Trainee CBT Therapist - Aylesbury

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

In return, we offer you a thorough training in CBT based at the University of Reading (UoR), clinical experience through Bucks Talking Therapies, and a supportive supervisor team at both University and on placement, throughout your training. The training programme is scheduled to start in March 2024 and ideally people will start work with the service in early February to complete induction and other duties. Applicants must be able and willing to travel to Reading regularly for their training year (teaching next year will be blended with more F2F teaching expected).

You will attend the UoR Post Graduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Treatments  for two to three days a week from March 2024. You will receive clinical supervision (CBT) from the UoR and Bucks Talking Therapies BABCP accredited clinicians, as well as managerial supervision in service.

Please note: for those applicants who already hold a psychological therapist qualification (e.g. clinical, counselling or health psychologists) these posts will be a Band 7 during and post training. For all other applicants, there is a  Band 6 post where trainees will be Band 6 during training, moving to a Band 7 once the training course has been passed and competencies have been achieved .

Following completion of the course, moving to a qualified Band 7 post will be contingent on meeting a number of strict criteria related to the roles and performance of a HI therapist. These will be regularly assessed over the first 6 months post qualification and all these need to be fulfilled to meet the full requirements of a HI therapist.  

PWP’s are eligible to apply when they have completed a minimum of 2 years of employment as a PWP after passing all PWP course requirements at internal exam board. The only exception to this 2 year rule is if a PWP holds a previous core professional qualification recognised by the BABCP.

You will have an understanding and experience of cognitive behaviour therapy and wish to complete a BABCP accredited training in CBT. The training prepares you to meet BABCP accreditation requirements in order to work in Talking Therapies. This is an excellent, but demanding course and candidates are expected to complete all its requirements within 12 months of starting the training.

The course you will be completing at the University of Reading as part of this role is a Level 2 accredited course with BABCP. This means that upon completion trainees will meet criteria to apply for provisional accreditation as a CBT therapist with the BABCP.​

To apply, you must meet the criteria for CBT training and also have a BABCP-recognised professional background in mental health or related areas. This means having a recognised Core Profession. 

If you do not have a Core Profession, you must complete a portfolio of evidence to show that you have equivalent training and experience. This is known as the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes portfolio (KSA). 

​If your application is successful and you are invited for an interview, you should have completed your KSA.  You will be asked for a copy of you self-statement for KSA criterion 4 in the interview. Please see the BABCP website for guidance and exemplars.”​

If you are applying through the KSA route, you must bring a completed KSA portfolio with you to the interview to be assessed.

Please be advised that we intend on holding first stage interviews F2F on the 15th November and, if successful hold the second stage interviews the following week. 

We’re looking for people who are compassionate, work well in a team, have plenty of enthusiasm and motivation. You will need experience of working in a mental health setting and excellent written and verbal communication skills. If you think you have the qualities we’re looking for, we look forward to hearing from you.