Job summary
We are looking to recruit 3 High Intensity Trainees (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Trainees) for Sutton, Merton & Wandsworth Talking Therapies services
South West London & St. George's NHS Trust has been allocated 3 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training places with Royal Holloway to start the 12-month CBT training in March 2024. We are looking for individuals with high levels of clinical skill and enthusiasm to join our committed and friendly services and make a difference to the lives of people struggling with depression or an anxiety disorder.
Potential candidates will be expected to hold a registered qualification in one of the following:
- Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner*
- Counselling or Clinical Psychologist
- Counsellors
- Mental Health Nursing
- Social Work
- Occupational Therapy
*Please note that PWPs cannot be recruited as High IAPT Trainees until two years post qualification. These two years of practice commence at the date of confirmation of the full PWP qualification, by the University, not at the end of the teaching timetable. This standard is monitored nationally by both the teaching institution and by BABCP.
Alternatively, candidates may be able to provide evidence that they have practiced within the field of mental health. Such candidates will be expected to produce a full and completed KSA portfolio at interview (documents can be found on the BABCP website).
Main duties of the job
The successful candidates will join one of the above Talking Therapies services as a band 6, while undertaking an intensive one-year post graduate diploma in IAPT High Intensity CBT with Royal Holloway, University of London. Following successful completion of the course the candidate will be offered a permanent band 7 position as a High Intensity Therapist in one of our SWLSTG Talking Therapies services.
Successful applicants will need to be in a position to begin their training in March 2024. You must be able to attend University, as required, which will include block teaching over several days at the start of the course. Subsequent teaching will be two days per week, in conjunction with a minimum period of high intensity CBT clinical practice on three days a week in one of the two Talking Therapies services.
Sutton, Merton & Wandsworth are diverse boroughs, and we would particularly welcome applications from clinicians who are able to deliver interventions in Polish, Urdu and Tamil.
About us
Sutton Uplift is the South West London & St. George's Mental Health NHS (SWLSTG) Trust's innovative primary care mental health service for the residents of Sutton. Sutton Uplift incorporates a Talking Therapies service, Wellbeing Service, Employment Specialists, a Primary Care Recovery Team (PCRT) and an Assessment Team (SAT).
Merton Uplift is the South West London & St. George's Mental Health NHS (SWLSTG) Trust's innovative primary care mental health service for the residents of Merton. Merton Uplift incorporates a Talking Therapies service, Wellbeing Service, Employment Specialists and a Primary Care Recovery Service (PCRS).
Talk Wandsworth is the South West London & St. George's Mental Health NHS (SWLSTG) Trust's innovative primary care mental health service for the residents of Wandsworth.
All services are professionally managed by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and operationally managed by a Service Manager.
The high performing Talking Therapies teams provide evidence-based psychological treatments (CBT, IPT, DIT, BCT, EMDR) to people with common mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD and eating disorders within a stepped-care model. The clinical team includes qualified High Intensity CBT Therapists, Clinical and Counselling Psychologists and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be providing Step 3 diagnostic assessments and evidence-based CBT treatment on an individual and group basis to clients aged 18 and over presenting with depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD and eating disorders. Once qualified, you will also be involved in the clinical supervision of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Low Intensity Trainees and High Intensity Trainees, for which training will be provided. There will be opportunities to develop areas of interest such as working with long term health conditions, working with clients with learning disabilities, working with perinatal clients, by contributing to project groups or taking a Champion role. The four Talking Therapies services in SWLSTG Trust work closely together to develop care pathways and share expertise.
High quality supervision and CPD are a priority for the team. You will receive regular weekly individual clinical supervision from one of our band 8a or 8b Clinical/Counselling Psychologists or CBT Therapists working within the service. Upon qualification, you will also have the opportunity to attend a monthly clinical training session facilitated by lead clinicians from across the SWLSTG Trust and to attend CBT training workshops led by highly respected clinicians in their field, for example, we have previously welcomed Andrew Beck, Anke Ehlers and Martina Mueller. You will be supported to undertake and obtain accreditation in further treatment approaches, e.g. EMDR, IPT, BCT, and the majority of IAPT clinicians in the Trust have received funding to train in a number of further modalities of interest to them. Additional specialist supervision will be available for these approaches both during training and once it has been completed. We have also recently started developing secondment opportunities for clinicians interested in working in other teams in the Trust which has been positively received.
You will work clinically within primary care settings and be required to work flexible hours in line with the improving access agenda. The service operates from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and you will be required to work at least one evening per week. Your working pattern can be negotiated and many of our clinicians prefer to work condensed hours to allow for a better work/life balance. In light of the Covid pandemic, the service is currently offering the opportunity to work remotely, with an expectation that everyone is in the office for two days per week to meet the demand for face to face appointments. It is likely that agile working will continue to be part of the job role moving forward.
In addition to flexible working, we have recently introduced a number of wellbeing initiatives to support our teams. Staff are supported through monthly line management supervision and our newly established active staff wellness groups organise weekly staff wellbeing events including reflective groups and yoga classes.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be providing Step 3 diagnostic assessments and evidence-based CBT treatment on an individual and group basis to clients aged 18 and over presenting with depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD and eating disorders. Once qualified, you will also be involved in the clinical supervision of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Low Intensity Trainees and High Intensity Trainees, for which training will be provided. There will be opportunities to develop areas of interest such as working with long term health conditions, working with clients with learning disabilities, working with perinatal clients, by contributing to project groups or taking a Champion role. The four Talking Therapies services in SWLSTG Trust work closely together to develop care pathways and share expertise.
High quality supervision and CPD are a priority for the team. You will receive regular weekly individual clinical supervision from one of our band 8a or 8b Clinical/Counselling Psychologists or CBT Therapists working within the service. Upon qualification, you will also have the opportunity to attend a monthly clinical training session facilitated by lead clinicians from across the SWLSTG Trust and to attend CBT training workshops led by highly respected clinicians in their field, for example, we have previously welcomed Andrew Beck, Anke Ehlers and Martina Mueller. You will be supported to undertake and obtain accreditation in further treatment approaches, e.g. EMDR, IPT, BCT, and the majority of IAPT clinicians in the Trust have received funding to train in a number of further modalities of interest to them. Additional specialist supervision will be available for these approaches both during training and once it has been completed. We have also recently started developing secondment opportunities for clinicians interested in working in other teams in the Trust which has been positively received.
You will work clinically within primary care settings and be required to work flexible hours in line with the improving access agenda. The service operates from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and you will be required to work at least one evening per week. Your working pattern can be negotiated and many of our clinicians prefer to work condensed hours to allow for a better work/life balance. In light of the Covid pandemic, the service is currently offering the opportunity to work remotely, with an expectation that everyone is in the office for two days per week to meet the demand for face to face appointments. It is likely that agile working will continue to be part of the job role moving forward.
In addition to flexible working, we have recently introduced a number of wellbeing initiatives to support our teams. Staff are supported through monthly line management supervision and our newly established active staff wellness groups organise weekly staff wellbeing events including reflective groups and yoga classes.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy. OR Evidence using the career framework of training in mental health and experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
- 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
Skills
Essential
- Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
- Computer literate
- Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
- 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
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy. OR Evidence using the career framework of training in mental health and experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
- 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
Skills
Essential
- Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
- Computer literate
- Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
- 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
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.
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.
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).
