High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

Job overview

The post holder will be responsible for the provision of a specialist psychological therapy within the cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) model to people with mild, moderate and severe common mental health problems in primary care and community settings in accordance with NICE guidance and evidence-based practice. This will include New Patient Assessments and screening referrals, assessing and treating patients found to be suitable for CBT, reporting to referrers on the patient’s progress and managing a waiting list. The post holder will work alongside a range of trainee and qualified psychological therapy practitioners and will offer support and advice to colleagues as appropriate as well as be involved in delivering mental health interventions (therapy groups) within specialist areas as required. Carrying out routine audit and evaluation of patients referred according to the national standards set for NHS Talking Therapies services of patients referred is mandatory for all staff.

Main duties of the job

• Provide specialist psychotherapeutic assessment of patients referred to the Service for CBT, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological data from a variety of quantitative and qualitative sources including self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients and others involved with their care. Ensure the outcome of assessment is communicated to the referring agent and other professionals involved. Determine suitability of the approach and refer on unsuitable individuals to appropriate agencies and/or provide advice, including psycho-education, as appropriate.
• Formulate and implement plans for the specialist psychotherapeutic treatment and/or management of patient’s mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of those problems derived from a broad theoretical knowledge of cognitive behaviour therapy, and employing methods based upon evidence of proven efficacy within modality. It is expected that the post holder will treat patients across the range of severity.
• Applicants that are successful to the post would be required to work in service a minimum of two days a week, as well as be available to offer an evening clinic once a week (12 to 8pm).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please kindly refer to the job description and person specification by clicking on the JD/PS attachment in the advert.

• Be responsible for providing and receiving highly complex, sensitive, distressing and emotional information in relation to mental and physical health problems. Implement a high level of interpersonal effectiveness, communication skills and psychotherapeutic skills and techniques to engage patients that may be manipulative, hostile, or may experience difficulties in terms of acceptance or understanding.
• Communicate across language and cultural barriers, including working by communicating with patients and/or carers through professional interpreters and advocates.
• Be responsible for recording, monitoring and reporting on clinical work and communicating in a skilled and sensitive manner, complex clinical information (including assessment, formulation, treatment plans and progress) to a variety of recipients (e.g. patients, carers and professionals involved in the care of the patient) orally, in writing and electronically.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.