Job overview
Are you a qualified CBT Therapist looking to work in a team renowned for its patient-centered and supportive culture? Do you want to be part of a well-established service making a difference in the community? If you want to join one of the country’s leading NHS Talking Therapies services, then we would love to hear from you!
We are one of the top performing NHS Talking Therapies services in the country, leading the way in the provision of NICE recommended psychological therapies. We are focused on patient care, clinical excellence, innovation, and collaborative working.
We currently have a part-time vacancy for a BABCP accredited CBT therapist to join our West Sussex Talking Therapies - South team to help us continue to build on our success. The successful candidate will work with a range of adults with anxiety, depression, and trauma-related problems in a primary care setting.
You will be working in a blended working model of base and home supported by your management team and clinical leads and work with a friendly, highly competent workforce.
Main duties of the job
Provide Step 3 CBT interventions face to face, digitally and in group settings to patients experiencing moderate to severe mental illness.
To accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
To assess clients for suitability for treatment within West Sussex Talking Therapies and specifically for Step 3 Psychological Therapy.
To make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, and if required, refer clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary with due regard for assessment and management of risk. To undertake risk assessment and take the appropriate action. (This includes possibly breaching patient confidentiality in the interests of the patient or as dictated by legislation).
To formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients.
Provide Step 3 CBT interventions face to face, digitally and in group settings to patients experiencing moderate to severe mental illness.
To accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
To assess clients for suitability for treatment within West Sussex Talking Therapies and specifically for Step 3 Psychological Therapy.
To make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, and if required, refer clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary with due regard for assessment and management of risk. To undertake risk assessment and take the appropriate action. (This includes possibly breaching patient confidentiality in the interests of the patient or as dictated by legislation).
To formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will be a Clinician providing Step 3, individual and group CBT interventions, within NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies.
There will be responsibility for ensuring that the service ethos of placing patients at the centre of service delivery, and promoting mental wellbeing and emotional resilience is central to the team’s activity.
West Sussex Talking Therapies provides NICE compliant psychological therapies within primary care and community settings to patients with mild, moderate and severe depression, anxiety and psychological illnesses. Talking therapy interventions include psycho-educational courses, guided self-help, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Counselling, group CBT (Mood Management course) and Mindfulness Courses. All staff within NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies are required to use the IAPTus data collection and clinical record management system. We are commissioned to provide accessible services and applicants must be able to work between 8am and 8pm, with one late clinic to be offered per week.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for further details.
Our Teams cover a wide area of West Sussex in the South (Worthing, Shoreham, Lancing and Littlehampton) and there are plenty of opportunities to work flexible hours along with our blended working model.
Our vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community and achieving the highest level of service is our top priority. We develop and nurture our staff and recognise that they are our greatest asset. We give them clear career pathways, support their wellbeing, recognise and value their diversity and provide them with the leadership, skills and knowledge they need to deliver the best care for our patients now and in the future.
NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies is a psychology led service that maintains strong working links with psychologists working in the rest of the Trust and also with our community stakeholders in primary and secondary care.
All NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies staff ensure that the service ethos of placing patients at the centre of service delivery and promoting mental wellbeing and emotional resilience is central to the Team’s activity. We employ a dedicated IAPT database (IAPTUS) to ensure accurate data collection and record keeping.
NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies colleagues work within community bases and health centres. Each of our bases has excellent public transport links and are in thriving South Coast towns with close proximity to the sea.
If you’d like to discuss flexible working opportunities, or chat about what West Sussex Talking Therapies can offer you, get in touch via email to [email protected]
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with the full range of common mental health problems as well as OCD, Phobias and Trauma
- Experience of and ability to meet agreed/specified service targets for clinical work
- Experience and ability to manage own caseload and time
- Good record of Continuing and Professional Development in accordance with professional body of applicant. Willingness to continue to do this and to demonstrate levels congruent with accreditation/reaccreditation.
- Received regular supervised practice according to service provision and Professional body requirements
- Have conducted assessments for suitability for treatment, conducted assessments according to service criteria
- Worked in a service with agreed targets to demonstrate clinical outcomes
Desirable
- Experience providing triage assessment with recommendations for onward referral.
- Experience of working therapeutically with patients who have Long Term Conditions and/or medically unexplained symptoms
- Experience of working in within NHS or Primary Care Services
- Experience of providing clinical supervision
Other requirements
Essential
- Commitment to the ethos of recovery and patient focused care, as identified in Wellness Recovery Action Plan [WRAP]
- High level of enthusiasm and motivation. Ability to work with a team and foster good working relationships
- Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively Ability to work under pressure
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Full range of skills and competencies as required for professional accreditation as Psychological Therapist – CBT
- Demonstrates knowledge of stepped care approach and Improving Access to Psychological Therapies.
- Computer literate [competent with standard software packages – internet, Word, Excel, PowerPoint]
- Demonstrates high standards in written and verbal communications
- Ability to demonstrate use of robust risk assessment and risk management skills using service protocols and guidance
- Ability to develop appropriate therapeutic relationships with clients
- Demonstrates high standard of record keeping, with due regard for NHS Confidentiality, Data Protection and Information governance, abiding by codes of ethics and guidance for good practice of professional body
- Has full understanding of the Ethical Principals and Codes of Practice for own professional body
- Ability to establish good working relationships with local stakeholders [ GPs, Practice Managers, third sector organisations within area]
- Awareness of how Step 3 fits into a mental health referral pathway
- Ability to complete clinical audits
- Has skills to train/teach mental health awareness to other members of staff in primary care setting; third Sector, other health care professionals.
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health / benefits & employment systems
Desirable
- Has used IAPTus or equivalent computerised health record system for keeping patient records
- Can provide additional specialist therapeutic interventions, e.g. Mindfulness, EMDR etc
- Extensive knowledge of specialist services available nationally and locally.
Qualifications/registration
Essential
- Step 3 level Psychological Therapy qualification in CBT recognised as conferring eligibility for BABCP accreditation
- Accreditation with relevant professional body: Relevant professional accreditation Or if not yet accredited: Can provide evidence of having submitted for BABCP accreditation and will be expected to achieve professional accreditation within six months of start date.
Desirable
- Additional qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. EMDR, Mindfulness, group work)
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 7 Psychology roles in Brighton
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for CBT Therapist with Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust in Brighton, South East, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Mental health professionals role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata. The contract type is 10 months (Fixed term 10 months). The application deadline is 30 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (20 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.