Trainee CBT Therapist (CBT for Psychosis)

NHS; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A community mental health organization is seeking a trainee psychological therapist for a 2-year fixed-term role in Stratford-upon-Avon. The successful candidate will receive comprehensive CBT training focusing on psychosis and bipolar disorder, ultimately leading to a permanent psychological therapist position. Responsibilities include providing psychological interventions and participating in extensive training. Applicants should have relevant qualifications and experience in mental health. The role offers a salary between £38,682 to £46,580 per annum, generous leave, and various employee benefits.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Learning and development opportunities

Salary sacrifice schemes

Employee Assistance Programme discounts

Wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Required to provide evidence of a core profession at the interview.
• Must complete a KSA portfolio if not holding a core profession.
• Demonstrates ability to meet KSA requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological interventions under training.
• Offer assessments, formulations, and therapy.
• Identify service users for evidence-based CBT interventions.

Skills

Experience with severe mental health problems

Interest in psychological approaches

Ability to work in a team

Car driver and ability to travel

Education

BABCP core profession or relevant first degree

Job description

Job Summary

Previous applicants need not reapply.

This is an exciting opportunity for a trainee psychological therapist to join our newly integrated Community Mental Health team in South Warwickshire (To be confirmed). The successful candidate will be provided two years of CBT training, supervision and support in a welcoming and friendly service. Upon successful completion of the Post Graduate qualification, you will be able to take up a post of CBT therapist. The training will focus on psychosis and bipolar but will also cover the wider spectrum of difficulties supported by Adult Community Mental Health services.

This role is a 2-year fixed term appointment during which time the post-holder will complete a postgraduate diploma programme in CBT for psychosis and bipolar disorder. It will lead to a permanent band 7 psychological therapist post at the end of this period if the postgraduate diploma programme is completed successfully.

Applicants will need the academic confidence to work at post graduate level and to be able to travel to Hull for four study blocks of a week at a time. Training capacity and opportunities may mean the post holder will work in different localities within CWPT during their two-year training.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will work to provide formal psychological interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role. This intensive training post will equip the post-holder to provide a CBT service to service users with a range of complex presentations including psychosis and bipolar for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective. The post-holder will be seconded to NHS Talking Therapies for 2 days a week in their first year and will work in the CMHT for 2 days of the week developing skills and experience in working with complexity. The post holder will work in the CMHT (Psychosis pathway) for 4 days a week in the second year. The post holder will attend the training programme for the other day each week.

About Us

• generous annual leave entitlement which increases during your time with us
• excellent learning and development opportunities, including apprenticeship frameworks, distance learning, internal training, coaching and mentoring, and much more
• salary sacrifice schemes for lease car/ vehicle, Cycle to Work, home and electronics, gym membership and more
• discounts with a range of retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues through our Employee Assistance Programme and NHS discount schemes
• wellbeing support, including an in-house counselling service, external helpline and more
• staff networks and support group

We're always on the lookout for people who share our passion for improving the lives and wellbeing of people in our community, as well as our values of compassion, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect.

Details

• Date posted: 18 December 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 444-7657214A-MH
• Job locations: Stratford Healthcare - to be confirmed, Arden Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6NQ

Responsibilities

• As the successful candidates' skills develop the complexity of the cases will also develop
• Offering assessment, formulations and therapy to cases felt to be appropriate for the level of training
• Identifying service users who may benefit from evidence-based CBT interventions
• Developing formulations for the team.

Applicants who hold a core profession will need to provide evidence of this at the interview. Applicants who do not have a core profession must complete a KSA portfolio by the end of the first module. A partially completed portfolio should be presented prior to interview with statements included for all sections. Supporting evidence and signatures will not be required at interview. The partially completed KSA portfolio should be made available to the university prior to the interview, and the successful applicant will receive feedback to assist with the portfolio completion after interview.

You must meet all the necessary criteria in the checklist attached to this advert and return a completed checklist directly to me by email by midday on the 2nd January 2026.

Please note: Interviews will be held on the 15th January 2026 and the course commences in Hull on the 9th March 2026.

Person Specification

• Has a BABCP core profession at graduate level or holds a relevant first degree and can evidence ability to meet KSA requirements
• Significant experience of working with people with severe mental health problems.
• Demonstrates interest and enthusiasm for psychological approaches to working with individuals with psychosis and related difficulties.
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Car driver and/or ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation

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.

Employer details

Employer name: Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust

Address: Stratford Healthcare - to be confirmed, Arden Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6NQ

Employer's website: https://www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/