Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust is seeking a Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapist in Barnsley. The post involves undertaking a Postgraduate Diploma in CBT while delivering High Intensity CBT within an IAPT service under supervision.

The role starts with a reduced caseload and progresses to a Band 7 post on successful completion of the course.

Qualifications

• Advanced communication and clinical risk understanding.
• Experience in supervising and working in primary care beneficial.
• Ability to travel within the Trust as required.

Responsibilities

• Provide High Intensity CBT interventions with a reduced caseload under supervision.
• Undertake postgraduate CBT training while delivering live practice in IAPT services.
• Maintain high standards of clinical recordkeeping and governance.

Skills

Clinical skills

Communication

Teamworking

Education

Relevant professional background or equivalent

Postgraduate Diploma in CBT (training)

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

The closing date is 09 November 2026

Barnsley NHS Talking Therapies Team aims to improve access to psychological therapy and treatment for people with mild to moderate mental health problems, in Barnsley, to ensure people with common mental health conditions are offered evidence-based treatments. The service opening hours are Monday-Thursday 9-8 and Friday 9-5. The service offers a range of therapies at step 2 and step 3, delivered by various means including face to face, virtual, telephone and computerised. We offer groups, workshops and one to one appointments to clients.

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced professional to train to be become a High Intensity (CBT) Therapist working with clients who present with mild to moderate common mental health problems such as depression and the spectrum of anxiety presentations. Successful applicants should have a core profession, or able to demonstrate equivalent via KSA. It would also be desirable if you have had training and experience in delivering supervision and have experience working in a primary care setting.

You will need to demonstrate an understanding of anxiety and depression and how these can present in primary care. It is essential that you possess advanced communication skills and a good understanding of clinical risk.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

Main duties of the job

As a trainee member of the CBT team, you will receive regular supervision at university and in practice, giving the opportunity to develop and practice skills in a safe environment, and then implement these skills in live practice.

You will have responsibility for a reduced caseload where you will assess and treat clients presenting with mild to moderate common mental health problems.

Unfortunately this role is not eligible for sponsorship.

We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

The first 2 weeks of the course will be entirely in university, followed by 2 days at university and 3 days in practice each week.

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.

We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we're accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we're run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder will undertake a PostGraduate Diploma in CBT on a recognised university course. On successful completion of the course the post holder will progress to a Band 7 post, as a qualified High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. This post is dependent on successfully completing the university course.

The post holder will provide High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) interventions, with a reduced caseload, within an Improved Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service, under the supervision of a BABCP Accredited CBT clinician. The post holder will provide a high quality clinical service to the users of the service.

Clinical oversight of all work will be held by the clinical supervisor within the workplace and in the university, and managerial responsibility is to lead in the service/team manager.

The job plan will be delivered in the services the post is based.

The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team while observing Trust and National policies and procedures.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

1.1 Care/service/function provision:

To provide High Intensity CBT intervention for people experiencing mild to moderate common mental health problems, under the supervision of a BABCP Accredited CBT clinician. To exercise clinical judgment based on the highest standards of evidence based practice. To deliver excellent levels of customer care to people, and address or report, in a timely and proactive manner, where these standards have not been met. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and effectively evaluate progress.

1.2 Working as part of a Team:

To work as part of a team to deliver person centred care whilst meeting the service standards and objectives. To provide risk assessment and intervention to people who present for treatment. To liaise and consult with the wider professional network in the care of the client. To work jointly with other team members in delivering the most appropriate clinical service to people and their families. To contribute to the audit processes within the service. To contribute to research in the service area. To undertake project management as required to aid service development.

1.3 Managing Self To continually seek to expand and consolidate clinical skills using training experience and supervision and apply continuous reflection on own practice.

To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence base practice of self and others. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients, under the supervision of a BABCP accredited CBT clinician.

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes in consultation with the post holder's professional lead and service manager(s). To maintain membership of appropriate bodies (i.e. NMC, BABCP, UKCP) and professional bodies appropriate for the model of working.

To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychotherapy across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of psychotherapy and related disciplines.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical recordkeeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice and Trust policies and procedures.

The post- holder will be required to work flexibly both in terms of base and in hours of clinical availability.

1.4 Management Supervision and Support: The post holder has no managerial supervision responsibility but is expected to be a good example to other staff.

1.5 Financial Responsibility: Use Trust resources efficiently and suggest efficiencies savings to more senior staff.

1.6 Trust Values:

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g., service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respect at all time. The post holder must at all times act in accordance with the Trust's Values:

We put the person first and in the centre

We know that families and carers matter

We are respectful, honest, open and transparent

We improve and aim to be outstanding

We are relevant today and ready for tomorrow

1.7 Safeguarding:

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

1.8 Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:

All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trust's policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;

maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trust's Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;

understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and Trust Data Protection policy;

comply with the provisions of The Trust's Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;

receives supervision in line with the Trust's Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trust's Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role-specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;

understand their responsibilities under the Trust's Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;

recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;

ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participating in relevant training;

comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);

demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;

abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;

work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.

adhereto the Trust's smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;

being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;

Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly;

In addition to the Trust's own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The post holder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the post holder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHSJobs application form.

Person Specification

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
• IT Literate.
• Knowledge of adult & child protection legislation.
• Awareness of legislation relevant to the clinical area of practice.

Experience

• Candidates from a core professional background should demonstrate a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience. Candidates from a non-registered professional background will need to demonstrate a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience alongside their ability to meet the relevant criteria outlined in the KSA.
• Experience in working with service users in the clinical area of the post
• Different theoretical approaches.
• Work with other disciplines.
• Work with people who have disabilities.

Qualifications

• Registered qualification in core mental health/social welfare profession.
• OR
• Ability to demonstrate learning equivalent to level 6 higher education study. This needs to be evidenced by a formal qualification, preferably in a health or psychology related subject. A candidate may have an undergraduate degree in a different subject, however the course would require evidence of additional study in a health or psychology related subject from the candidate. Ideally, this would also be at level 6, however other levels of formal qualification in a health or psychology related subject, in conjunction with a previous level 6 qualification, will be considered.

Training

• To be willing to undertake Post Graduate Diploma in CBT.
• To be willing to attend university course 2 days per week.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Personal Attributes

• Caring.
• Team Player.
• Commitment to supervision and support.
• Flexible.
• Committed to client group.

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust