Trainee High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

Teesside Mind; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Teesside Mind is recruiting for a training role within CYP IAPT, joining the Tees Valley Getting Help Service. The post involves supervised delivery of evidence-based interventions for children and young people with mild-to-moderate mental health difficulties. You will study at Northumbria University while working in the service during the rest of the week.

The organisation emphasises staff wellbeing, collaboration with local partners, and a commitment to improving mental health in the community.

Qualifications

• Holds a Psychology or other health/social care/youth related undergraduate degree (2:2 or above).
• 2 years experience of working with children and young people.
• Demonstrates understanding of CYP-IAPT.
• Committed to delivering high-quality services.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment under supervision for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• Support waiting list management including prioritisation, assessment and signposting.
• Collaborate with social care and other professionals across Children, Young People and Family Services.
• Deliver a range of therapeutic interventions with children, young people and families in collaboration with them.

Skills

Communication skills

Self-motivation

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Clinical supervision awareness

Education

Psychology degree (2:2 or above)

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job summary

Teesside Mind, along with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, The Link, Alliance Psychology, The Junction, and Changing Futures North East formed a partnership to create the Tees Valley Getting Help Service. By pooling our resources and combining our expertise, we offer a range of mental health support, to make it easier for children, young people and their families to find the help that fits their needs. We provide a wide range of support, including working directly with children and young people, offering advice and guidance for families, and providing training and support for parents and carers, school staff, and other professionals.

Main duties of the job

This is firstly a training role within CYP IAPT. The post-holder will work in the Tees Valley Getting Help Team as part of a wider team of practitioners, delivering, with supervision, high-quality; brief outcome focused evidence-based interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. These may include psycho-education, self-help and work with presentation such as anxiety, low mood and anger. The training and service experience will equip the post holder with the necessary knowledge, attitude and capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service.

The post holder will attend all university based taught and self-directed study days required by Northumbria University (Higher Education Institute), as specified within the agreed national curriculum and work in the service for the remaining days of the week (3 days) using their newly developed skills as part of the service delivery model.

About us

We are proud to have directly helped 27,000 local people this last year, more than we have ever supported. We have been working in local communities to improve mental health and wellbeing for 30 years and during that time our support has evolved, enabling us to help people in new and impactful ways.

We believe everyone has the right to enjoy good mental health and our team of trusted professionals provide expert support to help people lead full and happy lives. What's more, we campaign locally to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding of what good mental health looks like.

Ours is a vibrant organisation to work for and our staff are our most important asset. We know just how important the benefits of a mentally healthy workplace are. So, it's only natural that our people and our culture are at the heart of all we do. Staff wellbeing is a high priority for us and we take great care and pride in making sure that everyone who works with us feels valued and supported. We're dedicated, friendly and open, working together to improve the lives of local people experiencing mental health problems.

Details

Date posted: 15 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 4

Salary: £27,485 a year

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 1 years

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: B0486-26-0025

Closing date: 30 October 2026

Job responsibilities

Main Duties

• To provide, under supervision, assessment, including risk assessment, of children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• To support management of the waiting list playing a proactive role in prioritisation, assessment and signposting.
• To work with families involved with social care liaising closely with Social Workers and other professionals working across Children, Young People and Family Services.
• To select and deliver a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions for children, young people and families experiencing mild to moderate or moderate to severe mental health difficulties delivered in collaboration with the child, young person and family.
• To work within CYP IAPT Delivering with and Delivering Well Values and Standards.
• To work within the principles of CYP IAPT ensuring the appropriate use of routine outcome monitoring tools.
• To make use of referral pathways following assessment for children, young people and families requiring other services, including statutory and voluntary agencies.
• To explore and evaluate clinical treatment using evaluation tools, contributing to evidence-based practice.
• Working in collaboration to support children, young people and families in the self-management of presenting difficulties.
• Working in collaboration with children, young people and families to develop effective treatment plans and agreed outcomes.
• To operate within the Service Referral to Discharge Protocols.
• Through close case management and supervision, escape cases where the level of need becomes beyond scope, or more severe, ensuring adherence to other relevant elements of service delivery.
• Provide a range of information and support for evidence based psychological treatments. This may include guided self-help. This work may be face-to-face, by telephone or via other media.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts offered, and sessions carried out per week in order to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.

Training and Supervision

• Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post including practical, academic and practice-based assessments.
• Apply learning from the training programme to practice.
• Receive clinical supervision and case management weekly in relation to course work, competencies and clinical work to meet the required standards.
• Prepare and present case load information to supervisors and case managers within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor and service are delivered.
• Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in practice.
• Work within the boundaries of service delivery and support to meet the requirements of the service needs.
• Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competencies and practice.

Partnership Working

• To create and maintain effective working relationships with Headteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCOs, Pastoral Teams, mental health champions and wider teaching staff by providing advice and consultative support on emotional and mental health issues, and in relation to appropriate referral pathways for children, young people and families experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• To liaise effectively with other local providers, including statutory, voluntary sector organisation and third sector organisations on behalf of the child, young person or family.
• To build effective working relationships with other local children's mental health providers including statutory and third sector CAMHS and support the development of pathways of support.

Safeguarding

• Responsible for safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and young people at all times and operating within local policies and procedures.
• Under guidance and support taking appropriate safeguarding action to protect children and young people at risk of significant harm.
• Under guidance and supervision to identify and support families in accessing Early Help Services.
• To share appropriate information with parents/carers or other agencies regarding the child's wellbeing and progress keeping within the boundaries of Confidentiality and Information Sharing protocols.

A Professional and Ethical Service

• To maintain appropriate clinical notes and records on IAPTUS.
• To undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development.
• To undertake clinical supervision and case management in line with the appropriate professional body - BABCP.
• To work within GDPR and Information Governance policies and procedures.
• To ensure a safe and secure working environment for self and others and to take action as necessary within Health and Safety and other guidelines.
• To adhere to all Policies, Procedures and Guidelines.
• To promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people using the service.
• This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is required to be flexible in developing the role.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

• Essential: Ability to work within a dynamic and developing service
• Essential: Demonstration of self-motivation and motivation of others

  Communication

  • Essential: Effective communication skills, both verbal and written and the ability to understand and respond to requirements of different audiences
  • Essential: Shares information, skills and practice when required
  • Essential: Excellent case recording, report writing and case presentation skills

  IT

  • Essential: Demonstrates competency in using The Google suite and Microsoft Office
  • Essential: Experience in using database systems to record sessions and notes

  Experience and Qualifications

  • Essential: Holds a Psychology or other Health/social care/youth related undergraduate degree (2:2 or above)
  • Essential: 2 years experience of working with children and young people
  • Essential: Demonstrates an understanding of CYP-IAPT
  • Essential: Demonstrates commitment to deliver high-quality services
  • Desirable: Holds a recognised qualification in counselling or psychological therapy
  • Desirable: Holds a recognised membership of a relevant professional body (i.e. HCPC / BACP / BABCP / BAAT /UKCP/BPS)
  • Desirable: Is accredited with a relevant professional body (i.e. HCPC / BACP / BABCP / BAAT / UKCP / BPS)
  • Desirable: Post qualification experience as a practising counsellor/psychological therapist
  • Desirable: Demonstrates an understanding of Teesside Mind, including referral pathways and criteria for access

  Partnership Working

  • Essential: Demonstrates an ability to effectively build and manage relationships with referrers both within schools and community
  • Essential: Strong working relationships with school leadership teams to support and maintain contracts
  • Essential: Demonstrates a consistently positive attitude to working within Teesside Mind
  • Essential: Demonstrates a willingness to work collaboratively with children, young people and families
  • Essential: Has the willingness to work under supervision to develop good therapeutic relationships with children, young people and families

  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: Teesside Mind Ltd

  Address: The Mind Centre, 92-94 Lothian Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 2QX, United Kingdom

  Employer's website: https://www.teessidemind.org.uk/

  For questions about the job, contact: Sam Devon, [e-mail]

  Privacy notice: Teesside Mind Ltd's privacy notice