The evidence-based assessment and support for autistic children and young people and/or those with a learning disability curriculum is part of the Child and Young People Psychological Therapies programme (CYP- PT).  

It was developed in response to a widely recognised gap in support:  

  • Both parents and clinicians agree that autistic CYP and/or CYP with a Learning Disability often do not receive the psychological help they need.  
  • Clinicians trained in delivering evidence-based therapies often feel unequipped to adapt interventions for this client group.  
  • Professionals with experience working with autistic CYP and CYP with learning disabilities may lack formal training in evidence-based therapeutic approaches. 

This curriculum is designed to bridge this gap, complementing existing CYP–PT curricula in specialist psychological therapies. It ensures that practitioners have the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to provide the high-quality evidence-based assessment and support that meets the specific needs of autistic children and young people and those with learning disabilities. 

The Graduate or Postgraduate Diploma comprises four modules covering the Core CYP–PT competencies alongside knowledge of autism, neurodiversity and learning disability, and intervention.  

With increasing demand for specialist support due to rising referrals for autistic CYP and CYP with LD, services must adapt to increasing needs. This fully funded Diploma offers a training opportunity to upskill professionals working with autistic CYP and/or CYP with a Learning Disability.  

By investing in this programme, services can develop a highly skilled, specialist workforce, ensuring autistic CYP and those with a Learning Disability receive the right support at the right time.  

This diploma aligns with the NHS Long-Term Plan’s focus on enhanced support for autistic children and young people and/or those with a learning disability. By supporting this programme, employers invest in the future of their workforce and services, while trainees gain valuable expertise to transform the lives of autistic CYP and/or CYP with a learning disability. 

Improve Service Quality & Outcomes

  • Equip your workforce with specialist skills to assess, support and provide therapeutic support with autistic CYP and those with LD.  
  • Ensure compliance with national guidelines for best practices for neurodevelopmental services.  
  • Enhance the quality of care by embedding evidence-based interventions into your service.   

Brief Programme Overview

  • Open to professionals working in child and adolescent mental health services, educational settings, or social care, particularly those involved with autistic CYP and/or those with learning disabilities. 
  • Delivered alongside existing employment, ensuring immediate practical application in the workplace 

Curriculum Structure

The programme comprises modules that cover: 

  • Core Competencies: Fundamental skills in psychological therapies for children and young people. 
  • Specialist Training: Techniques for assessing and supporting autistic CYP and those with learning disabilities.  
  • Practical Application: Opportunities to apply learned skills in real-world settings, ensuring immediate relevance to current roles. 

Learning Outcomes:  

Upon completion, participants will be able to: 

  • Conduct comprehensive, evidence-based assessments. 
  • Implement tailored interventions that address the unique needs of autistic CYP and those with learning disabilities. 
  • Collaborate effectively with families and multidisciplinary teams to enhance support networks. 

Testimonials & Feedback

Feedback from Services Who Have Employed Trainees on The Programme 

“The trainees we have had in our service have been very good… The expansion this programme offers to our workforce and having a skills mix that matches the clinic needs of the service is of huge value.”  

CAMHS Clinical Lead and Professional Lead for Psychology. 

Feedback from Past Trainees 

“As part of my previous role, I already delivered some therapeutic interventions to children and young people with learning disabilities. However, this course has enhanced my practice, allowing me to better understand the theory and application to practice.  

Additionally, the supervision has been invaluable. The course has enabled me to deliver adapted therapeutic interventions to children, young people and families with autism or a learning disability, particularly enhancing my skills in providing strength-based approaches.”  

Rob Speare, Mental Health Practitioner,  

Triage and Community Outreach Team, AWP CAMHS. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Would I be suitable? / What are the entry requirements?

The Graduate or Postgraduate Diploma is a funded course through NHS-E’s workforce training and education designed for practitioners working in the field of autism and/or learning disabilities, as well as those within the broader CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) community who support autistic children and young people (CYP) and/or CYP with learning disabilities. 

To be eligible for the programme, applicants must meet the following requirements: 

  1. A Level 5 or 6 qualification. In some circumstances you may be eligible if you have a Level 4 qualification, in this case you would need to demonstrate substantial relevant work experience.  
  2. It is strongly recommended that applicants have experience of mental health interventions, and/or training in a mental-health related profession (e.g. psychology, nursing, social-work, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special needs teaching, psychotherapy, counselling).  
  3. No core profession is required, although this is desirable and it would be considered to be highly beneficial for applicants particularly if this provides experience of mental health interventions.  
  4. At least two years’ experience of working within a professional setting focussed on the mental health of children and young people and/or families.   
  5. A minimum of one year of experience working with autistic children and young people and/or those with a learning disability in order to demonstrate a foundational level of clinical competence. 
  6. Experience working with parents/families is desirable but not required. 
  7. The ability to work independently, stay self-motivated, and engage in academic study at a postgraduate diploma level. 
  8. Willingness to learn through supervised clinical practice and apply evidence-based approaches in real-world settings. 

What does the training look like?

The evidence-based assessment and support for autistic children and young people and/or those with a learning disability curriculum has been developed as part of the Child and Young People Psychological Therapies programme (CYP- PT). 

The course starts in January and is completed over 1 year. 

Structure & Delivery: 

Initial Intensive Teaching Period: 

  • The first few weeks involve 4-5 days of teaching per week to provide a strong foundation in key concepts.  

Ongoing Weekly Teaching (2 Days per Week): 

  • After the initial period, teaching continues twice weekly (typically Wednesdays and Thursdays). 
  • The programme includes lecture-based sessions and skills-based workshops, covering the key modules. 

Blended Learning Approach: 

  • Lectures are primarily delivered online. 
  • Face-to-face teaching at Exeter University takes place each term: 
  • Term 1: 3-4 in-person sessions (including an intensive period at the start). 
  • Term 2: 1-2 in-person sessions. 
  • Term 3: 2 in-person sessions. 

Additional Support & Practical Learning: 

  • Reflective group sessions and one-on-one tutorials supplement the teaching. 
  • Trainees spend the remaining time working clinically within their service, applying their learning. 

What topics would I be studying?

The course focuses on two key intervention approaches: 

  • Adapted mental health interventions 
  • Support for parents/carers to manage behaviour that challenges 

This training consists of four modules, designed to equip practitioners with the essential knowledge and skills to support autistic children and young people and/or those with a learning disability. 

PYCM027 – The CYP PT Core module  

This module provides a foundation in academic knowledge and clinical skills together alongside a reflective approach to practice when working alongside children, young people and their families.  

Trainees will develop essential competencies to practice effectively as an evidence-based psychological practitioners with a strong emphasis on: 

  • Session-by-session measurement and routine outcome monitoring to track progress and improve care.  
  • The core principles of the CYP PT national transformation programme. 

PYCM086 – Core Knowledge and Frameworks  

This module aims to ensure that all participants have a solid understanding of the core features of autism, learning disability and associated conditions. Topics include: 

  • Relevant legislation and policy including reasonable adjustments in employment and education; common occurring condition.  
  • Models of disability, including the social and medical models, and the need for neuro-affirmative practice.  
  • Co-occurring conditions, including how mental health and neurodevelopmental concerns may present in autistic individuals and those with a learning disability. 
  • Modifications in assessment that may be needed when working with this client group 

PYCM087 – Assessment, Engagement and Formulation with Young People and Families (Autism and Learning Disabilities)   

This module focuses on comprehensive assessment and formulation, aimed at ensuring the quality of diagnosis and evaluation for children who present to CAMHS as autistic and/or with a learning disability, either for the first time to generic CAMHS or to specialist services at Tiers 3 and 4.   

Key areas covered include: 

  • Observational assessment and history taking. 
  • The influence of environmental, family, and physical factors in shaping mental health concerns. 
  • Mental health examinations and recognising risk factors and how these may present.  
  • Co-occurring conditions and how these present in terms of mental health and neurodevelopmental concerns, as well as the ways in which environmental, family and physical factors may precipitate or perpetuate difficulties. 

PYCM088 – Mental Health Interventions with Young People and Families (Autism and Learning Disabilities)   

Building on existing core therapy skills, this module focuses on adapting interventions for autistic CYP and those with a learning disability. This includes: 

  • Adaptions to support working (primarily from a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), or Third Wave CBT framework 
  • Support for parents/carers to manage behaviour that challenges.  
  • An introduction to other interventions including post-diagnostic support models, adapting interventions for co-occurring mental health conditions (including anxiety and depression), environmental management, social skills, sleep difficulties, independence and transition, and speech and language difficulties. 

Speakers throughout the course come from a diverse variety of professions, including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, as well as Experts by Experience.

What clinical work would I complete?

As part of this programme, trainees will develop Adapted Therapeutic Skills (ATS), which encompass two key intervention approaches: 

  1. Child Focussed Clinical Skills (CFS)  

Trainees will work directly with children and young people experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression, adapting evidence-based psychological interventions to meet their needs.  

2. Parent/System Approaches (PSA)  

With the Parent/System Approaches, trainees will cover work with cases where the intervention is undertaken with the system around the child (parent, carers, school). These cases will include individuals with behaviour that challenges.  

Supervised Clinical Practice

Trainees must complete at least 80 hours of closely supervised clinical practice, applying their skills in real-world settings while receiving expert guidance to refine their approach and enhance their confidence in delivering adapted interventions.  

How is the course assessed?

The course employs a variety of assessment methods to ensure comprehensive evaluation of trainees’ progress and understanding. These include: 

  • Padlet exercises to encourage interactive learning and reflection. 
  • Essays to demonstrate understanding of theoretical concepts and their application in practice. 

  • Video recordings of assessments and interventions to showcase clinical skills and effectiveness submitted alongside a reflective submission to support reflecting on clinical practice and developing skills.

  • Case reports and case presentations to assess the ability to analyse and communicate complex cases. 
  • A final clinical portfolio, which compiles all clinical work and learning, serving as a comprehensive reflection of the trainee’s skills and development throughout the programme. 

How do I apply?

Our next intake of practitioners will be for January 2026. To see current job vacancies, check the ‘Latest Jobs’ section of our website, search on NHS jobs, or check the following websites for services that have recruited Autism/LD trainees in the past year:

Where can I find out more?

If you are interested in the course and would like to know more, please email sw-cyp-pt@exeter.ac.uk.