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Supervision: Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing Services PG Cert

London, King's Cross (Anna Freud Centre)

This is the programme information for 2026/27 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Supervision: Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing Services PG Cert (2025/26), click here

UK students International students

Study mode

Part-time

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

See Fees Note

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

See Fees Note

Duration

1 calendar year

Programme starts

January 2027

Applications accepted

January 2027 entry: 01 Aug – 19 Dec 2025

Applications closed

Find similar courses still open

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of a second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology) and/or a registerable professional qualification in a relevant subject (e.g. medicine, psychology, social work) from a UK university or overseas professional qualification of an equivalent standard. Candidates will have at least 2 years experience of working with children and young people in clinical settings. They will be competent/ accredited in the clinical models that they are supervising. They will be actively involved in supervising within their clinical sites.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The course supports the training needs of students registered on these government funded workforce courses, such as the PG Dip in Child and Young Person IAPT Therapy (Recruit to Train)*, the PG Cert in Children & Young People’s Psychological Wellbeing Practice (CWPs) or the PG Dip in Educational Mental Health Practice (EMHPs). There has been a clear need identified for Site Supervisors to be supported and trained to adequately oversee the work of trainees within all these various settings. The UCL Supervisors programme will help to extend the Supervisor's knowledge and understanding of evidence-based practice and supervision models within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), community and school settings.

The course represents a departure from discipline-based supervision to supporting the development of competencies in supervisors to enable the delivery of a range of models in their services aligned to the evidence base.

*Following national curriculum changes, the programme team are in the process of requesting a formal name change to: ‘PG Dip: Children and Young People's Psychological Trainings’ pending university approval.

Who this course is for

This course is designed for experienced mental health practitioners and managers who are employed as Site Supervisors to trainees registered on a variety of CYP-MH workforce courses. The course will expand their supervision knowledge and skills, by increasing their understanding of evidence-based practice and supervision models within CAMHS, community and school settings.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

UCL has a formal partnership with Anna Freud (AF), a national charity with a worldwide reputation. This programme will be delivered by the AF where you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners in the field.

At AF, we aim to equip trainees with the knowledge and skills to work effectively in promoting the resilience and wellbeing of children, young people and families.

Entry to this programme is through an employment contract with a relevant CYPMH (Children and Young People's Mental Health) provider. Positions are co-ordinated centrally and advertised via UCL Admissions. Recruitment is organised with the application process open for a limited period of time only.

You will learn how supervision can enhance trainee therapists' knowledge of multi-agency systems. They will be introduced to relevant theory, models and interventions designed to support development of the new child mental health workforce in schools and in the community.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

On successful completion of the course, you will develop the necessary theoretical and practical skills, and competencies needed to supervise students delivering the CYP Psychological Therapies (formerly CYP IAPT) evidence-based interventions. In doing so, making your service a safer environment for trainees to practice within and support clients, promoting the values of accountability and collaboration, whilst also helping to further the aims of the CYP Psychological Therapies (formerly CYP IAPT) model initiated by the Department of Health and Social Care. 100% of our gradautes were in work or further study within 15 months of completing their studies (most recent Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/2023).

Employability

The course is designed to train and guide you whilst you undertake a site supervisor role within a relevant CYPMH service. Following successful completion, you will continue working on-site as a Supervisor, with an enhanced skill set, further developing these within an applied setting. You may also go on to mentor other new site supervisors.

Networking

You will have a chance to network with fellow professional peers also undertaking the course, as well as meet with external experts who are often invited to lead some of the teaching.

Teaching and learning

Teaching days are a combination of both in-person and online sessions. Lectures and skills-based workshops form the core teaching, and these are developed further in Practice Tutor Groups (PTGs). You are expected to video record your supervision sessions and share these as part of small group learning and reflective practice.

Assessment on the course will comprise of a variety of coursework, to assess your knowledge, practical, reflective and evaluative skills within the context of being a site supervisor. There are four pieces of work: An essay on effective supervision, a reflective essay, and a video recording of a supervision session with a reflective analysis, plus a supervision portfolio.

There are approximately 17-19 teaching days, plus 4 study days across the year. You attend university weekly in term 1, monthly thereafter typically on Wednesdays with teaching running from 10am-4pm. The expectation for formal teaching, tutor groups, independent study and supervision-related work will comprise a minimum of 300 hours over the year, which overall equates to about 6 hours a week.

You will supervise each trainee or other designated supervisee for a minimum of 1 hour weekly. You are expected to have a total of 35 hours per trainee/ supervisee for the year, with supervisory oversight for a minimum of 8 completed cases.

You are expected to have received supervision of your supervisory practice on site, with a minimum of 12 hours across the year. We recommend that 3 sessions out of the 12 include examples of live observation, video or audio recording of your supervisory practice.

Modules

This year-long programme is structured around two concurrently delivered modules, each designed to deepen participants' knowledge and practical competence in clinical supervision.

The first module, Supervision Theory and Context (30 credits), explores a range of supervision models, competency frameworks, and feedback tools. It equips learners with the theoretical foundation and resources necessary to conduct effective and reflective supervision with practitioners. Assessment for this module consists of a single, in-depth assignment—a Critical Evaluation of Supervision, submitted as a 4,000-word essay, which accounts for 100% of the module grade.

Running alongside it is Supervision Practice (30 credits), which focuses on translating the theoretical concepts from module one into real-world application. Learners will engage with the dynamic interplay between theory and practice as they support supervisees within a relevant work-based learning setting. Emphasis is placed on guiding trainees through caseload management using evidence-based therapeutic approaches and routine outcome measures. This module is assessed through a Reflective Essay of 2,500 words (worth 50%) and a Whole Session Videotape with Reflective Analysis, comprising 1,500 words (worth the remaining 50%).

Additionally, students are required to submit a Supervision Portfolio, which is assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Please note: All modules within this programme are non-condonable and must be successfully completed to progress.

Compulsory modules

Supervision Practice

Supervision Theory and Context

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Trainees will undertake two compulsory modules to the value of 60 credits. Upon successful completion of 60 credits, you will be awarded a PG Cert in Supervision: Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing Services.

Fieldwork

Site learning

You will undertake this programme of study alongside your pre-existing employment in a Children and Young People's Mental Health setting which will provide you with the opportunity and space to implement learnings from the programme into action in the field.

Placement

The programme includes supervision skills learning, which you will practice in your current work sites as supervisors. Reliable and quality site supervision is crucial for the success of trainee practitioner’s training. The programme enhances your knowledge of evidence-based practice in CYPMH settings, supporting their role as supervisors.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	See Fees Note
Tuition fees (2026/27)	See Fees Note

Fees are funded by Health Education England.

Additional costs

This course has no additional costs.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

Places on this course are funded by NHS England. For further details, visit the CYPMH Workforce Development web page.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

Why you want to study Supervision: Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing Services at graduate level
Why you want to study Supervision: Children and Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing Services at UCL
What particularly attracts you to the chosen course
How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course
Demonstrate your experience of clinically delivering the therapeutic approach for which you are applying to supervise (e.g., CBT)
Where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate your reasons for applying to this course and whether your reasons match what the course will deliver.

Additionally, your supporting statement should be tailored to the position of Supervisor and state clearly how you meet the person specification for this role.

Applicants are also required to show:

Evidence of ability to study successfully at postgraduate level.
Substantial experience working with children and young people in health and/or educational settings in clinical settings
Evidence that they have a broad understanding of mental health issues and the UK's educational systems.

The application to the Supervision course is not an ordinary application process. As a preliminary stage, CYPMH service sites bid to become Partners in the delivery of a relevant Workforce Development Programme. Managers, supervisors and practitioner's are then put forward by these particular partnerships to take part in the course. Therefore, you have to be working within an organisation which is part of an existing Partner site delivering CYPMH services to be considered for this course.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

This course requires two references. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

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