Specialist Psychological Therapist – CBT

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1. Post graduate qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

2. Registered with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP).

3. Experience of delivering therapy in specialist assessment and treatment pathways using CBT.

4. Providing Clinical leadership and/or management in using CBT to treat anxiety disorders or supervision pathways.

5. Experience of managing complex situations concerning safeguarding, risk management,complaints and investigations.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer,

Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Jemma Crocker-Buque 0118 904 4665 or email: Jemma.crockerbuque@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Interview will be held on 8th May 2025

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

• Qualification in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to post graduate diploma level.
• Accreditation with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) achieved through training and experience with young people with anxiety and depression.
• MSc level qualification or equivalent evidence of further significant training and recognised clinical supervision plus experience (to master's or equivalent level with qualifications/accredited training) leading to a high degree of expertise and knowledge of specialist therapeutic procedures, research leadership and professional practice in the specific specialist field.
• Evidence of further significant training and recognised clinical supervision can include: Additional Post Graduate certificate level training in a subject matter relevant to the post which can include further study in CBT, research methodology or supervision , Recognised clinical supervision from a qualified supervisor and can include supervision within a specialist field of practice
• Evidence of experience in the area of specialism, can include: Taking a key role in contributing to research or service improvement projects relevant to the role being applied for, for example CBT, treatment of depression and/or anxiety, or clinical supervision. Experience of delivering therapy in specialist assessment and treatment pathways using CBT. Teaching and/or training experience in CBT, treatment of depression and/or anxiety or clinical supervision. Providing Clinical leadership and/or management in using CBT to treat anxiety and depression or supervision pathways . Where candidates do not hold a relevant MSC level qualification they will be expected to submit a portfolio of evidence demonstrating equivalence (e.g. using the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme: Higher Education Credit Framework for England: Advice on Academic Credit Arrangements )
• Evidence of post qualification training in clinical supervision (may be included in portfolio evidence above)
• Evidence of post qualification training in Leadership (may be included in portfolio of evidence above)

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

• Continued Professional Development, including relevant post graduate courses/ workshops/ modules, in the area of specialism, Covering the following: Assessment/ Formulation/ Specialist Interventions/ Research Methodology, Leadership

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable post qualification experience working as a qualified high intensity CBT therapist with a high level of expertise in area of clinical specialism.
• Experience of specialist CBT psychological assessment and treatment of clients within one or more services relevant to the service area
• Extensive experience of working in evidence-based ways with a variety of client groups and presenting problems, including comorbidities that reflect a range of clinical severity while maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of providing effective postgraduate teaching, training and clinical supervision within the modality/ area of specialism
• Experience of providing expert clinical leadership within a specialist area of practice.
• Experience of coordinating cognitive behavioural therapies provision across CAMHS services, developing and implementing policy based on relevant NHS guidance.
• Experience of clinical governance, including quality assurance measures, service development and carrying out clinical audit, evaluative research and applying the findings.
• Experience of service evaluation, audit, and implementing change from a national and local health or social care change agenda that impacts across services and professions.
• Experience of working with and addressing issues of diversity, including experience of working with diversity, multiculturalism, and equality of access to service.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

• High-level knowledge of the theory and practice of one or more recognised psychological therapies relevant to the service.
• Knowledge of effective care pathway navigation across primary and secondary care psychological therapies services
• A high level of expertise in a specialism of practice within the service area, supported by additional education or experience
• Advanced specialist knowledge of the theory and practice of adapting specific psychological therapies in the context of co-morbidity and complexity (e.g. neurodivergent conditions, frailty, etc).
• Understanding of the psychological professions working within the service, the relevant professional bodies and guidelines for practice
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
• Knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical field of psychological therapies
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non -professional groups including across agencies.
• Skills in co-ordination of psychological therapy provision, and in interpretation, development and implementation of policy across a service.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
• Ability to plan and organise a broad range of complex activities, including programmes of care and governance structures that impact across and between service areas
• Ability to maintain intense concentration for prolonged periods, managing individual and group supervision formats. Must be capable of handling exposure to traumatic and highly emotional clinical case content
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills enabling the sensitive communication of complex, technical and/or sensitive information to multiple stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to support, influence and engage with clinicians, stakeholders and service users to create change and improvement.
• The ability and skills to act as an advocate for service users and the service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system.
• Exceptional IT skills and the ability to navigate various systems and software packages (such as RiO, Outlook, databases, MS Office/Teams, One Consultation and the Internet).

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Able to work clinically and effectively with interpreters
• Ability to travel across sites in Berkshire and beyond as required
• Able to work flexibly around working patterns as required, and ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).