Psychological Therapist – Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT)

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An excellent opportunity awaits for a passionate Psychological Therapist specializing in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to join a dedicated team focused on improving the mental health of children and young people. This role involves delivering high-quality assessments and personalized treatment plans for those struggling with anxiety disorders, OCD, and Tic Disorders. You will work within a supportive environment that values inclusivity and professional development, allowing you to make a real difference in the lives of families across Berkshire. If you are forward-thinking and eager to contribute to a compassionate team, this position is perfect for you.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days’ annual leave

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Access to wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at popular retailers

Staff networks for diversity and inclusion

Generous leave policies

Free parking across Trust sites

Qualifications

• Postgraduate Diploma in CBT or equivalent required.
• Registered with BABCP or HCPC essential.
• Experience in multidisciplinary mental health teams preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specialist assessments and develop treatment plans.
• Deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for holistic care.

Skills

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Mental Health Assessment

Therapeutic Interventions

Team Collaboration

Communication Skills

Professional Development

Education

Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy

Professional Registration (e.g., BABCP, HCPC)

Qualification in core mental health profession

Job description

Psychological Therapist – Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT)

Band 7

Main area: CAMHS A & D Pathway

Grade: Band 7

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Job ref: 371-CFS426

Site: CAMHS A&D Pathway

Town: Reading

Salary: £48,270 - £54,931 per annum (incl of HCAS)

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 02/01/2025 23:59

Interview date: 13/01/2025

Full time and part time hours will be considered.

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic Mental Health Practitioner to join the Berkshire CAMHS Anxiety Disorders Treatment Team (ADTT). BHFT CAMHS ADTT members are passionate about using individualised and formulation-led evidence-based approaches to help children, young people and families. We provide specialist assessments and treatment for children and young people suffering with anxiety disorders, OCD and Tic Disorders across Berkshire.

The ADTT team prides itself on our inclusive practice, particularly our work with neurodivergent families. Our team has good research links and is pleased to offer training placements to Trainee Clinical Psychologists, Trainee CBT Therapists and Specialist Psychiatry registrars. As well as a culture of adult learning, we also have a compassionate ethos within the team which permeates throughout our work.

The post holder will provide high quality safe, effective, efficient, and timely assessments and treatments for young people with anxiety disorders, OCD and Tic disorders, as well as supporting young people who are waiting for treatment to start.

If you enjoy being a part of a team, are forward-thinking, seeking a new challenge and want to make a positive difference to the lives of children & young people and their families, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

1. Conduct specialist assessments and develop a clear and detailed formulation of children and young people’s presenting difficulties and/or the systemic issues present.
2. Develop personalised treatment plans based on assessment findings and needs, in collaboration with child and family, to support recovery and improve quality of life.
3. Deliver evidence-based therapeutic individual and group interventions using a range of psychological techniques and modalities.
4. Provide support to young people and families who are waiting for treatment to start.
5. Collaborate with multidisciplinary team clinicians and multi-agency representatives to ensure the delivery of integrated and holistic client care.
6. Actively engage in the quality improvement and service development of CAMHS services.

Working for our organisation

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The “must haves” for this role:

1. Post Graduate Diploma in a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBT) or equivalent
2. Registered with the BABCP or Registered with the Health Care & Professional Council (HCPC).
3. Experience and interest in working in mental health multidisciplinary teams / multi-agency environment as well as experience of teaching / training of health care professionals.
4. Evidence of specific psychological training in working with clients with significant mental health difficulties.

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.

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.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

• Postgraduate Diploma qualification in a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBT) or equivalent
• To have undertaken a qualification in one of the core mental health professions recognised by BABCP with associated professional registration including: Nursing qualification and registration as RMN or RNLD, Social Worker, Occupational Therapy, or other mental health professional training accepted by HCPC, BPS or BABCP.
• Evidence of having achieved and completed the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes (KSA) portfolio route to BABCP Accreditation.
• Accreditation with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) or meets criteria for accreditation and working towards accreditation with BABCP.

Continuous Professional Development

• Commitment to ongoing professional development as recommended by the BABCP and staying up to date with advancements in CBT related therapies.
• Evidence of specific training, experience and/or interest and knowledge in psychological models and therapeutic approaches relevant to post e.g. service users with significant and severe mental health difficulties/ children and adolescents.

Experience

• Experience in completing CBT assessments, formulations and interventions in a specialist healthcare or secondary care community mental health setting.
• Experience of providing, and adapting where necessary, CBT assessments, formulations and interventions with service users relevant to the service area.
• Experience of providing CBT (assessment, formulation, and treatment) with service users (and their carers/families) presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the range of settings.
• Experience of dealing with highly distressing or emotional circumstances, such as serious mental illness, child and sexual abuse, exploitation, and complex family dynamics.
• Experience of autonomously managing a caseload in a community mental health setting.
• Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environment.
• Experience of delivering group interventions.
• 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

• Demonstrable knowledge of CBT theory, principles, and techniques as well as evidence-based practice relevant to the service area.
• Ability to complete clear and detailed CBT assessments and collaboratively derived formulations of a service users’ presentation using standardised measures.
• Knowledge and understanding of service evaluation, audit and research and completing this in the NHS.
• Awareness of other therapeutic modalities and their integration with CBT for comprehensive treatment planning.
• Skills in delivering individual and group therapy sessions using CBT techniques to address diverse mental health needs.
• Ability to manage difficult situations with service users that have complex presentations and/or challenging behaviours.
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, technical and/or sensitive information to service users, their carers/families and other professional colleagues.
• Well-developed 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 the service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals.
• Advanced IT skills and the ability to navigate various systems and software packages.

Additional Requirements

• Able to work flexibly around working patterns as required, and ability to travel independently between locations in Berkshire to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position.

These are the values that we live by at Berkshire Healthcare:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

Please find attached the behaviour framework that underpins these values for this job role.

At Berkshire Healthcare, we foster an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs.

We welcome talent from all backgrounds and offer guaranteed interviews to disabled applicants and armed forces community members who meet the minimum criteria.

Please note we may close positions before the advertised date.

Once you have applied, please check your email regularly for updates. All appointments are subject to NHS Employment Checks, and false information may result in withdrawal of offers.

No agencies, please.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.