Trainee High Intensity Therapist

Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Chester; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting for a High Intensity Therapist role, aimed at individuals with experience in mental health care. This training position offers comprehensive training in cognitive behavioural therapy, impacting the health and wellbeing of patients with anxiety and depression. Candidates will need to demonstrate their skills and commitment to high-quality care in a dynamic NHS environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals with anxiety and depression.
• Ability to manage a high caseload effectively.
• Commitment to evidence-based practices.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments and provide CBT for patients with mental health disorders.
• Collaborate with health professionals and community organizations.
• Monitor and review patient progress throughout treatment.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Organizational skills

Education

Postgraduate diploma in High Intensity Psychological Interventions

Member of BABCP

Job description

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) NHS Foundation Trust is hosting a centralised recruitment on behalf of all the services listed in the Services Description document.

Please note, where relevant, a completed Knowledge Skills & Attitudes (KSA) MUST be submitted no later than midnight on the day before interview to [e-mail] quoting your application ID & job reference.

Important note: if you have previously attracted NHS England (NHSE) funding for a PWP role there must be two years between the date of receiving the award from the PWP training and the commencement of the trainee HIT programme in January 2026.

Applications are invited from individuals who can demonstrate a high level of skill and substantial experience of working successfully with people experiencing common mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety. You may already be working in an approved BABCP | British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies core profession such as a nurse, occupational therapist, social worker, counsellor, or psychological wellbeing practitioner (PWP).

BABCP Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes (KSA) - Information for 2025/26 HIT Trainee Applicants - https://youtu.be/tKs57_IPnaM

The role of High intensity therapist involves undertaking assessments and treating patients with depression and anxiety disorders.

You will see individuals face-to-face or remotely via video conference and provide treatment for adults from many different backgrounds, collaborating with a range of professionals in physical health, mental health and social care as well as with community organisations

Once treatment begins, you’ll meet with individuals regularly, usually weekly, to measure and review progress and tailor treatment accordingly.

This is a training role with a Talking Therapies service in Cheshire & Merseyside leading to a postgraduate diploma in High Intensity Psychological Interventions (HIPI) Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. Successful applicants will enrol with the University of Chester or the University of Cumbria.

To work as a qualified therapist, you need to undertake training in cognitive behavioural therapy and during training you will be required to be a member of BABCP (British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies).

Upon successful completion, you will be required to become accredited and maintain accreditation with BABCP.

You will work from your office base and may be based in a GP practice, healthcare centre or community venue such as a library or leisure centre. You may also work from a suitable remote location in some instances.

You will be provided with ongoing supervision to help you engage in self-reflection, seek and respond to feedback, and develop your professional knowledge and skills.

The role of a High Intensity Therapist involves the delivery of high intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) whilst undertaking a programme of intensive training. The training will equip the postholder to provide CBT to clients with a range of common mental health difficulties for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective.

You must be able to demonstrate the ability to work within a high volume, performance managed service, manage your own caseload and time and be an effective communicator.

We are looking for people with a commitment to deliver high quality evidence-based assessments and interventions, a willingness to learn new skills and a desire to improve the health and wellbeing of people anxiety and/or depression disorders. Both trainee and qualified HITs play a critical role in helping shape the future direction of the Talking Therapies service.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Please contact individual service Job title: Please contact individual service Email address: [e-mail]

We also have two upcoming virtual Q&A sessions if you’d like to hear more and ask questions:

Session 1 (Trainee HIT) — 10 July, 12:30–13:30 — Join the meeting now

Session 2 (Trainee HIT) — 10 July, 17:00–18:00 — Join the meeting now

Please take time to read the full job advert and the job description / person specification. In your application, please include how you meet the person specification criteria you will be shortlisted against at the application stage. Within the application form you will be asked for your first, and second choice of service. The supporting information includes a description about each Talking Therapies service and their contact details.

You must be available in person for the entirety of the training course because 100% attendance is required, along with the relevant pre-employment checks.

• Please note that sponsorship is not currently available for this position, with any of the service providers. If you will require sponsorship in order to undertake this role, we will be unable to progress your application. **
  
  

For help with your application please contact the individual service – you will find their contact details in the Service Descriptions (see Supporting Documents section).