High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

Job summary

Are you passionate about delivering CBT and looking for a new opportunity?

NHS Somerset Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression (previously IAPT) are looking for a HICBT Therapist for this hybrid role based in our Taunton team to provide Cognitive Behavioural Therapy both face to face in person and via video consultation.

WE ARE a busy Talking Therapies service in one of England's most desirable counties. Alongside CBT, we offer other time-limited Step 3 interventions (IPT, DIT, PCE, EMDR, MBCT) as well as Step 2 treatments, including guided self-help, groups, webinars and a digital self-help portal.

WE PROVIDE effective and timely evidence-based therapies following the Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression model. We value patient outcomes and have a high recovery rate consistently above the national target. Our innovative assessment and treatment model means there is no wait for step 2 interventions and effective process for accessing step 3 interventions.

BLENDED WORKING We currently provide CBT both remotely via video consultation and in person at venues across Somerset, therapists have a mixture of remote and venue-based working within the team locality. Successful applicants would be expected to be flexible to adapt to patient and service need. We operate from and around four bases (Bridgwater, Chard, Taunton & Wells). We do not currently have any fully remote contracts available.

Main duties of the job

THE ROLE to provide high intensity CBT interventions, working with clients who suffer from a range of anxiety disorders, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for which CBT is evidenced to be clinically effective. Experienced therapists also be trained to provide duty cover to support other members of the team with clinical queries.

Therapists with appropriate training and experience provide clinical supervision. We provide individual clinical supervision exceeding BABCP requirements in addition to group supervision. As recommended by BABCP newly qualified therapists receive a higher frequency and duration of supervision. Clinical supervisors routinely receive supervision of supervision.

WE VALUE Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and support our therapists to undertake relevant training based on their individual development needs and requirements of the service. These include NHS Talking Therapies training in Clinical Supervision, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MCBT), Long Term Conditions and Medically Unexplained Symptoms (LTC-MUS) and 'top up' trauma focused Cognitive Therapy for PTSD.

The wellbeing of our staff is paramount to the service. We support this through wellbeing champions in each of the teams; offering a menu of wellbeing activities to choose from including thinking pit stops and mindfulness sessions; regular team building away days; managerial supervision and a dedicated trust colleague wellbeing and support service.

About us

As an organisation, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits including flexible working, NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance and a commitment to career will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a wide range of NHS exclusive shopping & leisure are proud of our skilled, diverse workforce and as an inclusive employer we welcome applications from all backgrounds.Working in Somerset enables you to enjoy the idyllic countryside, areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable.Somerset offers the countryside and the cosmopolitan -- there is truly something for everyone

Job description

Job responsibilities

Must be car driver or access to transport to travel to locations throughout the organisation with appropriate business insurance.

WE WELCOME applications from those who represent the diversity of our client group. As a trust we have a thriving Diversity Network and as service we are working hard to ensure we follow the Talking Therapies Positive Practice Guides. We welcome applicants with all forms of diversity including those with lived experience of using mental health services.

WE WELCOME applicants from people with various levels of experience:

Due to be qualifying shortly and fully committed to achieving BABCP accreditation as soon as possible*

Have recently qualified, applied for or fully committed to achieving BABCP accreditation as soon as possible*

Are an experienced CBT therapist accredited by BABCP

Applicants who don't currently hold BABCP accreditation - Please clearly evidence in the supporting information section how you meet BABCP accreditation standards. You will be required to bring this evidence to your interview, and if successful, to apply for accreditation on commencement of the post.

We encourage you to ensure your application clearly demonstrates how you meet the criteria set out in the person specification

They will provide High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy within the service. The post holder will take a key role in working alongside the Team Leader in ensuring referrals to Talking Therapies are seen in a timely manner. With appropriate training and experience the post holder will provide clinical supervision and/or line management supervision to other clinicians within the service and will be expected to deputise for the local team leader at times. In addition with appropriate experience the post holder will screen new referrals and provide duty cover to support other members of the team with clinical queries. This post will contribute to the developing NHS Talking Therapies programme in Somerset through clinical leadership work and projects across the service.

The post holder will provide high quality psychological assessment and therapy to clients aged 16 upwards with a wide range of presentations who are appropriate for treatment with NHS Talking Therapies for depression and anxiety. The post holder will work with people from differing cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary, and should be committed to equal opportunities. The post holder will manage their clinical caseload of up to 25 clinical contacts per week under the supervision of a senior therapist. The post holder is required to work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the Service's priorities and procedures.

Communication and Key Working Relationships

* Service Users

* Clinical Supervisor

* Team Leaders and Deputy Team Leaders

CBT Clinical Lead

* Talking Therapies staff service-wide

* Supervisor/Line Manager

* Service Lead

* Wider trust staff in both mental and physical health settings

Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy

Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.

Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients, both individually and in groups, using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.

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.

Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.

Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.

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.

Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall therapy process.

Undertake a designated number of assessments/triage per week and allocate patients according to the stepped care model.

Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility

Participate in clinical audits of service performance, including service user surveys and evaluations.

Contribute to the development of best practice within the service.

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources

Responsible for supplied work laptop, phone, headphones and other equipment to facilitate clinical sessions and contact with patients.

Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management

Provide clinical supervision and line management as appropriate and required by the service to other clinicians throughout the service. Training and accreditation as a supervisor will be encouraged and supported.

Attend clinical/management supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Team Leader and Service Lead.

Attend and utilise training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy models in line with service needs and professional competencies.

Information Resources & Administrative Duties

Complete all clinical notes within 48 hours of sessions on the service clinical database (IAPTus).

Avoid making and storing separate paper notes wherever possible.

Keep up to date all records in relation to CPD and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge.

Access appropriate CPD as agreed with Team Leader and Service Lead. Accept personal responsibility for attending the required level of CPD for continuing accreditation within one's own time if necessary

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.

All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (1998) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.

It is the responsibility of all staff not to abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

This Job Description does not provide an exhaustive list of duties and may be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder in light of service developments.

The post will involve a combination of sitting, standing and walking and will require sitting in a restricted position whilst performing assessments or treatments

Frequent requirement of intense concentration when undertaking assessments or therapy with individuals in a one to one setting.

This post will entail frequent exposure to challenging emotional circumstances and distressed clients.

Willingness to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the service -- it is possible that the post holder will be asked to work hours up to 8pm if required by

service needs.

Occasional travel to locations within the county of Somerset.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

BABCP Accredited or accreditable and fully committed to achieving BABCP accreditation ASAP PG Dip in CBT (Accredited NHS Talking Therapies CBT Training or CBT training and experience with adults with anxiety and depression)

Desirable

Further post-qualification training clinical supervision, LTC-MUS, MBCT

Experience

Essential

Significant experience of working in a mental healthcare setting Experience of delivering CBT to adults with depression and anxiety disorders

Desirable

Experience of working in an NHS Talking Therapies service

Additional Criteria

Essential

Demonstrates awareness and application of supervision of others Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to Stepped Care and the National Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression framework.

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