Frequently Asked Questions

You do not have to have a degree, even to access postgraduate programmes, although this would normally be the case.  Non-graduates are usually asked to submit a short essay prior to the course to demonstrate that they can work at the required academic level.

For programmes that specify a core profession is required, applicants without one of the recognised core professions Core Professions (babcp.com) would be considered for eligibility via the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) framework.  Full details of what would be required would be provided if you applied.  For an example of what may be required, please see the BABCP website: Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (babcp.com)

If you are not registered with your professional body you would be considered for eligibility via the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) framework.  Full details of what would be required would be provided if you applied.  For an example of what may be required, please see the BABCP website:  Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (babcp.com)

The majority of the longer programmes have Recruit to Train places, which means you would have to resign form your current role and take up a new role as a therapist or psychological practitioner in training. For the shorter ‘top up’ type programmes, you would continue in your existing job, and normally be attending a programme with the support of your employer. Places on self-funded programmes are arranged independently of a work role, although generally support from employers will be required (for time to attend the programme, access to appropriate cases etc.).

For most of our programmes, trainees are employed in relevant services already, so are able to access appropriate clients for their training as a part of their job. As we are not a clinical service, we are unable to provide placements additional to this. For the Masters Level Clinical Training in Systemic Psychotherapy placements are organised in external services

The majority of the training programmes we provide are part of nationally funded projects, or are funded by NHS Service providers. The exceptions are the Foundation in CBT and the Masters Level Clinical Training in Systemic Psychotherapy which are both self-funded.  

For the Masters Level Clinical Training in Systemic Family Psychotherapy cohort some students received HEE funding via their employers applying for this – see further information on the page for this course.

There are limited programmes that can be accessed as self-funding. The majority of programmes are accessed via existing employment (in a service that is a project partner linked with a particular programme or programmes) or via a ‘Recruit to Train’ route, whereby trainees have applied for openly advertised training posts with specific partner employers. Information about how to access each programme is provided on the relevant page. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Unit: Foundation CBT can be accessed via self-funding, as can the  Masters Level Clinical Training in Systemic Psychotherapy .

The Northwest CYP Psychological Trainings Collaborative is a partnership between The University of Manchester, Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust and over 70 providers and commissioning bodies of children and young people’s mental health services across NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary sectors working in the Northwest, Yorkshire and West Midlands.

 It’s one of five Learning Collaboratives across England that are part of the CYP Psychological Trainings country-wide transformation programme. The collaborative seeks to improve services through better evidence based practice, better collaborative practice, authentic participation and better use of feedback and clinical outcomes across all services.

The Northwest CYP Psychological Trainings Collaborative consists of Partnerships – geographical areas where services have come together to improve the quality and access to psychological therapies for children, young people and their families. Partnerships are usually a combination of NHS, social care and voluntary / 3^rd sector organisations. Each has a CYP Psychological Trainings Lead who will be an important contact for you as you apply and undertake the training.  If you do not know who your CYP Psychological Trainings Lead is, please speak to your service manager.

To access the training and the funding you need to be employed by an organisation which is part of a CYP Psychological Trainings Partnership. Sometimes, Partnerships externally advertise training posts and you can apply. This would mean your employment moves to them. You would not be able to train and retain your existing post elsewhere.

For the next year, our capacity is taken up with the expanded numbers on the other pathways, so we will not be able to run. We will update the website in the future, if and when we are able to offer this route.

Unfortunately, we cannot give careers advice, or advise on job vacancies. Please refer to Psychological professions | Health Careers   for information about the range of training and roles available, and to NHS Jobs – Candidate Homepage   for information about current vacancies.

Unfortunately, you would not be a registered student with the University of Manchester (even if the programme is validated by them). You would be registered with Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Psychological Therapies Training Centre and this means you do not have access to an NUS card.

Unfortunately, trainees on programmes here at Greater Manchester Mental Health Psychological Therapies Training Centre are technically ineligible to apply for tax relief under the Widening Access Scheme as we are considered to be an ‘in-house’ training provider (as an NHS provider).