYP PT course starts in January 2027 and will be completed over 1 year. Students will study their modality (ASC / LD) Modules alongside Core Skills Modules. Students will be required to attend university regularly each week. The remaining time in role will be spent working clinically within your service with children, young people with symptoms of anxiety or depression, their families, schools and wider systems.

The ideal candidates will have a background in a core profession or extensive experience as a CAMHS practitioner, as well as some experience of working with children and young people up to the age of 18 with a range of mild to moderate mental health difficulties, either individually or in groups.

Applicants will need to complete the CHUMS application form and the UCL application at the same time. UCL: This is a training position and so all candidates will need to apply for both the trainee role with our organisation and the UCL Post Graduate Diploma in Child and Young Person Psychological Therapy in order to be shortlisted (for more information about the course and minimum entry criteria, please see the course page: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/child-young-person-iapt-therapy-pg-dip). Please complete your university application using the UCL University Application Guidance supplied.

If you would like to attend a webinar on 21/09/2026, 6pm-7pm for more information, please email trainee-recruitment@chums.uk.com requesting a Teams link.

Salary: £37,338

Hours: 37.5 per week, 1 year fixed term contract

Location: Milton Keynes

For more information, to discuss the role or to email an application form, please contact trainee-recruitment@chums.uk.com

Please note: CV’s will not be accepted for this role and will be rejected

Suicide Bereavement Practitioner – Bedfordshire

CHUMS Suicide Bereavement Services support adults, children and young people affected by a recent or historic suicide death. We provide advice and guidance on practical difficulties being faced as well as emotional support for individuals and families affected by this complicated loss.

We are looking to recruit to our team a Suicide Bereavement Practitioner to support adults and families who have been bereaved by suicide across Bedfordshire.

We are looking for a compassionate and approachable practitioner with experience in providing bereavement support. The role is to provide timely contact for every individual referred; to offer personalised information and guidance; to deliver individual and group support for adults, children and young people and liaise with other professionals in support of the service user.

Join a team who are committed to the CHUMS values:

Accessible, Compassionate and Effective.

Role: Suicide Bereavement Practitioner

Hours: Part-time 22.5 hours per week (3 days)

Salary: £28,000 pro rata

Location: Across Bedfordshire (travel required)

Closing Date: 20^th September

Interviews: 30^th September

Service Manager – Specialist Bereavement Services (Kent & Medway)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Service Manager to join our Kent and Medway Specialist Bereavement Services team.

In this rewarding role, you will lead and support a team delivering bereavement-focused interventions for children and young people, including both individual and group therapeutic work. You will also play a key role in providing training and consultation to other professionals supporting bereaved children.

We are seeking a qualified, bereavement-trained therapist who is interested in developing or furthering their management skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the delivery of high-quality bereavement interventions (individual and group)
• Provide consultation and training to professionals working with bereaved CYP
• Work collaboratively within multi-agency settings and contribute to case discussions
• Support and provide guidance to parents and carers, including delivering online workshops
• Ensure robust safeguarding practices and effective management of clinical risk
• Lead and support the practitioners and volunteers delivering the service
• Contribute to service development

About You

We’d love to hear from you if you are:

• A qualified and experienced clinician
• Bereavement-trained, with proven experience delivering bereavement therapy
• Skilled in facilitating both individual and group therapy for children and young people
• Experienced in supporting parents and carers, including leading workshops
• Confident working within multi-agency environments, providing consultation and professional input
• Knowledgeable in clinical risk and safeguarding, with a strong and evidenced track record
• A confident presenter, able to deliver training to professionals
• A clear and professional communicator
• Skilled in building positive working relationships and contributing effectively to a team
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines

Details of the role:

Working hours: 22 hours

Salary: £23,600

Location: Travelling in Kent and Medway, and working from home

For more information, to discuss the role, or to email an application form, please contact recruitment@chums.uk.com

Please note: CV’s will not be accepted for this role, please complete an application form

Mindjurny Partnerships Representative (Commission-Only) -UK wide opportunities

Location: UK wide opportunities (Remote + Field-Based)

Type: Commission-Only / Self-Employed

Earnings: Uncapped commission

About CHUMS & Why We Developed Mindjurny

Across the UK, mental health difficulties among children and young people (CYP) are at record levels. Schools, local authorities, and the NHS are under increasing pressure to provide early, effective emotional wellbeing support.

At CHUMS, we have supported thousands of CYP through mental health, emotional wellbeing and bereavement services. From this frontline experience, we recognised a growing need for accessible, preventative tools that can reach more CYP, earlier — wherever they are.

That’s why we created Mindjurny: a digital wellbeing platform offering evidence-based video workshops, practical resources, and activities to help young people manage anxiety, grief, sleep, self-esteem, low mood, bereavement and emotional regulation.

Mindjurny allows schools, local authorities, and healthcare partners to provide consistent, high-quality, evidence based emotional wellbeing support at scale — and every licence sold helps to fund CHUMS’ wider mental health services.

The Role

We’re seeking a compassionate, confident, and purpose-driven Partnerships Representative to expand Mindjurny’s reach across the North of England.

This commission-only role is ideal for someone who’s not just commercially minded, but truly passionate about improving the emotional wellbeing of CYP. You’ll be engaging with Local Authorities, NHS and ICB networks, schools, safeguarding boards, and community health partnerships, helping them adopt Mindjurny as part of their wellbeing strategies.

Your work will help entire regions build resilience and provide early mental health support — while directly funding CHUMS’ charitable mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and develop partnerships with Local Authorities, NHS/ICB bodies, schools, and community organisations.
• Present Mindjurny to decision-makers, showing its value for prevention, early intervention, and safeguarding outcomes.
• Build relationships with wellbeing leads, public health teams, education officers, and commissioning groups.
• Negotiate and close partnership agreements and licensing packages.
• Collaborate with CHUMS’ leadership to shape local rollout and impact reporting.
• Represent CHUMS and Mindjurny professionally and empathetically in all engagements.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience in business development, partnerships, or stakeholder engagement (education, health, or public sector ideal).
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills with senior leaders.
• A genuine passion for helping young people and supporting mental health.
• Confidence presenting to public sector audiences (councils, NHS, education bodies).
• Self-motivation, persistence, and the ability to work independently.
• A values-driven mindset — someone who believes in the power of giving and purpose-led work

What You’ll Gain

• Uncapped commission — the more impact you create, the more you earn.
• Flexible, autonomous working across your region.
• Full training on Mindjurny’s content, outcomes, and partnership model.
• The opportunity to play a key role in improving mental health at scale.
• Personal fulfilment — knowing that every partnership helps fund CHUMS’ direct support services for children and families.

How to Apply

If you’re a relationship-builder who wants your work to change lives, we’d love to hear from you.

Send your CV and a brief cover letter explaining why you care about mental health and what draws you to this role to recruitment@chums.uk.com

Bereavement Practitioner Placement – Kent

Honorary Assistant Psychologist