Trainee High Intensity Therapist

West London NHS Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Greater London seeks enthusiastic High Intensity Trainees for a full-time training role focusing on delivering cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) within a mental health context. Candidates should have experience in mental health services and ideally have qualifications in psychological therapy. This demanding course requires completion within 12 months, with responsibilities including assessments and treatment of anxiety and depression, work with diverse community groups, and maintaining high professional standards.

Qualifications

• Must have experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression.
• Demonstrable experience in mental health services.
• Able to manage own caseload and time.

Responsibilities

• Provide Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) assessments.
• Work autonomously within professional guidelines.
• Utilise research skills for audit and service development.

Skills

Understanding of anxiety and depression in Primary Care

Good therapeutic relationships with clients

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Experience working with diverse communities

Education

Recorded qualification in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy, or psychological therapy

Knowledge Skills and Attitude (KSA) requirements of BABCP

Job description

Job Type - Full time 37.5 hours, 5 days per week, fixed term training position for 1 year.

We are a well-established Talking Therapies Service looking for enthusiastic High Intensity Trainees to join our friendly team.

This is an excellent, but demanding course and candidates are expected to complete all its requirements within 12 months of starting the training. The post involves providing psychological assessments and evidence-based interventions for people with common mental health problems.

Please note that we cannot accept applicants without the necessary experience of working in a mental health setting. Experience of working in primary mental health and especially NHS Talking Therapies is desirable.

In order to be considered from a PWP background, candidates must have been qualified as a PWP for more than two years by the course start date in order to meet national guidance. It is desirable for candidates from a PWP background to have accreditation from the BPS or BABCP.

Main duties of the job

This intensive training post will equip the post holder to provide Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) assessments and NICE-recommended CBT treatment to people presenting with moderate to severe depression and anxiety for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective. Appointments take place in person, via video, or via telephone.

To work with people from different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary, being committed to equal opportunities

To provide advice and consultation on clients' psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non-professional carers

To work one evening shift a week (12-8pm) - as we are passionate about engaging all groups of our community, we operate evening clinics (up until 8pm) Monday - Thursday

To work autonomously within professional guidelines and within the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures

To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative

Job responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy
• Evidence of meeting the Knowledge Skills and Attitude (KSA) requirements of BABCP
• Experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression

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 demonstrate clinical outcomes e.g., access targets, recovery rates

Knowledge & Skills

• 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
• Has received training (either formal of through experience) and 12 carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Training

• Able to attend a two day per week course
• Able to complete academic components of the course
• Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training

Personal Qualities

• High level of enthusiasm and motivation
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• 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 clients, in own personal and professional development and in supervision
• Able to work at least one evening session, until 8.00pm
• Self-motivated, able to work autonomously and independently with confidence
• Be aware of the limitations in own competencies and seek appropriate senior advice
• Car driver and/or 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

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.

£44,485 to £52,521 a yearper annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer)