High Intensity (CBT) Therapist or HIT Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

NHS; Rochford; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare service is seeking qualified cognitive behavioural therapists or psychotherapeutic counsellors to join their team in Rochford, England. Successful candidates will provide a range of therapeutic interventions for depression and anxiety disorders. The role offers opportunities to work flexible hours, including evenings or weekends. Candidates must have a relevant qualification and registration with a recognized professional body. A commitment to providing great patient care is essential, and the position promises a supportive work environment.

Benefits

NHS discounts for staff

Excellent training facilities

Flexible working options

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health services is essential.
• Therapists should communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.
• Must have skills in risk assessments within scope of practice.

Responsibilities

• Accept referrals per agreed protocols within the service.
• Assess clients for suitability for psychological therapies.
• Formulate and evaluate therapy programmes for clients.

Skills

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Communication Skills

Assessment Skills

Education

Postgraduate training in clinical/counselling psychology

Registration/Accreditation with a professional body

Job description

Job Summary

An opportunity exists for enthusiastic, qualified NHS Talking Therapies (NHS TT) compliant cognitive behavioural therapists or qualified psychotherapeutic counsellors with an NHS TT compliant qualification (PCE-CFD, DIT, IPT, Couples Therapy for Depression) and who share our passion for great patient care and making a difference, to apply for roles within our busy NHS TT service based in SE Essex. The post holders will work alongside a large team that includes Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, and primary care counsellors/therapists who provide a range of NICE approved therapeutic interventions for depression and anxiety disorders. This is a demanding but well supported position.

Main Duties

The successful applicants will be accredited with a relevant professional body, have completed an approved NHS TT compliant training, be skilled and experienced in dealing with assessment and treatment provision of Step 3 interventions for clients presenting with depression and anxiety disorders, highly motivated with the ability to organise and prioritise their own workload. Applicants working towards full accreditation can be considered and, if successful, there would be a requirement to complete accreditation within 12 months.

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

About Us

Therapy For You is an NHS TT primary care therapy service based in SE and NE Essex working from our own premises, GP surgeries and community settings. We deliver a range of services including self‑help psycho educational courses, therapy groups, online/digital therapeutic services and individual therapies including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). The service works with adults presenting with mild, moderate and severe anxiety and depression.

We are committed to providing an out of hours service to the community and this involves working some evenings or Saturdays, typically 6‑9pm or 9am‑1pm respectively.

Job Responsibilities

Therapists will predominantly use Cognitive and/or Behavioural Therapy in line with the available evidence base as their main, or one of their main therapeutic models and have demonstrable experience of working in mental health services.

Clinical

• Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service
• Assess clients for suitability for psychological therapies. 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.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service and keep accurate records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
• Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Manager.

Further details are available in the Job Description and Person Specification.

Benefits and Development

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer, the Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

• Minimum postgraduate training in clinical/counselling psychology or an IAPT compliant psychological therapy model affording accreditation with a recognised professional body.
• Registration/Accreditation (or accreditable) with the HCPC, UKCP, BACP or BABCP

Experience Essential

• Therapists will predominantly use Cognitive and/or Behavioural Therapy, DIT, IPT, PCE‑CFD or couples counselling in line with the available evidence base as their main, or one of their main therapeutic models
• Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• Highly developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and related emotional problems and how it may present in clients.
• Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Details

Date posted: 29 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: 7

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time

Reference number: 364‑A‑9662

Job locations: Southend, Castlepoint & Rochford

Address: SS4 1RB

Employer Details

Employer name: Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Southend, Castlepoint & Rochford, SS4 1RB

Website: https://eput.nhs.uk/