NHS Trainee High Intensity Therapist - BNSSG

Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you passionate and committed to helping people? Are you interested in becoming a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist? If so, our fully funded Trainee High Intensity Therapist programme could be the role for you!

We are Vita Health Group we are one of the lead providers of NHS Talking Therapies services within the South West, North East, Midlands and South East. We are proud of the work we do to support our community through our partnership with the NHS and see the life-changing impact of our practice every single day.

We really do practice what we preach here at Vita, with a company-wide focus on staff wellbeing, a flexible and creative approach to work and a real culture of openness and support. We love to see our colleagues thrive and achieve their personal goals, so we place a real emphasis on quality supervision, rich continuous professional development (CPD) and encouraging our Cognitive Behavioural Therapists to embrace specialist training and leadership opportunities.

The Role:

We are looking for aspiring Cognitive Behavioural Therapists to join our NHS Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire Talking Therapies service as Trainee High Intensity Therapists (HITs) in the January 2026 cohort at the University of Exeter. The course is a full time, one year course. This is an Evidence Based High Intensity CBT Therapist post graduate course.

Whilst training, a typical working week includes 3 days of clinical practice with the service and 2 days attending university with some block weeks of university teaching each term. University days are likely to be a hybrid training approach with a combination of remote and face-to-face teaching. Full details of the course will be provided by the University following successful appointment. In order to fulfil the course requirements of delivering face to face treatment and to help you settle into our team, your clinical practice will be conducted from our offices in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire as well as some remote home working.

You will provide High Intensity CBT interventions recommended by NICE guidelines to clients with moderate to severe common mental health disorders and will receive weekly supervision provided by both the university and the workplace.

This is a training position starting in January 2026.

Preceptorship Period Post-Training

We think it is important that our trainees get continued time and space to learn their craft and have the time to be able to reflect on their cases and build their clinical confidence. After the training is complete, if you go on to become a CBT therapist with Vita, we will continue to support you to consolidate your learning. Following successful completion of the course, all of our practitioners have built in CPD per annum, additional regular CPD and supervision sessions, free access to the Bespoke CPD package where they can access upcoming and previous specialised CBT training from global leading academics and clinicians.

Getting to know You:

Applications are welcomed from Core Professionals (E.g., nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, health psychologists, educational psychologists) and other candidates who meet KSA criteria (including Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners).

Applicants without a BABCP recognised and accredited core mental health professional training (such as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners or Psychotherapists and Counsellors without UKCP or BACP accreditation) are eligible to apply but must be able to demonstrate at interview that they meet the KSA requirements set by the BABCP.

For more information about Core Professions:

https://www.babcp.com/Core-Professions

For more information about the KSA requirements:

https://www.babcp.com/Knowledge-Skills-Attitudes

University of Exeter

The University of Exeter offers world-class education and research with outstanding student satisfaction in one of the most beautiful locations in the UK. They are committed to working with their students to make the world greener, healthier, and fairer.

For further information, please see: High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy PGDip | Postgraduate Taught | University of Exeter, or follow the link below:

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/psychology/pgdipptpr_hicbt/

Other information:

• Shortlisted applicants must be available to attend interviews held week beginning 1st September.
• Applicants must be available to commence the role at the beginning of January 2026, University Induction days on 1st and 2nd December 2025 and to attend the first day of training with the University of Exeter on the 5th January 2026.
• Candidates who are applying through a KSA route must have a fully completed KSA portfolio to submit at interview. Offers for candidates selected at interview will be dependent on successful assessment of the KSA portfolio. If you would like further information on how to complete your KSA portfolio please contact us at recruitment@vhg.co.uk
• Supporting Statement: Please provide a brief statement in support of your application and include reference to the NHS Values in accordance with the NHS Constitution.
• Applicants who have completed an NHS or HEE funded psychological professions training programme within the last two years are not eligible to apply.
• Only those with the right to work in the UK without restriction and eligible for Home Fee status can be recruited. These rules are set by the UK government and cannot be changed by individual universities or the NHS.
• If your employment terminates up to 24 months after receiving the qualification you will be liable to repay some or all of the fees (the costs) associated with your training course.

Vita Health Group celebrates life. Improving lives physically and mentally drives everything we do. Now part of Spire Healthcare Group plc we have been providing physical and mental health services for over 30 years. We work in partnership with the NHS, are engaged by insurers and some of the UKs largest corporate companies to support their workforce and provide a full range of physiotherapy services to private customers.

To achieve our mission of Making People Better, we recognise the importance of investing in our staff. We are an award-winning employer recently recognised nationally as Best Company to Work for at the Health and Wellbeing Awards 2024.

This is also recognised by current employees our most recent Employee Survey results showed the top 5 reasons to work here as being:

• Supportive team and management
• Positive work environment
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Trust and respect
• Autonomy and flexibility

We are keen to progress your skills and enable career development and provide regular Continued Professional Development opportunities including secondments, management training, a mentoring scheme, apprenticeships and regular events and webinars across a range of clinical disciplines. In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer the opportunity of a flexible work life balance and a comprehensive benefits package which you can view here: https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/join-us/careers

Vita Health Group is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and is seeking to improve the diversity of its workforce. We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion best practice and positively encourage applications from candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion/belief, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity. For further information on our EDI commitments please view here: Vita Health Groups commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to being equitable and supporting the wellbeing of all employees.

• We are a Mindful Employer
• Our status as a Disability Confident Leader dedicated to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. All disabled candidates that meet the minimum essential criteria will be considered for interview.
• Our Ethnicity Matters Scheme where all applicants for senior roles (£40,000+) from a minority ethnic group that meet the essential criteria will be considered for interview.
• Our Gender Matters Scheme where all women applicants for senior roles (£60,000+) that meet the essential criteria will be considered for interview.
• Our sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Our status as a Menopause Friendly Committed employer.
• Our sign up to the Employer with Heart Charter.
• Our commitment to meet the standards outlined in the NHS Equality Delivery System (EDS). Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES).
• Access to health and wellbeing services for colleagues including Mental Health Advocates and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• An embedded speaking up culture facilitated by Freedom to Speak Up Guardians.
• Treating transgender individuals with dignity and recognising the potential complications that may arise when taking references. We encourage applicants to contact HR at hr@vhg.co.uk to discuss or amend how we manage reference requests.

Should you wish to discuss any adjustment or assistance you need in the application or interview process please contact recruitment@vhg.co.uk and we will facilitate.

Please note, all applicants must be legally entitled to accept and perform work in the UK and all positions are subject to a DBS check.

Any data which you share with us throughout the hiring process will be stored securely within the UK and is accessible only by staff who require it. Should your application be unsuccessful, your data will be securely destroyed after 6 months.

Vita Health Group reserves the right to close this job when sufficient applications have been received.

Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

• Please refer to job description above

Desirable

• Please refer to job description above

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Vita Health Group

Address

Bristol

BS1 1EH

Employer's website

https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)