Job summary
Are you interested in training to be a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist?
We have an exciting opportunity to join Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies as a Trainee High Intensity Therapist. We are a nationally recognised, high performing, diverse and innovative Talking Therapies service, offering excellent care.
Bucks Talking Therapies supports around 10,000 adults every year to manage their common mental health difficulties, such as anxiety and depression. You will be trained to deliver effective, evidence-based psychological therapies either in person or online via digital platforms either individually or in groups. Our service has over 250 staff including PWPs, High Intensity Therapists, referral coordinators, employment advisors, administrators and managers.
We run clinics from a variety of community venues across Buckinghamshire. Our main bases are located centrally in High Wycombe in the south and Aylesbury in the north of the county.
You need a core mental health profession, for example mental health nurse, social worker or occupational therapist. Applicants who do not have a core professional qualification as defined by the BABCP (such as qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners) are required to provide evidence of knowledge, skills and attitude (KSA) competences (details below).
Please be advised that interviews will be held face to face in High Wycombe on the w/c 20th October 2025.
Main duties of the job
You will be trained to deliver effective, evidence-based psychological therapies either in person or online via digital platforms either individually or in groups.
Staff wellbeing is a top priority for us. We have an active, award winning, wellbeing team within the service and work hard to ensure that a supportive, collaborative and productive culture is in place. HI therapists at BTT receive weekly clinical supervision (both individually and in groups); a monthly clinical skills forum meeting; opportunities for ongoing training in addition to regular Line Management. There is a wealth of opportunities for career development.
We're looking for people who are compassionate, work well in a team, have plenty of enthusiasm and motivation. You will need experience of working in a mental health setting and excellent written and verbal communication skills. If you think you have the qualities we're looking for, we look forward to hearing from you.
Click here to find out more aboutwhat it's like to work for Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies.
About us
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"
Benefits of working for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust include:
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
We offer you thorough training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based at the University of Reading (UoR), clinical experience through Bucks Talking Therapies, and a supportive supervisor team at both University and on placement, throughout your training. The training programme is scheduled to start in February 2026 and ideally people will start work with the service a few weeks earlier to complete induction and other duties. Applicants must be able and willing to travel to Reading regularly for their training year.
You will attend the UoR Post Graduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Treatments from February 2026. You will receive clinical supervision (CBT) from the UoR and Bucks Talking Therapies BABCP accredited clinicians, as well as managerial supervision in service.
Please note: for those applicants who already hold a psychological therapist qualification (e.g. clinical, counselling or health psychologists and are currently a Band 7 you may be eligible to be paid at Band 7 during training. For all other applicants, the post will be a Band 6 during training, moving to a Band 7 once the training course has been passed and competencies have been achieved.
Following completion of the course, moving to a qualified Band 7 post will be contingent on meeting a number of strict criteria related to the roles and performance of a HI therapist. These will be regularly assessed over the first 6 months post qualification and all these need to be fulfilled to meet the full requirements of a HI Therapist.
You will have an understanding and experience of CBT and wish to complete a BABCP accredited training in CBT. The training prepares you to meet BABCP accreditation requirements in order to work in Talking Therapies services. This is an excellent, but demanding course and candidates are expected to complete all its requirements within 12 months of starting the training.
The course you will be completing at the UoR as part of this role is a Level 2 accredited course with BABCP. This means that upon completion trainees will meet criteria to apply for provisional accreditation as a CBT therapist with the BABCP.
To apply, you must meet the criteria for CBT training and also have a BABCP-recognised professional background in mental health or related areas. This means having a recognised Core Profession.
If you do not have a Core Profession, you must complete a portfolio of evidence to show that you have equivalent training and experience. This is known as the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes portfolio (KSA). You can find out more on the KSA portfolio here.
If your application is successful and you are invited for an interview, you should have completed your KSA. You will be asked for a copy of you self-statement for KSA criterion 4 during the interview. Please see the BABCP website for guidance and exemplars.
Please also be aware that if you have completed an NHS England/Health Education England funded course such as PWP training you will not be eligible to take up this role unless two full years have elapsed between the date of completion of your previous course (this is usually the date shown on your graduation certificate) and the commencement of this CBT training which we expect will be Monday 23rd February 2026.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We offer you thorough training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) based at the University of Reading (UoR), clinical experience through Bucks Talking Therapies, and a supportive supervisor team at both University and on placement, throughout your training. The training programme is scheduled to start in February 2026 and ideally people will start work with the service a few weeks earlier to complete induction and other duties. Applicants must be able and willing to travel to Reading regularly for their training year.
You will attend the UoR Post Graduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Treatments from February 2026. You will receive clinical supervision (CBT) from the UoR and Bucks Talking Therapies BABCP accredited clinicians, as well as managerial supervision in service.
Please note: for those applicants who already hold a psychological therapist qualification (e.g. clinical, counselling or health psychologists and are currently a Band 7 you may be eligible to be paid at Band 7 during training. For all other applicants, the post will be a Band 6 during training, moving to a Band 7 once the training course has been passed and competencies have been achieved.
Following completion of the course, moving to a qualified Band 7 post will be contingent on meeting a number of strict criteria related to the roles and performance of a HI therapist. These will be regularly assessed over the first 6 months post qualification and all these need to be fulfilled to meet the full requirements of a HI Therapist.
You will have an understanding and experience of CBT and wish to complete a BABCP accredited training in CBT. The training prepares you to meet BABCP accreditation requirements in order to work in Talking Therapies services. This is an excellent, but demanding course and candidates are expected to complete all its requirements within 12 months of starting the training.
The course you will be completing at the UoR as part of this role is a Level 2 accredited course with BABCP. This means that upon completion trainees will meet criteria to apply for provisional accreditation as a CBT therapist with the BABCP.
To apply, you must meet the criteria for CBT training and also have a BABCP-recognised professional background in mental health or related areas. This means having a recognised Core Profession.
If you do not have a Core Profession, you must complete a portfolio of evidence to show that you have equivalent training and experience. This is known as the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes portfolio (KSA). You can find out more on the KSA portfolio here.
If your application is successful and you are invited for an interview, you should have completed your KSA. You will be asked for a copy of you self-statement for KSA criterion 4 during the interview. Please see the BABCP website for guidance and exemplars.
Please also be aware that if you have completed an NHS England/Health Education England funded course such as PWP training you will not be eligible to take up this role unless two full years have elapsed between the date of completion of your previous course (this is usually the date shown on your graduation certificate) and the commencement of this CBT training which we expect will be Monday 23rd February 2026.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Core health profession as defined by BABCP
- Experience of working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression
Desirable
- Relevant degree e.g. Psychology BSc MSc
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
- Demonstrable experience of delivering CBT based interventions under supervision
- Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers
Desirable
- Experience of working in Primary Care Services
- Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience of working in the UK health and/or care systems
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
- Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
- Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
- Excellent written communication skills (overall quality and readability of written application)
Desirable
- Fluent in languages other than English
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Core health profession as defined by BABCP
- Experience of working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression
Desirable
- Relevant degree e.g. Psychology BSc MSc
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
- Demonstrable experience of delivering CBT based interventions under supervision
- Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers
Desirable
- Experience of working in Primary Care Services
- Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
- Experience of working in the UK health and/or care systems
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
- Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
- Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
- Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
- Excellent written communication skills (overall quality and readability of written application)
Desirable
- Fluent in languages other than English
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
