Trainee Psychological Therapist (CBT)

Job overview

Waveney CMHT Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (Personality Disorders)

Are you ready to feel valued and develop your skills in a service that respects and supports you as an individual?

This is an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. In this role, you will study CBT at Master’s level while applying your learning in practice. Initially, you will work with patients experiencing common mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression, before progressing to specialise in personality disorders. Throughout your journey, you will receive comprehensive clinical supervision and peer support through regular buddy groups with recently qualified therapists.

This Band 6 position transitions to Band 7 upon successful completion of training and BABCP accreditation, offering a clear pathway for career progression.

By joining our established and supportive team at the Waveney CMHT, you will contribute to delivering CBT interventions for Personality Disorders in line with NICE guidelines. We are deeply committed to staff wellbeing, ensuring you feel supported and empowered every step of the way.

Main duties of the job

As part of this position, you will undertake the Postgraduate Diploma in CBT for Personality Disorders at University College London. Two days per week will be spent within the service, developing therapeutic competencies to apply CBT for individuals with personality disorders and complex emotional needs and meeting the course requirements. One day each week will be dedicated to study at the University. Both training and clinical work will likely be a mix of remote and in-person sessions.

The course requires a significant amount of self-directed study, so the ability to integrate academic learning with clinical practice is essential. We maintain a close partnership with the University to ensure a cohesive approach to training, with both a University and Field Supervisor supporting you throughout the qualification process.

Upon qualification, you will provide CBT to individuals with personality disorders and complex emotional needs as part of the Waveney CMHT.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Minimum Qualifications Required

CBT trainee jobs are open to people who have the relevant qualifications, please only apply if you meet the minimum requirements. If you are unsure if you meet these please get in contact with us.

Entry requirements:

• Entry to CBT training requires a BABCP recognised core profession or the applicant to prepare a Knowledge, Skills, Attitude (KSA) entry route portfolio prior to interview. You should then bring it to your interview. This will be scrutinised by one of the course KSA assessors, who may ask you further questions about your portfolio at interview, and if you are successful they will give you feedback on which areas require further work to be completed during training. You will submit your portfolio again at the beginning of the course to be marked after undertaking the required actions. Further information about the KSA entry route can be found on the accreditation pages of the BABCP.com website by searching for Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes.
• Applications from some core professions from a physical health background with experience of working with mental health conditions can also be considered. Please check the BABCP website for details.
• CAPS are considered a core profession and eligible to apply for the post (subject to meeting the two year NHS E funding rule)

- PWPs should have a minimum of two years post qualification experience in line with national NHS Talking Therapies guidelines (as defined by the time between their PWP exam board and the start date of the course (23 September 2024).

- All other KSA candidates must have at least 4 years of relevant mental health related work experience, as well as a range of formal and informal training to have met the KSA standards.

- All candidates should have a undergraduate degree or equivalent (exceptional circumstances for core profession candidates may be considered on a case by case basis).

- If you are invited to an interview, you must scan documents and email any academic qualifications, certificates and evidence you hold, as applicable. Offers cannot be made without this information.

- For more information regarding British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) recognised Core professions, please visit the BABCP website and search for “Core Professions”.

If you do not have a Core Profession, you will need to complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate that you have equivalent training and experience. This is known as the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes portfolio (KSA). If you are unsure whether your background, training and experience would allow you to apply for this post vis the KSA route, please visit the BABCP website and search for “KSA guidelines”.

The location

All applicants need to be able to deliver therapy in Waveney. We are predominantly offering face-to-face treatment options. Training with the UCL will also be delivered via both face-to-face and remote teaching. You must have the ability to travel independently as required within Norfolk and Waveney.