High Intensity Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT)

Job responsibilities

Post Title: High Intensity Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT)

Reports to: Line Manager Senior HI Therapist/Clinical Director

Key Relationships: NHS Talking Therapies Team, Primary Care teams

Location: The Meads Business Centre, Farnborough (Base) and surrounding areas in North-East Hampshire and Farnham. The usual working pattern at the time of advert is a blended model of office based and remote working.

Hours: 37.5 per week

Salary Range: £37,338 per annum

(Increase on successful completion of the course will be outlined in the offer letter)

Job Purpose

This is a training role within TalkPlus, an NHS Talking Therapies Service (Formerly, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme - IAPT). The post-holder will work within the NHS Talking Therapies service providing high intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role. This intensive training post will equip the post-holder to provide a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) service to clients with a range of problems for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective. The post-holder will work in the service for 3 days of the week (inclusive of an out of hours clinic) using the newly developed skills, whilst attending the training programme for the other two days.

The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.

The course you will be completing at the University of Southampton as part of this role, is a Level 2 accredited course with BABCP, starting in September 2025. This means that upon completion of the course trainees will meet criteria to apply for practitioner accreditation as a CBT therapist with the BABCP.

To apply, you must meet the criteria for CBT training and also have a BABCP-recognised professional background in mental health or related areas. This means having a BABCP recognised Core Profession. You can find out whether you have a BABCP recognised Core Profession at https://babcp.com/Accreditation/Provisional-Accreditation/Core-Professions

If you do not have a BABCP-recognised Core Profession, you must complete a portfolio of evidence to show that you have equivalent training and experience. This is known as the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes portfolio (KSA). You can find out more on the KSA portfolio here: https://babcp.com/Accreditation/Provisional-Accreditation/Knowledge-Skills-and-Attitudes

Prior to this interview, you must have completed self-statements for the KSA criterion required based on your experience. Please see the BABCP website above for guidance and exemplars.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. CLINICAL

1.1. Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service

1.2. Assess clients for suitability for CBT. Where the problems appear to be too complex or severe to be appropriate for a trainee therapist to refer to manager/supervisor for advice on how to manage the case.

1.3. Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the departments referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent, as necessary.

1.4. Formulate, implement, and evaluate CBT treatment plans for clients.

1.5. Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying CBT formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.

1.6. Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.

1.7. Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.

1.8. Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.

1.9. Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols

1.10. Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.

1.11. Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process

2. TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

2.1. Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training course for the post.

2.2. Apply learning from the training programme in practice

2.3. Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.

3. PROFESSIONAL

3.1. Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (BABCP), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g NHS plan, National Service Framework, National Institute for Clinical Excellence).

3.2. Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.

3.3. Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of CBT

3.4. Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.

3.5. Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.

3.6. Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.

3.7. Keep up to date all records in relation to Continuous Professional Development and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.

3.8. Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

4. GENERAL

4.1. To contribute to the development of best practice within the service.

4.2. To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.

4.3. All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health and safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.

4.4. All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (2018) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.

4.5. It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

4.6. This Job Description does not provide an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder in light of service development.

Qualifications

Essential

• A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy.
• OR
• Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner and relevant mental health experience
• AND
• Evidence of meeting the Knowledge Skills and Attitude (KSA) requirements of BABCP.
• Experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression.

Training

Essential

• Able to attend a two day per week course
• Able to complete academic components of the course
• Able to integrate training into practice

Skills & Competencies

Essential

• Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
• Computer literate
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Has received training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
• Ability to manage own caseload and time
• Demonstrates high standards in written communication
• Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers

Desirable

• Experience of working in Primary Care Services
• Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes

Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
• Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
• Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post

Other Requirements

Essential

• High level of enthusiasm and Motivation
• Advanced communication skills
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
• Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
• Ability to travel to locations within locality

Desirable

• Fluent in languages other than English
• Experience of working with diverse communities within a multicultural setting

UK Registration

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