Trainee High Intensity Therapist - Nottingham

Vita Health Group Ltd; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Vita Health Group Ltd is seeking aspiring Cognitive Behavioural Therapists to join Nottingham Talking Therapies as Trainee High Intensity Therapists. The role combines 3 days of clinical practice with university study for a PGDip in CBT, starting 1 March 2027, with induction through Vita Health Group and the University of Lincoln.

The program runs for 12 months as a fixed-term contract, with potential for a permanent role after successful completion.

Qualifications

• Qualified mental health professional with CBT experience.
• Must meet BABCP KSA requirements and be eligible for membership.
• Willing to undertake HIT training and PGDip CBT program.

Responsibilities

• Provide High Intensity CBT interventions as recommended by NICE.
• Receive weekly supervision from university and workplace.
• Balance clinical practice with university training in a hybrid format.

Skills

BABCP KSA

CBT experience

Mental health professional

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

BABCP membership

Job description

Trainee High Intensity Therapist - Nottingham

Company: Vita Health Group Ltd Salary: £39,227 to £39,227 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Nottingham, NG7 2UH Job type: Temporary Posting date: 23 Oct 2026 Closing date: 29 Oct 2026

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 Talking Therapies services within the North East, Midlands, South East and South West. We are super proud of the work we do at Step 3 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 CPD and encouraging our CBT Therapists to embrace specialist training and leadership opportunities.

The Role:

We are looking for aspiring Cognitive Behavioural Therapists to join our Nottingham Talking Therapies service as Trainee High Intensity Therapists (HITs) in the March cohort at the University of Lincoln. The course you will undertake is the one-year, full-time, PGDip Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/course/hipintpd/

This is a one year role with a start date of 1st March 2027 for induction with Vita Health Group and 3rd March 2027 for induction at the University of Lincoln. Teaching will begin on Monday 8th March.

A typical working week includes 3 days of clinical practice with the service (Wednesday - Friday) and 2 days at University (Monday and Tuesday). University days will be hybrid training with a combination of remote and face-to-face teaching. Whilst your clinical practice is likely to include some remote working, you will be required to attend one of the service area offices for part of the week. You will be expected to work one late shift per week from 12:00pm-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 fixed term role for 12 months.

After completing the training and becoming a qualified HIT, there may be an opportunity to apply for a permanent post and contribute to an experienced and innovative service.

How we support you:

Close liaison with the University and the workplace

During your training you will receive weekly supervision by both the workplace and by the University.

Getting to know You:

The Trainee position is aimed at mental health professionals who have some experience in CBT and who continue to work in a mental health environment.

Applications are invited from qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychological Therapists, Mental Health Nurses, Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and PWPs (with two years post qualification experience).

Applicants without recognised and accredited core mental health professional training (such as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners or Psychotherapists and Counsellors without UKCP or BACP accreditation) are eligible to apply but must be able to complete a KSA portfolio by interview date.

For more information about Core Professions:

https://www.babcp.com/Core-Professions

For more information about the KSA requirements:

• Core Professional training or qualification, or able to demonstrate at interview that you meet the KSA requirements set by the BABCP.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent in a discipline connected to mental health (or ability to study at third year undergraduate degree level).
• Membership of the BABCP (from the time that the course commences).
• Availability to attend university as required – teaching will be a mixture of face to face and remote.
• At least two years experience of working in mental health services, including risk management.
• Experience of working in Primary Care/Talking Therapies services.
• Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.
• Willingness to travel, which may include overnight stays on occasion, as and when required.
• Evidence of foundation level or sustained CPD in CBT.
• Evidence of supervised CBT practice.

Other Requirements:

• Shortlisted applicants must be available to attend interviews held on either 9th, 16th, 21st or 22nd December 2026. All interviews will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams.
• Applicants must be available to commence the role and attend service induction on 1st March 2027. Following this, the first day of induction with the University of Lincoln will be on 3rd March 2027 followed by teaching beginning 8th March 2027. All essential equipment will be provided.
• For those successful candidates completing a KSA, you will need to have these fully completed by 11th January 2027. For further information on how to complete the KSA please review the attached guidance document.
• A Disclosure and Barring check (DBS) 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.
• The University of Lincoln will also be offering a free KSA workshop for any KSA applicants that wish to attend. Further details will be made available soon.

About Us

As part of Spire Healthcare, we’re proud to build on a legacy of improving lives for over 30 years and continue to deliver primary care physical and mental health services accessed through the NHS, via employer-funded care and at our network of private clinics.

Working here

We are an award-winning employer regularly recognised at industry events and our latest employee survey revealed the top reasons for working here as:

• Supportive teams and managers
• A positive and inclusive culture
• Strong well-being and mental health support
• Trust, autonomy and flexibility

We invest in your growth with frequent career progression opportunities and development initiatives including mentoring, secondments, management training and regular clinical CPD webinars. You will enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working options and a comprehensive benefits package – further details here.

Equality Diversity & Inclusion

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We actively support a range of initiatives including:

Disability Confident Leader

• Positive action through Ethnicity and Gender Matters initiatives

Employer with Heart and

Mindful Employer status

Menopause Friendly accreditation

Learn more about our EDI commitments here

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion - Vita Health Group.

Additional information

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in the UK and subject to a DBS check at offer stage.

Your application data is handled securely in accordance to UK GDPR guidelines.

We may close jobs to new applications earlier than original stated closing date.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.