Trainee High Intensity CBT Therapist
- NHS
- Full Time
- Sunderland + Work from Home
- 39959 a year
Job Description
Job summary
Employer: Sunderland Counselling Service
Department: Sunderland Talking Therapies
Location: Monkwearmouth Hospital, Sunderland, SR5 1NB
Salary: £39,959 (Comparable to Agenda for Change Band 6)
Contract Type: Permanent (subject to 12-month probation)
Working Pattern: Full-time
Closing Date: 28/06/2026
Interview Date: 09/07/2026 & 10/07/2026
NHS Sunderland Talking Therapies Service for anxiety and depression (STT), is provided in partnership between Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) and Sunderland Counselling Service (SCS) and aims to develop and enhance the high intensity service provision across Sunderland.
Sunderland Counselling Service is seeking to recruit four enthusiastic and competent mental health practitioners into training posts within the NHS Talking Therapies Service in Sunderland. The post holder will work to provide High Intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role provided by Newcastle University. Training will focus on the delivery of evidence based psychological therapy on a one year full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Intervention (CBT) starting in October 2026.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking post holders with at least two years full time experience working in mental health who possess great interpersonal skills and the desire to develop while becoming a therapist.
The successful postholders will undertake training with Newcastle University from October 2026 two days per week whilst also working within Sunderland Talking Therapies for the remaining three days.
Please see the link below for further information on the course:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy PGDip | Postgraduate | Newcastle University
Further information regarding Sunderland Talking Therapies can also be found at:
Sunderland Talking Therapies For anxiety and depression
Applications will be accepted until 28th June but we reserve the right to close the application process early if we receive a high volume of submissions. Interviews will take place on the 9th and 10th July and we ask applicants to be mindful that alternative interview dates can unfortunately not be offered.
These roles are funded by Health Education England for home fees and not suitable for international fees. The University requires you either need to have a UK passport, or have settled status in the UK. Only applicants that have the right to work in the UK without time limits and working restrictions and are eligible for Home Fees status, are able to access the training needed for this role.
About us
We appreciate potential postholders may use Artificial Intelligence to support their application, but we are keen to hear peoples individual skills, knowledge and competencies. All applicants will therefore be required to confirm the content of their application is their own work and has not been generated by artificial intelligence tools beyond basic editing or proofreading.
Sunderland Counselling Service and Sunderland Talking Therapies are proud to offer high quality Continuing Professional Development, weekly 1-2-1 supervision, group supervision and reflective practice. The successful postholder will be part of a supportive team of highly experienced practitioners and leaders, who are passionate about making a difference to people's lives.
In addition, this exciting opportunity includes an NHS funded Postgraduate Diploma course which will give you the skills to assess and deliver NICE recommended CBT interventions in community settings, for people suffering with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
As an employee of SCS, successful candidates will receive a salary comparable to a band 6 AfC salary (£39,959) and will be entitled to our employee benefits including 30 days annual leave plus a pro-rata bank holiday entitlement, generous maternity / paternity and adoption leave, pension scheme and have access to our free 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Bike2Work Scheme and critical illness cover.
Job responsibilities
This is a training post within NHS Talking Therapies, and the post holder will work providing High Intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training for this role provided by Newcastle University
This intensive training post will equip the post holder to provide cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to clients with a range of complex problems for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective. The post holder will work into the service for approximately three days a week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme for the other days
The post holder will be employed on Sunderland Counselling Service terms and conditions and offered an NHS comparable agenda for change Band Six salary. They will be based within a multi-disciplinary team within Sunderland Talking Therapies (STT) Service and be expected to effectively comply with the CNTWs Clinical and Information Governance requirements
The post holder will work with people with diverse cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.
The post-holder will be provided with regular line management, clinical and case management supervision by staff based within STT along with SCS.
This will be a permanent position subject to a successful probationary period.
The post holder may be called upon to use a personal means of transport while engaged in the work of the service for which travel expenses will be available.
The post holder will be entitled to 30 days annual leave at normal salary rate or pro rata for part of a year alongside entitlement to all statutory public holidays.
An enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required for this post.
COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIPS
Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information e.g. personal, familial, or attachment issues. This would include the ability to foster engagement and overcome barriers where there may be a highly emotive, hostile or antagonistic atmosphere
Ability to communicate highly complex condition related information to service users/clients, families and carers or with other agencies
Ability to liaise with and provide consultation to professionals working in universal, targeted or specialist services
Ability to develop and foster good working relationships and effective communication with:
Members of the STT team including:
Community Clinical Manager and Team Managers
Clinical Leads
Talking Therapies Practitioners
Clinical Data Manager
Admin Team
Members of SCS team including
Head of Services
Services Manager
Clinical Lead
Individuals who use the service
Training providers
Other professional teams within the Trust
General Practitioners and Practice Staff
Other agencies involved in client care e.g. voluntary agencies.
GP Leads
Trainees / students/volunteers on placement
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
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 e.g. Accredited counsellor (see BABCP for approved core professions)
OR
Evidence using the career framework of training in mental health and experience working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression (see BABCP guidelines for knowledge, Skills and Attitudes route)
An understanding of NICE guidance relevant to depression and anxiety disorders and how these may present in primary care
An awareness of the competencies and meta competencies required to deliver CBT
Demonstrates an understanding of CBT and how this may be used in clinical practice
An understanding of and ability to effectively use clinical measures within therapy
Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures and the impact locally, including completion of safeguarding training
Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding employment and the impact it can have on mental health
Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
Demonstrates a clear of understanding of risk and risk formulation
ANALYTICAL AND JUDGEMENTAL SKILLS
Ability to provide a detailed assessment based upon the appropriate use, understanding and combination of clinical information available, including self-reporting information, self-rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations as well as interviews with patients, their family members and ...
