Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Trainee High Intensity Therapist
The closing date is 24 June 2026
Please note: the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date if a large volume of applications are received.
Due to new funding, an exciting opportunity has arisen for 9 Trainee High Intensity Therapists (HITs) to join NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Talking Therapies Service (CPTT) on a permanent contract at various team bases including:
* Chesterton Medical Centre, Chesterton, Cambridge
* Newtown Centre, Huntingdon
* City Hall, Peterborough
* Fenland Hall, March
You may specify on your application if you are interested in a specific location; however, your preference is not guaranteed.
We anticipate interviews will take place around early July 2026 and interviews will take place in person at Newtown Centre, Nursery Rd, Huntingdon PE29 3RJ.
Please email Joanna.Curtis@CPFT.nhs.uk for more details.
Main duties of the job
You must be able to start the Post Graduate Diploma High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Training course in September 2026.
This is a fantastic opportunity to gain a high-level qualification in mental health and start your career in the IAPT Programme.
Training will be provided by the University of Hertfordshire and will be a blend of classroom-based and online teaching. On your clinical days you will work from your base on some days and from home on other days.
It is essential to have a core profession that confers eligibility to apply for BABCP accreditation following completion of the course. Applicants with a background as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner will require a minimum of 24 months in post from the date of qualifying before the start of the High Intensity training programme.
Please note this post will be regraded to band 7 on successful completion of the training course.
We offer a high standard of supervision that far exceeds national minimum requirements within IAPT services. Monthly line management and annual appraisals are offered in addition to regular clinical supervision. Supervisors and line managers work closely together to ensure a supportive and developmental environment. We also offer excellent CPD opportunities within the service.
About us
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, and to support and empower them to lead fulfilling lives.
Our clinical teams deliver a wide range of NHS services across inpatient, primary care and community settings, including childrens, adult and older peoples mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, and research and development.
To achieve our goals, we recruit high calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community, particularly underrepresented groups including people with long-term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
All appointments for new employees to CPFT are subject to successful completion of a probationary period.
Please note we reserve the right to close adverts early should we receive sufficient applications.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all roles. If you apply for a post that does not attract sponsorship, your application will be withdrawn from the process.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at https://www.cpft.nhs.uk
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
* The post holder will be expected to contribute to the clinical activity of the service.
* Hold a clinical caseload requiring high organisation to operate efficiently. For the clinical activity the post holder will be expected to:
* Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
* Offer clinical assessments.
* Provide high intensity interventions for cases referred to the team.
* Use evidence-based psychological interventions such as CBT.
* Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for patients.
* Adhere to all clinical policies and procedures, working within established risk protocols.
* Maintain high clinical standards in all aspects of the work.
* Ensure treatment delivery remains accessible, convenient and with minimal waiting times as agreed by senior clinicians and managers.
* Communicate, in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, to patients, family carers and others as appropriate, information that may be contentious or highly distressing concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients under their care.
Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
* Professional qualification and accreditation as a health professional, such as Nursing, Social work, Occupational therapy. PWP candidates must have a minimum of two years’ fulltime qualified and supervised practice in an NHS Talking Therapies service at the point of starting the HIT training course.
* Must be accredited with a professional body – registration alone is not sufficient.
* Training/qualification in delivering psychological therapies, including CBT & other modalities.
Experience
* Aptitude to undertake a high level post graduate course.
* Experience of working with patients presenting with a high level of distress and managing risk situations – please demonstrate this in your supporting statement.
* Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision of others.
Skills & Abilities
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enabling the formation of networks with professionals within the Trust and from other agencies to promote effective team working with clients.
* Willingness to be flexible and adaptable.
* Ability to work within a team fostering good working relationships.
* Ability to promote psychological models with clients, carers and staff in an understandable and person-centred way, clearly outlining goals and potential outcomes.
* Demonstrates an understanding of the IAPT programme and how it links to trust, regional and national demands.
* Formal training in psychological therapies. Introductory training in CBT.
Physical Requirements
* Ability to manage the physical requirement of the role (e.g. concentrating, sitting).
* Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
J-18808-Ljbffr