High Intensity Therapist

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Sunderland Talking Therapies is recruiting a High Intensity Therapist to join the TTAD service in a 12-month fixed term post. You will provide High Intensity Therapy to adults with anxiety and depression, using CBT, IPT or EMDR as appropriate.

The role involves delivering therapy across telephone, online and face-to-face formats. We expect experience in IAPT services, strong communication skills and the ability to work flexibly across extended weekday hours, including some Saturdays.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in psychological therapies for TTAD pathway
• BABCP accreditation and registration or equivalent qualification
• Experience delivering therapy to adults in mental health services

Responsibilities

• Provide High Intensity Therapy within TTAD for anxiety and depression
• Deliver CBT/IPT/EMDR per TTAD models
• Work flexibly across 8-8 shifts with some Saturdays
• Offer therapy via telephone, online and face-to-face meetings
• Maintain high quality client care and effective workload management

Skills

High Intensity CBT/IAPT

Communication skills

Adult therapy delivery

Time management

Education

BABCP accreditation

RMN/OT/SW qualification

Tools

NHS IT systems

Job description

Hello!

We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).

We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, 'I've seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.' We're on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.

Opportunities for you

Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we've got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.

We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there's lots on offer in the way of benefits, such, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.

• Cultural diversity staff network
• Disabled staff network
• LGBT+ staff network

We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:

• Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Network
• Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
• Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group

We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.

We're always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?

We welcome your application.

Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within NHS Sunderland Talking Therapies to appoint a TTAD High Intensity Therapist trained in CBT, IPT or EMDR on a 12 month fixed term basis.

The service is currently delivered within the NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression (TTAD) model which is provided in partnership between Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Sunderland Counselling Service and Washington Mind.

We are a dynamic and dedicated team that offers a range of psychological therapies and services to treat people and support their recovery within a stepped care model. The team is made up of around 80+ clinicians including Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, High Intensity Therapists, Community Practitioners, a Dual Diagnosis Specialist, Employment Support Advisors and a Counsellor.

The post-holder will work within the TTAD service providing High Intensity Therapy to clients experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and depression presentations. We are an innovative service and deliver therapy via telephone and online consultation alongside face to face appointments. You must be able to demonstrate that you have a strong commitment to high quality client care, good organisational skills, can prioritise your workload and have excellent communication skills.

This service is 8-8 service weekdays; with some Saturday working required. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly across the shifts required.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be part of a NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression (TTAD) service and will provide High Intensity Therapy interventions utilising one of the TTAD recognised therapies of CBT, IPT or EMDR. The post holder will work with clients who have a range of anxiety and depression related presentations using NICE Guidance recommended therapy. You should be adult trained and have experience of delivering therapy to adults.

Working for our organisation

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 15th September 2026

Closing date : 20th September 2026

We welcome your application.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• High Intensity NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) Post Graduate Diploma with BABCP accreditation and registration. OR RMN, OT or Social Worker qualification, or an Honours degree level qualification in another mental health field, subject to specific suitability check, and able to meet Core Profession equivalence KSA requirements.
• Post graduate qualification in psychological assessment and psychological therapy appropriate to the NHS Talking Therapies pathway as detailed in the Table below with related registration and accreditation.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant experience working as a psychological therapy practitioner and demonstrating the competences as required.
• Demonstratable experience of working in mental health services
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
• Demonstrates high standards in written communication
• Accredited with a professional psychological therapy organisation

Desirable criteria

• Trained in provision of supervision for CBT
• Completed clinical audits within a service

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Full range of skills and competencies as laid out in the competence framework for CBT (Roth and Pilling 2007)
• Well-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
• Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
• Computer literate
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

Please ensure to check out all of the supporting documents linked to this advert, for useful information about working for us, information from our Chief Executive and much more.