Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

This job is archived

Location
Maidstone, England
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Profession
Cognitive behavioural therapist
Grade
Junior
Deadline
24 Sep 2026
Contract Type
2 years (2 Year Fixed Term)
Posted Date
10 Sep 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.

Essential

7 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • Experience

    Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services.

  • Experience

    Experience of multi-agency working and liaising across internal & external agencies.

  • Experience

    Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.

  • Knowledge and Skills

    To clearly demonstrate how you will manage the significant demands of the course whilst working in service.

  • Knowledge and Skills

    Ability to manage own caseload, time and diary.

  • Knowledge and Skills

    Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level.

  • Training, Qualifications and Registration

    A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in mental health or learning disability nursing, social work, counselling (accredited level), occupational therapy, arts therapy, medicine (psychiatry / general practice), psychological therapy (UKCP registered), Psychology (clinical, counselling, forensic or health).

Desirable

1 listed

Additional qualities the employer would prefer.

  • Experience

    Experience of delivering evidence-based interventions.

Job overview

The Kent and Medway All Age Eating Disorder Service (AAEDS) is a specialist community service offering NICE-concordant treatment for children (from the age of 8 and above), young people and adults with a diagnosed eating disorder.

With the support of NHS England, we are excited to be offering new training opportunities in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for adults experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties. This training is aimed at assessment and treatment for adults only.

This is a training role that will offer 2 years of training in CBT with University College London (UCL). The post-holder will work within the Kent & Medway All-Age Eating Disorders Service providing interventions to adults whilst undertaking a programme of training.

The post- holder will attend all taught and self-study days required by UCL, as specified within the CBT curriculum and will work in the AAEDS for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills.

This post can be based at either The Courtyard in Maidstone or George Turle House in Canterbury. Because there will be travel across trust sites in good time where required, a driver would be preferred.

Main duties of the job

The first year will be focused on depression and anxiety disorders, and in the second year of training, candidates will specialise in working with people presenting with an eating disorder. The training will equip the post-holder to provide interventions for adults with eating disorders.

You will attend all taught and self-study days required by UCL, as specified within the CBT curriculum and will work in the AAEDS for the remaining days of the week using their newly developed skills.

You must be able to attend 70-80 days training at University College London over a 2-year course. This will include a day per week, and intensive teaching blocks as determined by the university. You must be able to complete all the academic components of the course and have the ability to integrate training into practice under supervision.

The post will be suitable for candidates who already have a core professional training in a relevant profession such as Practitioner Psychologist, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist or Mental Health Nurse.

People without a core profession but with extensive mental health experience will also be eligible to apply provided they can meet the requirements of the BABCP Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes portfolio (KSA Guidelines: babcp.com). These candidates would need to demonstrate that they would be in a position to meet the KSA by the end of the first year of training.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description for the main duties and responsibilities expected for this role.

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.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapist with Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust in Maidstone, England. It is listed as a Junior Cognitive behavioural therapist role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 per annum. The contract type is 2 years (2 Year Fixed Term). The application deadline is 24 Sep 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 (10 Sep 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

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