Trainee CBT Therapist

Job overview

NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies provides talking therapies to patients with mild to moderate mental health problems who reside in West Sussex.  We are a well-established and respected service, part of the NHS Talking Therapies provision adhering to NICE Guidance.  Each team is comprised of Senior Psychological Therapists, Cognitive Behaviour Therapists, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, and Counsellors, supported by Administrative and Operational Management Teams.

This is a training role within the NHS Talking Therapies Long-Term Conditions Programme, which requires attendance and successful completion of the 1 year PGDip in High Intensity Psychological Therapies with the Canterbury Christ Church University, Salomons Campus in Tunbridge Wells. The post-holder will work within NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies, Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service providing high intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training specific for this role.  This intensive training post will equip the post-holder to provide a psychological therapy service to clients with a range of problems, especially those for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective. The post holder will work in the service for part of the week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme.

** Please note we may close this vacancy early if sufficient numbers of applications have been received **

Main duties of the job

This post is offered on a fixed term basis, with the opportunity to apply for vacancies within the service on successful completion of the course.

We strongly encourage you to check the job description and the core professional criteria carefully before applying for this post. Unfortunately, we will not be able to answer questions related to your eligibility for the course. We ask that you use the information provided within the job description and through the BABCP website: https://babcp.com/careers/training-in-cbt

Information and entry requirements can be found on the Canterbury Christ Church University, Website:  https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/cognitive-behaviour-therapy-high-intensity

This is a Sussex-wide recruitment campaign. Our partners in neighbouring Sussex based NHS Talking Therapies services are also actively recruiting for these training opportunities with Canterbury and Christ Church University. Interviews are held in collaboration with the university. Shortlisted candidates will only be invited to one interview and are kindly requested to apply to their preferred service only.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be part of a high-performing service which provides remote and face-to-face treatments for our patients including video and in-person appointments, with qualified staff being both home and office based.

You will receive excellent clinical supervision. You will also have the opportunity to work with experienced CBT therapists, Counsellors and qualified PWP's, all of whom have a reputation for being friendly and supportive of trainees.

We have training posts available in a variety of locations across West Sussex. You will need to be able and willing to travel to different sites as required in West Sussex.

Please note that you will be expected to pay for any travel you have to make to and from the University, although any travel between your work base and our locations in West Sussex will be covered by NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies expenses.

Successful applicants can be based in Worthing or Horsham. We will ask your preference at interview and will try to accommodate where possible.

We are looking for candidates from a broad range of backgrounds. This enhances trainees' learning, and we are also keen to develop a workforce that represents the diverse society in which we live.

We are a leading NHS Talking Therapies service with a track record of innovation, imagination and excellence. We are a flagship service within our Trust and recognised as one of the best service providers of psychological interventions in the country.

We pride ourselves on the support we offer trainees in the service, from designated trainers and senior staff to the whole team of administrators, managers and clinicians.  Your wellbeing is of paramount importance to us and we have various initiatives in the service and in the wider Trust that can help to support you further.

We know from experience that our trainees are always keen to stay within the service upon completion of their course. Once qualified and accredited you will be able to apply for substantive vacancies within the service.

Should you be successful in a substantive role following your training year, you will be fully supported through all areas of the work to continue building your skills through our excellent preceptorship scheme. We offer flexible working, provide an 8am-8pm service and once qualified working one evening per week is required.

• Attend and fulfill all the requirements of the training element of the post
• Apply learning from the training programme into clinical practice
• Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards
• To be responsible for working with vulnerable patients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems and high levels of emotional and psychological distress and disturbance.
• To accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service
• To assess clients for suitability for treatment within NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies and specifically for Step 3 Psychological Therapy as required
• As required, to make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, and refer unsuitable 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. [possibly breaching patient confidentiality in the interests of the patient or as dictated by legislation]
• To formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients
• To engage in a collaborative manner to build resilience and hope focusing on recovery.
• To be alert and respond creatively to change in the patients’ identified needs or psychological/emotional status
• To complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service, including the use of routine outcome measures