High Intensity Therapist (Counselling) Band 6/7

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Crewe; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider seeks a High Intensity Therapist (Counselling) to deliver evidence-based interventions for mental health. Located in Crewe, the role requires relevant postgraduate qualifications and experience in an NHS Talking Therapies service. Successful candidates will provide treatment in various formats including face-to-face and online, supported by a clinical team, and will be a part of an inclusive organization committed to community wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Accredited postgraduate training in a psychological therapy.
• Registered/accredited in the specified therapy field.
• Experience in an NHS Talking Therapies service.

Responsibilities

• Deliver step 3 Talking Therapies/NICE compliant interventions.
• Maintain professionalism in challenging situations.

Skills

Psychological assessment

Client interaction

Teaching and training

Education

Recognised postgraduate training in psychological therapy

Job description

High Intensity Therapist (Counselling) Band 6/7

Mynd nôl Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 11 Rhagfyr 2025

An opportunity for for a 12 month post for a High Intensity Therapist (Counselling modality) has arisen within Central Cheshire Talking Therapies Service to join our well established, supportive and dynamic, team. The service is comprised of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Employment Support Advisors, High Intensity Therapists and support staff.

We have bases in Crewe and Winsford and also work from community venues.

Shortlisting for this vacancy is due commence on 12th December 2025 and the proposed interview date is 19th December 2025

Main duties of the job

As a High Intensity Therapist you will be delivering step 3 Talking Therapies/NICE compliant interventions to treat depression. Interventions are currently delivered face-to-face, online and via telephone.

You should have relevant /qualifications/accreditation and be willing to attend additional modality HIT training. You will receive regular clinical supervision and regular peer group support.

About us

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [e-mail] or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Recognised/accredited postgraduate at masters level or equivalent training in a psychological therapy as specified in one of the Appendices, specific to job title
• Professionally registered / accredited as specified in the same Appendix, specific to job title
• Additional preand/or post qualification training as specified in the same Appendix, specific to job title

Experience

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients within an NHS Talking Therapies service
• Experience of working with a variety of client groups and presenting problems that reflect a range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
• Experience of specialist psychological therapy assessment and treatment of clients across a range of care settings relevant to an NHS Talking Therapies service, including outpatient, community, and primary care settings

Knowledge & Expertise

• Experience at working with one or more NHS Talking Therapies-recognised psychological therapies at a specialist level
• High -level knowledge of the theory and practice of one or more NHS TALKING THERAPIES-recognised psychological therapies.
• Knowledge of the effective care pathway navigation across primary and secondary care psychological therapies services
• Experience at working with one or more NHS Talking Therapies-recognised psychological therapies at a specialist level
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of adapting specific NHS Talking Therapiesrecognised psychological therapies for anxiety and/or depression in the context of comorbidity and complexity (e.g. personality disorder, additional disabilities etc).
• 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

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.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust