South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Trainee High Intensity Therapist

The closing date is 18 December 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists for practitioners to join Kingston Talking Therapies in the role of trainee HIGH INTENSITY COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPIST (CBT). The post holders will work alongside a large team that includes cognitive behavioural therapists, Clinical Psychologists, Psychotherapists and PWPs. Working within a stepped care model, our team provides a range of NICE approved high intensity interventions for depression and anxiety disorders. This is a demanding but well supported position.

Main duties of the job

Therapists will usually have an approved basic professional qualification in an appropriate profession (e.g. psychology, psychiatry, nursing). They will usually be registered with a professional, regulatory body and will have experience working in this field. Applicants who do not have a BABCP recognised core profession must enter via the KSA route following their guidelines and complete a portfolio of evidence prior to interview (see BABCP website). Therapists will have experience in clinical assessment, risk management and working in a therapeutic role. If you are currently a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, we would welcome your application if you have 2 years post qualification experience.

Please be aware that if you are less than 2 years post qualification, we cannot offer you an interview.

About us

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Details

Date posted

11 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,485 to £52,521 a year per annum inclusive of outer London HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

294-COMM-7669564-JB

Job locations

Hollyfield House

22 Hollyfield Road

Surbiton

KT5 9AL


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To deliver attended clinical contacts per week as per job plan.

2. To provide specialist psychological therapy assessments to clients referred to the NHS Talking Therapies service based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources. This will include client self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi- structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.

3. To provide at least one NICE recommended psychological therapy for anxiety disorders and/or depression.

4. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy.

5. To be knowledgeable about DSM-V diagnosis of common mental health problems (as relevant to NHS Talking Therapies) and skilled in the differential diagnosis of clinical disorders.

6. To be able to clinically formulate clients problems and develop and implement plans for the formal Step 3 treatment and/or management of a clients problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy.

7. A good understanding and ability to apply CBT treatment strategies (or other Talking Therapies evidence-based approach to appropriate presentations) flexibly across the whole range of disorders seen in NHS Talking Therapies, particularly common mood disorders, including group interventions.

8. To be responsible for implementing psychological interventions for individuals, couples, carers, and groups, adjusting and refining psychological formulations and drawing upon relevant explanatory models.

9. To be able to use a specific psychological therapy for anxiety and/or depression, in line with NICE guidance, at a specialist level in assessments and interventions, including 1:1 and group interventions.

10. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, couple or group.

11. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.

12. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals in order to support accurate diagnosis, formulation and treatment plan.

13. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients in line with the services risk management policy, and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

14. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of treatment.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To deliver attended clinical contacts per week as per job plan.

2. To provide specialist psychological therapy assessments to clients referred to the NHS Talking Therapies service based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources. This will include client self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi- structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.

3. To provide at least one NICE recommended psychological therapy for anxiety disorders and/or depression.

4. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy.

5. To be knowledgeable about DSM-V diagnosis of common mental health problems (as relevant to NHS Talking Therapies) and skilled in the differential diagnosis of clinical disorders.

6. To be able to clinically formulate clients problems and develop and implement plans for the formal Step 3 treatment and/or management of a clients problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy.

7. A good understanding and ability to apply CBT treatment strategies (or other Talking Therapies evidence-based approach to appropriate presentations) flexibly across the whole range of disorders seen in NHS Talking Therapies, particularly common mood disorders, including group interventions.

8. To be responsible for implementing psychological interventions for individuals, couples, carers, and groups, adjusting and refining psychological formulations and drawing upon relevant explanatory models.

9. To be able to use a specific psychological therapy for anxiety and/or depression, in line with NICE guidance, at a specialist level in assessments and interventions, including 1:1 and group interventions.

10. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, couple or group.

11. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.

12. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals in order to support accurate diagnosis, formulation and treatment plan.

13. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients in line with the services risk management policy, and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

14. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during the course of treatment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised/accredited postgraduate level training in a psychological therapy as specified in one of the Appendices, specific to job title
  • Professionally registered / accredited as specified in the same Appendix, specific to job title

Desirable

  • Additional pre- and/or post-qualification training as specified in the same Appendix, specific to job title

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients within an NHS Talking Therapies service
  • Experience of working with a variety of client groups and presenting problems that reflect a range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

Desirable

  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
  • Experience of specialist psychological therapy assessment and treatment of clients across a range of care settings relevant to an NHS Talking Therapies service, including outpatient, community, and primary care settings

Skills

Essential

  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non -professional groups
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
  • Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, and where relevant their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.

Knowledge

Essential

  • High -level knowledge of the theory and practice of one or more NHS TALKING THERAPIES-recognised psychological therapies.
  • Knowledge of effective care pathway navigation across primary and secondary care psychological therapies services
  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of adapting specific NHS Talking Therapies-recognised psychological therapies for anxiety and/or depression in the context of co-morbidity and complexity (e.g. personality disorder, additional disabilities etc).
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised/accredited postgraduate level training in a psychological therapy as specified in one of the Appendices, specific to job title
  • Professionally registered / accredited as specified in the same Appendix, specific to job title

Desirable

  • Additional pre- and/or post-qualification training as specified in the same Appendix, specific to job title

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients within an NHS Talking Therapies service
  • Experience of working with a variety of client groups and presenting problems that reflect a range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

Desirable

  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
  • Experience of specialist psychological therapy assessment and treatment of clients across a range of care settings relevant to an NHS Talking Therapies service, including outpatient, community, and primary care settings

Skills

Essential

  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non -professional groups
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
  • Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, and where relevant their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.

Knowledge

Essential

  • High -level knowledge of the theory and practice of one or more NHS TALKING THERAPIES-recognised psychological therapies.
  • Knowledge of effective care pathway navigation across primary and secondary care psychological therapies services
  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of adapting specific NHS Talking Therapies-recognised psychological therapies for anxiety and/or depression in the context of co-morbidity and complexity (e.g. personality disorder, additional disabilities etc).

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

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Hollyfield House

22 Hollyfield Road

Surbiton

KT5 9AL


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Hollyfield House

22 Hollyfield Road

Surbiton

KT5 9AL


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Co-ordinator / LTC Lead

Susan Webb

Susan.Webb@swlstg.nhs.uk

02035134440

Details

Date posted

11 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,485 to £52,521 a year per annum inclusive of outer London HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

294-COMM-7669564-JB

Job locations

Hollyfield House

22 Hollyfield Road

Surbiton

KT5 9AL


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)