Job summary
- Main area
- Talking Therapies Health Education England
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 371-MHS1178
- Employer
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Talking Therapies Health Education England
- Town
- Bracknell
- Salary
- £41,957 - £50,387 per annum (incl of HCAS)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 18/10/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 06/11/2026
Employer heading
Trainee High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) Therapist
Band 6
Job overview
We are excited to offer one trainee opportunity within NHS Talking Therapies.
As a trainee, you will work within the NHS Berkshire Talking Therapies service providing high intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role. This intensive training post will equip you 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 course will start on 23rd February 2027. You will work in the service for three days of the week using your newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme for the other two days. For the first few weeks of the training programme you will be attending university up to 5 days a week.
This cohort will be attending University of Reading in person for their training days and will be required to work from their work base up to 3 days a week.
Main duties of the job
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Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post.
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Apply learning from the training programme in practice.
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Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.
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Assess clients for suitability for CBT. Where the problems appear to be too complex or severe to be appropriate for a trainee therapist, they will refer to manager/supervisor for advice on how to manage the case.
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Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
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Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
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Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g. British Psychological Society, UK Council for Psychotherapy, British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g. NHS plan, National Service Framework, National Institute for Clinical Excellence).
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Apply for BABCP accreditation within 4 weeks of results being ratified by the university.
Working for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for you to be considered for this role:
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Relevant Honours Degree (e.g. psychology, mental health, etc.) graded at 2.2 or above
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Core profession as defined by the BABCP. Please see Core Professions List – BABCP for a list of core professions and parts of KSA for identified professions. Please see: Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (babcp.com)
or Two years post-qualification experience as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (from date on certificate) (E)
AND ability to be able to complete the relevant sections of KSA (Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes) portfolio prior to entry onto the programme Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (babcp.com)
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.
In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Rachael Hedges on 0300 365 2000 or email:[email protected] who’ll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
- Relevant Honours degree (or equivalent credits at level 6) ideally in a mental health/ psychology/ healthcare subject graded at 2:2 or above OR
- If candidate has a core profession (see below) but does not have an Honours degree (or equivalent credits at level 6) or has an award of below 2.2, they will be asked to provide evidence of successful study at Level 6 or equivalent prior to acceptance on the training programme and be required to pass a pre-entry essay, marked at master’s level prior to acceptance on the training programme
- Graduate qualification and professional registration/accreditation in a core profession as defined by British Association or Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), (e.g. Practitioner Psychologist registered with HCPC, Registered Mental Health Nurse with NMC, Occupational Therapist registered with HCPC, or Social Worker registered with HCPC). Please see the Core Professions List – BABCP website for more detail of the core professions list and required professional registration/accreditation OR
- A completed BABCP Knowledge Skills and Attitude (KSA) portfolio (or proven ability to complete the full Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes – BABCP portfolio prior to the start of the CBT training programme)
- You can also apply for a traineeship if you are a Psychological wellbeing practitioner | Health Careers (PWP) who has passed the PWP course requirements for CBT and have two years’ continuous employment.
- As stipulated by the two-year Psychological Professions Funding Rule policy, if you have completed any psychological professional NHS-funded training, you must have been awarded the qualification two years or more before the start date of the professional training programme associated with this role
Continuous Professional Development
Essential criteria
- Ability to meet the academic, clinical and personal requirements of the accredited training course throughout the duration of the post.
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of specific training, experience and knowledge in psychological models and therapeutic approaches relevant to post
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
- Able to work in a variety of settings which may include unpleasant working conditions such as verbal aggression or high levels of distress
- Able to work across the service’s operating hours and, where required, support extended service provision.
- Able to work flexibly around standard working patterns as required.
- Able to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position, with minimal impact on daily productivity
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rachael Hedges
- Job title
- CBT and Training Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 365 2000
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