Job summary
Interviews will take place between 18th and 20th August. Induction days are in December 2025 and term starts in January 2026
We wish to recruit Trainee High Intensity Therapists join the award winning Talking Therapies programme across Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire services (BSW). We are proud to be winners of the AWP Team of the Year award in 2024 for the achievements and positive development of the services.
This is an exciting opportunity to commence a training role within the NHS Talking Therapies service (previously IAPT). The post-holder will be providing high intensity (HI) interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training. This intensive training post will equip the post holder to provide a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) service to clients with a range of complex problems for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective. The post holder will work in the service using their newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme.
You will be paid at Band 6 during the training year and, upon successful completion of the training and evidence of qualification from the university and evidence of accreditation with the BABCP, you will be appointed as a Band 7 Qualified High Intensity Therapist.
This post will include a mix of working from home and office base. BSW offers some evening appointments, please be aware that you may be asked to work 1 evening a week, up to 8pm, depending on location and service need.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will work within the service to provide high intensity CBT interventions to patients at Step 3 of the Talking Therapies service. HI therapists deliver a variety of CBT interventions, including face to face, video and telephone based work as well as group workshops when qualified. The post-holder will attend the High Intensity CBT training programme and supervision at University of Exeter alongside working within the Talking Therapies service. Please be aware there is an expectation to attend in person teaching days at the University of Exeter.
B&NES Talking Therapies / Wiltshire Talking Therapies / Swindon Talking Therapies are patient focused and pro-active community based services with strong links with both GPs and our colleagues in secondary care mental health. We have a strong commitment to delivering high quality community oriented services, and to working in partnership with service users, carers, health and social care agencies and voluntary agencies.
We are a dynamic, supportive and creative service, providing a high level of training and supervision to all clinical practitioners at all levels.
You will be enthusiastic, hardworking and have the capability to meet specified targets.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached Criteria for Admission to NHS Talking Therapies PGDip High Intensity CBT Programme. NB The University is unable to accept anyone on the course who does not meet the essential criteria.
For full time (1.0 WTE) trainees undertaking training in 1 year, this should equate to 3 days weekly in order for the trainee to gradually build up to a caseload. For part time (0.7 0.9wte) trainees undertaking training within 2 years, this should equate to 1.5- 2.5 days weekly in order for the trainee to gradually build up to a caseload of around 5-8 clients (depending on their WTE). For trainees there should be pro-rata reductions in weekly clinical contact expectations, in line with the NHS Talking Therapies Manual, recognising that trainees cannot deliver the workload of qualified staff.
Successful candidates should not be undertaking any other role in service or other training whilst undertaking the course, whether they are taking the full time or part time option. Please consult national guidance for information concerning the contracts required for this workforce. Additionally, please be aware that the NHSE (HEE) 2 year funding rule for psychological professions applies to this position.
Any candidates without a BABCP recognised core profession, will need to submit their completed KSA portfolio at interview. KSA candidates successful at interview will be offered a High Intensity training post subject to KSA evidence being assessed by the KSA assessor and deemed suitable.
Please see this video tutorial for KSA applicants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvZU4lPl6M8 and guidance on the BABCP website. You will need to upload your documents to Microsoft OneDrive and share the file with: HI-KSA@exeter.ac.uk - If you would like additional information about this process, please contact Claire Morris on 01225 675150 or Email c.morris25@nhs.net.
Please provide a supporting statement on your application form with reference to the NHS Values in accordance with The NHS Constitution. When completing this section, please directly address the Expert by Experience (service user). For your information, there may be an Expert by Experience representative on the interview panel or involved in the shortlisting process.
All successful candidates will be expected to apply for BABCP membership by the start of the training course.
The successful candidates will be required to attend the HI Training Programme Induction Days on: 1st and 2nd December 2025.
Please see attached Job Description in 'documents' section for full details of the role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached Criteria for Admission to NHS Talking Therapies PGDip High Intensity CBT Programme. NB The University is unable to accept anyone on the course who does not meet the essential criteria.
For full time (1.0 WTE) trainees undertaking training in 1 year, this should equate to 3 days weekly in order for the trainee to gradually build up to a caseload. For part time (0.7 0.9wte) trainees undertaking training within 2 years, this should equate to 1.5- 2.5 days weekly in order for the trainee to gradually build up to a caseload of around 5-8 clients (depending on their WTE). For trainees there should be pro-rata reductions in weekly clinical contact expectations, in line with the NHS Talking Therapies Manual, recognising that trainees cannot deliver the workload of qualified staff.
Successful candidates should not be undertaking any other role in service or other training whilst undertaking the course, whether they are taking the full time or part time option. Please consult national guidance for information concerning the contracts required for this workforce. Additionally, please be aware that the NHSE (HEE) 2 year funding rule for psychological professions applies to this position.
Any candidates without a BABCP recognised core profession, will need to submit their completed KSA portfolio at interview. KSA candidates successful at interview will be offered a High Intensity training post subject to KSA evidence being assessed by the KSA assessor and deemed suitable.
Please see this video tutorial for KSA applicants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvZU4lPl6M8 and guidance on the BABCP website. You will need to upload your documents to Microsoft OneDrive and share the file with: HI-KSA@exeter.ac.uk - If you would like additional information about this process, please contact Claire Morris on 01225 675150 or Email c.morris25@nhs.net.
Please provide a supporting statement on your application form with reference to the NHS Values in accordance with The NHS Constitution. When completing this section, please directly address the Expert by Experience (service user). For your information, there may be an Expert by Experience representative on the interview panel or involved in the shortlisting process.
All successful candidates will be expected to apply for BABCP membership by the start of the training course.
The successful candidates will be required to attend the HI Training Programme Induction Days on: 1st and 2nd December 2025.
Please see attached Job Description in 'documents' section for full details of the role.
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
Desirable
- Car driver with ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation
- Qualified in a mental health profession (eg social work, OT, MH nurse or counselling pschologist, psychiatrist and have at least 2 years post qualification experience: core professions (babcp.com)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in mental health services
Desirable
- Experience using CBT techniques in practice
Skills
Essential
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
- Computer literate
- Able to work under pressure
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
other
Essential
- High level of enthusiasm and motivation
- Able to attend a two day per week course with some block weeks of teaching each term
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
Desirable
- Car driver with ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation
- Qualified in a mental health profession (eg social work, OT, MH nurse or counselling pschologist, psychiatrist and have at least 2 years post qualification experience: core professions (babcp.com)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in mental health services
Desirable
- Experience using CBT techniques in practice
Skills
Essential
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
- Computer literate
- Able to work under pressure
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
other
Essential
- High level of enthusiasm and motivation
- Able to attend a two day per week course with some block weeks of teaching each term
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).
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