Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

London wide NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) Programme for CBT High Intensity Therapists 

Psychological therapy services across London are now recruiting CBT High Intensity Trainees as part of the NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) programme. These services deliver evidence based psychological therapies for people with anxiety and depression. 

Are you an experienced mental health professional or social care worker with a recognised professional qualification working in a mental health setting? Have you considered training in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?

Applications are invited from qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychological Therapists, Mental Health Nurses, Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners to apply for the one-year full-time post graduate diploma course in CBT based at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Applicants without a core mental health profession (such as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners*or Counsellors without UKCP or BACP accreditation) must be able to meet the required KSA process criteria.

Main duties of the job

*Pleasenote that PWP’s need to have a minimum of 3 years full-time experience, two of which are as a qualified practitioner.

Those without a valid permit to work in the UK are not eligible to apply for this position.

The training programme consists of three days working with NHS Talking Therapies Barking & Dagenham service, of which a minimum of one day will be at base, and two days at university taught by experts in the field. Each training place involves being employed by a service for the length of the training contract. Contracts of employment will be at a Band 6 or equivalent and fixed-term for one year whilst training.* Royal Holloway/CNWL will provide the training. This higher education institution (HEIs) has been selected based on its ability to demonstrate the capacity, knowledge and expertise to deliver the curriculum that has been developed for this training course.

CVs will not be accepted.

*Please note, subject to funding availability, advancement to a permanent contract and Band 7 may be possible either in the service or another Talking Therapies service in the Trust, should training be completed successfully. 

For further information on the courses, please visit the website for Royal Holloway, University of London.

For more information about NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) see NHS England Mental Health web pages.

Working for our organisation

*NHS Talking Therapies Barking & Dagenham - Applicants will be required to work one evening per week.

Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focusing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff). 

High Cost Area Supplement - London

This post attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,551 and a maximum payment of £5,735 per annum pro rata).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for further details on the vacancy.

Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Person specification

Qualification

Essential criteria

Recognised relevant professional qualification RMN, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, clinical or counselling psychologist or low intensity IAPT qualification or equivalent (minimum 2 years post qualification) Evidence of professional development/further training.

Desirable criteria

Undergraduate/postgraduate degree in psychology or related field

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of working in adult mental health services.

Desirable criteria

Experience of working in a primary care mental health service

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Knowledge of current psychological interventions applied to people with mild-moderate psychological distress

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems

Skills

Essential criteria

Able to process impact of clients' material through appropriate means, including personal strategies and supervision

Desirable criteria

Specialist training or research in one or more therapeutic models/skills CBT, solution-focussed, stress management (D)

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.