Trainee High Intensity Therapist

Job summary

***Please note: the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date if a large volume of applications are received. ***

Due to new funding, an exciting opportunity has arisen for 6 Trainee High Intensity Therapists (HITs) to join NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Talking Therapies Service (CPTT) on a permanent contract at various team bases including:

o Chesterton Medical Centre, Chesterton, Cambridgeo Newtown Centre, Huntingdono City Hall, Peterborougho Fenland Hall, March

You may specify on your application if you are interested in a specific location however your preference is not guaranteed.

*Please note interviews for this post will take place in person at Newtown Centre, Nursery Rd, Huntingdon PE29 3RJ, in December 2025 / Early January 2026.

Please email Joanna.Curtis@CPFT.nhs.uk for more details.

Main duties of the job

You must be able to start the Post Graduate Diploma High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Training course on the 23rd February 2026.

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain a high-level qualification in mental health and start of your career in the IAPT Programme.

Please be advised the training provider will be Charlie Waller Institute at Reading University. Training will be a blend of classroom based and online teaching. Additionally, on your clinical days you will be working from base on some days and from home working on other days.

It is essential to have a core profession that will confer eligibility to apply for BABCP accreditation following completion of the course - please read Why Work for Us document. Applicants with a background as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner will require a minimum of 24 months in post from the date of qualifying before the start of the High Intensity training programme.

Please note this post will be regraded to band 7 on successful completion of the training course.

We offer a high standard of supervision to our clinicians that far exceeds the nationally set minimum requirements within IAPT services. Monthly line management and annual appraisals are offered in addition to regular clinical supervision, and supervisors and line managers work closely together to ensure a supportive and developmental environment. We also offer excellent CPD opportunities within the service.

About us

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social Care, Research & Development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.

Details

Date posted

21 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

310-ASMH-7616832

Job locations

Various bases across Cambridgeshire

CMC, Chesterton, CB4 1PX

Cambridgeshire

CB4 1PX

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

• The post holder will be expected to contribute to the clinical activity of the service.
• This will involve holding a clinical caseload, which will require a high level of organisation in order to operate efficiently. For the clinical activity the post holder will be expected to:
• Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
• Offer clinical assessments
• Provide high intensity interventions for cases referred to the team.
• This will involve the use of evidence based psychological interventions e.g. CBT.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for patients.
• Adhere to all clinical policies and procedures, working within established risk protocols.
• Maintain high clinical standards in all aspects of the work.
• Ensure treatment delivery remains accessible, convenient and with minimal waiting times as agreed by senior clinicians and managers.
• Communicate, in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, to patients, family carers and others as appropriate, information that may be contentious or highly distressing concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients under their care.

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

• The post holder will be expected to contribute to the clinical activity of the service.
• This will involve holding a clinical caseload, which will require a high level of organisation in order to operate efficiently. For the clinical activity the post holder will be expected to:
• Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
• Offer clinical assessments
• Provide high intensity interventions for cases referred to the team.
• This will involve the use of evidence based psychological interventions e.g. CBT.
• Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for patients.
• Adhere to all clinical policies and procedures, working within established risk protocols.
• Maintain high clinical standards in all aspects of the work.
• Ensure treatment delivery remains accessible, convenient and with minimal waiting times as agreed by senior clinicians and managers.
• Communicate, in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, to patients, family carers and others as appropriate, information that may be contentious or highly distressing concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients under their care.

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• Professional qualification and accreditation as health professional, such as: Nursing; Social work; Occupational therapy. PWP candidates must have a minimum of two years' fulltime qualified and supervised practice in an NHS Talking Therapies service at the point of starting the HIT training course.
• Except for PWPs, health professionals must be accredited with a professional body - registration alone is not sufficient

Desirable

• Training/qualification in delivering psychological therapies, including CBT & other modalities

Experience

Essential

• Aptitude to undertake high level post graduate course.
• Experience of working with patients presenting with high level of distress and managing risk situations - please demonstrate this in your supporting statement.

Desirable

• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision of others.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enabling formation of networks with professionals within the Trust and from other agencies to promote effective team working with clients.
• Willingness to be flexible and adaptable.
• Ability to work within a team fostering good working relationships.

Desirable

• Ability to promote psychological models with clients, carers and staff in an understandable and person-centred way, clearly outlining goals and potential outcomes

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential

• Demonstrates an understanding of the IAPT programme and how it links to trust, regional and national demands.

Desirable

• Formal training in psychological therapies. Introductory training in CBT.

Physical Requirements

Essential

• Sitting for prolonged periods
• Concentrate for prolonged periods
• Manage prolonged use of display screen equipment

Desirable

• Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• Professional qualification and accreditation as health professional, such as: Nursing; Social work; Occupational therapy. PWP candidates must have a minimum of two years' fulltime qualified and supervised practice in an NHS Talking Therapies service at the point of starting the HIT training course.
• Except for PWPs, health professionals must be accredited with a professional body - registration alone is not sufficient

Desirable

• Training/qualification in delivering psychological therapies, including CBT & other modalities

Experience

Essential

• Aptitude to undertake high level post graduate course.
• Experience of working with patients presenting with high level of distress and managing risk situations - please demonstrate this in your supporting statement.

Desirable

• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision of others.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enabling formation of networks with professionals within the Trust and from other agencies to promote effective team working with clients.
• Willingness to be flexible and adaptable.
• Ability to work within a team fostering good working relationships.

Desirable

• Ability to promote psychological models with clients, carers and staff in an understandable and person-centred way, clearly outlining goals and potential outcomes

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential

• Demonstrates an understanding of the IAPT programme and how it links to trust, regional and national demands.

Desirable

• Formal training in psychological therapies. Introductory training in CBT.

Physical Requirements

Essential

• Sitting for prolonged periods
• Concentrate for prolonged periods
• Manage prolonged use of display screen equipment

Desirable

• Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Various bases across Cambridgeshire

CMC, Chesterton, CB4 1PX

Cambridgeshire

CB4 1PX

Employer's website

https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Various bases across Cambridgeshire

CMC, Chesterton, CB4 1PX

Cambridgeshire

CB4 1PX

Employer's website

https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)