Trainee High Intensity CBT therapist

Integrated Care System; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Plymouth NHS Talking Therapies service for a HI CBT trainee therapist. Candidates will engage in part-time study at Exeter University while actively providing CBT interventions, requiring strong motivation and a background in mental health fields. The successful candidate will develop skills in clinical practices, contribute to service enhancements, and adhere to NHS values. This role promises both professional growth and a chance to significantly impact clients' lives.

Benefits

Protected CPD time

Training pathways

Leadership programs

Funding for qualifications

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health services is necessary.
• Knowledge of anxiety and depression treatments.
• Ability to meet specific service targets.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage clients with common mental health disorders.
• Deliver High Intensity CBT interventions according to NICE guidance.
• Attend training sessions while balancing service delivery.

Skills

Communication

Therapeutic Relationship Development

Risk Assessment

Teamwork

Cultural Competence

Education

Undergraduate degree in mental health discipline

Registered qualification in BABCP recognised Core Professions

Job description

Salary:Band 6 throughout training, moving to Band 7 on successful accreditation withthe BABCP.

We are excited to be offering an opportunity to train as a HI CBT therapistwhilst working within the service. Weare seeking highly motivated mental health professionals to join our CBT teamat Plymouth NHS Talking Therapies.

The role is open to individuals with aBABCP recorded/registered Core profession (see https://babcp.com/core-professions/e.g. MH Nursing, SocialWork, Occupational Therapy, Psychologist, Arts therapy & accreditedcounsellors (MBACP).

Those without a registeredQualification can apply if you can evidence the KSA requirements of the BABCP https://babcp.com/core-professions/knowledge-skills-attitudes/ . The BABCP have now revised the KSArequirements for those registered with other professions enabling individualsto submit condensed KSAshttps://babcp.com/core-professions/knowledge-skills-attitudes/professions-eligible-for-a-condensed-portfolio/The KSA Portfolio is required for submission at interview & shortlistedcandidates will be sent instructions for how to submit.

Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Main duties of the job

Youwill study part time with Exeter University (usually 2 days per week) &working 3 days per week in service providing CBT interventions to clients withcommon mental health disorders. There will also be 3 block weeks of trainingper term. This may require applicants to travel & stay over to accommodatethis training.

As trainees the post will involve delivering HighIntensity CBT assessments & CBT interventions in accordance with NICEguidance. The post-holder will be required to undertake regular supervision& in house CPD opportunities.Interviews will be spread across26/27/28 Augustin conjunction with ExeterUniversity. If you are offered & accept an interview, you willbe contacted to provide a brief statement in supportof your application for the post of NHS Talking Therapies HI trainee withreference to the NHS Values in accordance with The NHS Constitution .Ifyou need to submit your KSA portfolio please ensure it is completed ready tosubmit on the day of the interview. Successful candidates will need attendthe HI Course Induction days on 1st & 2nd ofDecember 2025.

Individuals who undertake this training or who haveundertaken other NHS professional training (within 2 years) willnormally be unable to access another NHS funded training (further guidanceavailable https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/mental-health/psychological-professions/funding-psychological-professions-training-programmes.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

1.CLINICAL

1.1.Accept referrals via agreed protocolswithin the service

1.2.Assess clients for suitability forCBT. Where the problems appear to be too complex or severe to be appropriatefor a trainee therapists to refer to manager/supervisor for advice on how tomanage the case.

1.3.Make decisions on suitability of newreferrals, adhering to the departments referral protocols, and referunsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agentas necessary.

1.4.Formulate, implement and evaluatetherapy programmes for clients.

1.5.Educate and involve family membersand others in treatment as necessary, conveying CBT formulations withsensitivity in easily understood language, making reasonable adjustments asrequired, ie easy read literature, interpreter.

1.6.Adhere to an agreed activity contractrelating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessionscarried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatmentdelivery remains accessible and convenient.

1.7.Attend multi-disciplinary meetingsrelating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.

1.8.Complete all requirements relating todata collection within the service.

1.9.Keep coherent records of all clinicalactivity in line with service protocols

1.10.Work closely with other members ofthe team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in placeto maintain a stepped care approach.

1.11.Assess and integrate issuessurrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process

2. TRAINING ANDSUPERVISION

2.1. Attend and fulfil all the requirements of thetraining element of the post.

2.2. Apply learning from the training programme inpractice

2.3. Receive supervision from educational providers inrelation to course work to meet the required standards.

3. PROFESSIONAL

3.1. Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice accordingto the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (egBPS, UKCP, BABCP), and keep up to dateon new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g NHSplan, National Service Framework, National Institute for ClinicalExcellence).

3.2. Ensure that client confidentiality is protected atall times.

3.3. Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances inthe spheres of CBT

3.4. Ensure clear professional objectives are identified,discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part ofcontinuing professional development.

3.5. Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regularbasis as agreed with Manager.

3.6. Participate in individual performance review andrespond to agreed objectives.

3.7. Keep up to date all records in relation toContinuous Professional Development and ensure personal development planmaintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and servicedelivery models/developments.

3.8. Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line withidentified professional objectives.

3.9. Attend Mandatory training programme as indicated forpost.

4.GENERAL

4.1. To contribute to the developmentof best practice within the service.

4.2. To maintain up-to-date knowledgeof legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation toMental Health and Primary Care Services.

4.3. All employees have a duty andresponsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety ofcolleagues, patients and the general public.

4.4. All employees have aresponsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processedfor both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and inline with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and ConfidentialityPolicies.

4.5. It is the responsibility of allstaff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, toseek advantage of further private business or other interests in the courseof their official duties.

4.6. To be familiar with and adhere toSickness policy, Record Keeping Policy, Dignity at Work Policy, and othershighlighted at induction.

4.7. This Job Description does notprovide an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed in conjunction withthe post holder in light of service development.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
• Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
• Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
• Knowledge of Talking Therapies KPIs

Skills

• Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
• Able to use Electronic Record systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
• High level of enthusiasm and
• Motivation.
• Advanced communication skills
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
• Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
• Applicants should show evidence of values that are consistent with the NHS constitution.
• Applicants should demonstrate evidence of interpersonal skills to engage and develop working alliances with colleagues and patients
• Applicants should show evidence of an openness to learning new knowledge and skills
• Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation
• Fluent in languages other than English
• Experience of working with diverse communities within a multicultural setting

Training

• Availability to attend university as required, which will include up to four blocks of teaching of up to four days. Most teaching will be 2 days per week in conjunction with a minimum period
• of high intensity CBT clinical practice per week
• Able to complete academic components of the course

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
• Ability to manage own caseload and time
• Demonstrates high standards in written communication
• Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers
• Experience of working in Primary Care Services
• Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes

Skills

• Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
• Able to use Electronic Record systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
• High level of enthusiasm and
• Motivation.
• Advanced communication skills
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
• Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with service users, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
• Applicants should show evidence of values that are consistent with the NHS constitution.
• Applicants should demonstrate evidence of interpersonal skills to engage and develop working alliances with colleagues and patients
• Applicants should show evidence of an openness to learning new knowledge and skills
• Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation
• Fluent in languages other than English
• Experience of working with diverse communities within a multicultural setting

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent in a discipline connected to mental health (e.g. psychology, neuroscience).
• A recorded/registered qualification at graduate level in BABCP recognised Core Professions (see https://babcp.com/core-professions/ e.g. MH nursing, social work, occupational therapy, psychologist, arts therapy.
• OR
• Evidence of meeting the Knowledge Skills and Attitude (KSA) requirements of BABCP. Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners must have 2 years post qualification
• Experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression.

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.

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working