Trainee High Intensity Therapist - Kent and Medway

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; Chatham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in England is seeking Trainee High Intensity Therapists for its NHS Talking Therapies service. This full-time training program is aimed at aspiring Cognitive Behavioural Therapists. It offers a blend of clinical practice and university education, leading to a permanent role upon successful completion. Ideal applicants will possess core professional qualifications in mental health or relevant experience and a passion for supporting clients with mental health challenges.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working hours

Regular professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Demonstrate the equivalent relevant experience of a core profession with at least 300 hours direct client experience.
• Membership of the BABCP from the start of the course.
• Ability to study successfully at Postgraduate level.

Responsibilities

• Provide High Intensity CBT interventions to clients.
• Attend university for hybrid training.
• Work in clinical practice alongside university studies.

Skills

Communication skills

Understanding of anxiety and depression

Ability to manage own caseload

Client engagement

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Professional qualification in mental health

Job description

Are you an experienced mental health professional or social care worker with a recognised professional qualification working in a mental health setting? Do you meet the KSA requirements as set out by the BABCP? Have you considered training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and getting paid to do it?

If so, our Trainee High Intensity Therapist programme could be the role for you!

Getting to know Us:
Hello! We are Vita Health Group – we are one of the lead providers of NHS Talking Therapies services within the South West, North East, Midlands and South East. We are proud of the work we do to support our community through our partnership with the NHS and see the life-changing impact of our practice every single day!

We really do practice what we preach here at Vita, with a company-wide focus on staff wellbeing, a flexible and creative approach to work and a real culture of openness and support. We love to see our colleagues thrive and achieve their personal goals, so we place a real emphasis on quality supervision, rich continuous professional development (CPD) and encouraging our Cognitive Behavioural Therapists to embrace specialist training and leadership opportunities.

The Role:
We are looking for aspiring Cognitive Behavioural Therapists to join our NHS Kent and Medway Talking Therapies service as Trainee High Intensity Therapists (HITs) in the January 2026 cohort at Canterbury Christ Church University. The course is offered on a full time basis, over one year.
This is an Evidence Based High Intensity CBT Therapist post graduate course, details of which can be found on the link below.

https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/cognitive-behaviour-therapy-high-intensity?year=march-2024&modeRef=0#courseOverview

Whilst training, a typical working week includes 3 days of clinical practice with the service and 2 days attending university. University days are likely to be a hybrid training approach with a combination of remote and face-to-face teaching in Tunbridge Wells. Full details of the course will be provided by the University following successful appointment. Whilst your clinical practice will include some remote working, you will be expected to attend our clinics for part of the week, including one late shift from 12:00-8:00pm.

You will provide High Intensity CBT interventions recommended by NICE to clients with moderate to severe common mental health disorders and will receive weekly supervision provided by both the university and the workplace.

This is a training position with a start date of 19th January for induction with Vita Health Group and 2nd February for university teaching. Upon successful completion of the course you will be offered a permanent High Intensity Therapist role within VHG, however we cannot guarantee it will be in the current service area.

Preceptorship Period Post-Training
We think it is important that our trainees get continued time and space to learn their craft and have the time to be able to reflect on their cases and build their clinical confidence. After the training is complete, we will continue to support you to consolidate your learning. Following successful completion of the course, all of our practitioners have built in CPD per annum, additional regular CPD sessions, free access to the Bespoke CPD package where they can access upcoming and previous specialised CBT training from global leading academics and clinicians.

Getting to know You:
Applications are welcomed from Core Professionals (E.g., Mental Health nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, health psychologists, educational psychologists) and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.

Applicants without a BABCP recognised and accredited core mental health professional training such as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners or Psychotherapists and Counsellors (without appropriate accreditation including UKCP, BACP, and others) are eligible to apply but must be able to submit a completed KSA portfolio (see link below) upon interview.

If you are interested in working in our Talking Therapies service, but do not currently meet the essential criteria for this role, there may be other opportunities available within our service that may be suitable and would support you gaining the relevant experience to meet these criteria in the future.

For more information about Core Professions:
https://www.babcp.com/Core-Professions

For more information about the KSA requirements:
https://www.babcp.com/Knowledge-Skills-Attitudes

Essential Requirements:

• Core Professional training or qualification, or able to demonstrate at interview that you meet the KSA requirements set by the BABCP.
• Demonstrate the equivalent relevant experience of a core profession by having at least 300 hours direct client experience working in mental health or can demonstrate you have the knowledge and skills to meet the criteria of the BABCP KSA Portfolio.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent in any subject OR provide evidence of ability to study successfully at Postgraduate level.
• Membership of the BABCP (from the time that the course commences).
• Availability to attend university as required, which will include up to nine blocks of teaching of up to four days. – teaching will be a mixture of face to face and remote.
• Experience of working in mental health services, including risk management.
• Willingness to travel, which may include overnight stays on occasion, as and when required.
• Ability to manage own caseload.
• Demonstrate an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in a Primary Care setting.
• Demonstrate an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
• Evidence of values that are consistent with the NHS constitution.
• Interpersonal skills to engage and develop working alliances with colleagues and patients.
• Ability to work from home when required (minimum 10mb download speed required).

Desirable Requirements:

• Evidence of foundation level or sustained CPD in CBT.
• Evidence of supervised CBT practice.
• Experience of working in Primary Care/Talking Therapies services.
• Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.

Other Requirements:

• Shortlisted applicants must be available to attend interviews on 20th, 21st, 22nd and 27th October. All interviews will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams. The interview will include a university representative along with representatives from Vita Health Group. There will be a roleplay activity which is provided at the interview.
• Applicants must be available to commence the role on 19th January 2026 for service induction. All essential equipment will be provided.
• A Disclosure and Barring check (DBS, formerly CRB) will be required by the service for appointment to post.
• Applicants who have completed an NHS or HEE funded psychological professions training programme within the last two years are not eligible to apply.
• Only those with the right to work in the UK without restriction and eligible for Home Fee status can be recruited. These rules are set by the UK government and cannot be changed by individual universities or the NHS.

Canterbury Christ Church University
The Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, at Canterbury Christ Church University, has a long history of, and international reputation for, applied training and research. Their vision is to make a significant contribution to the understanding of professional service settings and their context by delivering a high quality and responsive professional development programme that provides able, committed and reflective professional practitioners. Canterbury Christ Church University is a modern, multi-campus university, with a strong focus on teaching, learning and research for the professional public services including health and social care. The Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology is located in fully refurbished premises in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells.

https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/about-us/contact-information-and-locations/locations-and-maps/salomons-institute-maps-and-directions

PGDip in Psychological Therapies: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
This programme is training people already in a career within the NHS or NHS Talking Therapies service. It will provide you with an outstanding opportunity to develop your competencies and knowledge associated with practice as a Practitioner. A strong emphasis throughout the programme is placed upon your personal and professional development.

• Aimed at clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and other professionals with experience of delivering mental health such as Mental Health nurses and counsellors. Those from a counselling background must have at least 300 hours of direct face to face clinical experience with clients or accreditation post qualification.
• Provides intensive skills training in accordance with British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (BABCP) guidelines for good practice.
• The programme is suited to those pursuing a career as a High Intensity therapist, defined under the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies /NHS Talking Therapies initiative.

Advantages of the programme are that:

• You will study within a vibrant, stimulating and internationally-recognised research environment, where members of your teaching team have first-hand experience within the clinical setting.
• Your learning experience will be enriched by nationally-recognised, innovative, clinical teaching approaches, designed to develop you on your terms.

For candidates that require a KSA portfolio, there will be an open evening held by Canterbury Christ Church University from 5.30pm on Monday 1st September. You must have your KSA fully completed by interview. For further details please contact Mel Saunders at [e-mail].

There will be an open evening about the role and working for Vita Health Group on Monday 18th August. This will be held remotely. If you would like to attend please book your place using the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vita-health-groups-trainee-high-intensity-cbt-therapist-open-event-kent-tickets-1510100514289?aff=oddtdtcreator

Why Vita Health Group?

Vita Health Group celebrates life. Improving lives physically and mentally drives everything we do. Now part of Spire Healthcare Group plc we have been providing physical and mental health services for over 30 years. We work in partnership with the NHS, are engaged by insurers and some of the UK’s largest corporate companies to support their workforce and provide a full range of physiotherapy services to private customers.

To achieve our mission of Making People Better, we recognise the importance of investing in our staff. We are an award-winning employer recently recognised nationally as “Best Company to Work for” at the Health and Wellbeing Awards 2024.

This is also recognised by current employees – our most recent Employee Survey results showed the top 5 reasons to work here as being:

• Supportive team and management
• Positive work environment
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Trust and respect
• Autonomy and flexibility

We are keen to progress your skills and enable career development and provide regular Continued Professional Development opportunities including secondments, management training, a mentoring scheme, apprenticeships and regular events and webinars across a range of clinical disciplines. In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer the opportunity of a flexible work life balance and a comprehensive benefits package which you can view here: https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/join-us/careers

Vita Health Group is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and is seeking to improve the diversity of its workforce. We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion best practice and positively encourage applications from candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion/belief, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity. For further information on our EDI commitments please view here: Vita Health Groups commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to being equitable and supporting the wellbeing of all employees.

• We are a Mindful Employer
• Our status as a Disability Confident Leader dedicated to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. All disabled candidates that meet the minimum essential criteria will be considered for interview.
• Our Ethnicity Matters Scheme where all applicants for senior roles (£40,000+) from a minority ethnic group that meet the essential criteria will be considered for interview.
• Our Gender Matters Scheme where all women applicants for senior roles (£60,000+) that meet the essential criteria will be considered for interview.
• Our sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Our status as a Menopause Friendly Committed employer.
• Our sign up to the Employer with Heart Charter.
• Our commitment to meet the standards outlined in the NHS Equality Delivery System (EDS). Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES).
• Access to health and wellbeing services for colleagues including Mental Health Advocates and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• An embedded “speaking up” culture facilitated by Freedom to Speak Up Guardians.
• Treating transgender individuals with dignity and recognising the potential complications that may arise when taking references. We encourage applicants to contact HR at [e-mail] to discuss or amend how we manage reference requests.

Should you wish to discuss any adjustment or assistance you need in the application or interview process please contact [e-mail] and we will facilitate.

Please note, all applicants must be legally entitled to accept and perform work in the UK and all positions are subject to a DBS check.

Any data which you share with us throughout the hiring process will be stored securely within the UK and is accessible only by staff who require it. Should your application be unsuccessful, your data will be securely destroyed after 6 months.

Vita Health Group reserves the right to close this job when sufficient applications have been received.