Job summary
NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies provides talking therapies to patients with mild to moderate mental health problems who reside in West Sussex. We are a well-established and respected service, part of the NHS Talking Therapies provision adhering to NICE Guidance. Each team is comprised of Senior Psychological Therapists, Cognitive Behaviour Therapists, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, and Counsellors, supported by Administrative and Operational Management Teams.
This is a training role within the NHS Talking Therapies Long-Term Conditions Programme, which requires attendance and successful completion of the 1 year PGDip in High Intensity Psychological Therapies with the Canterbury Christ Church University, Salomons Campus in Tunbridge Wells. The post-holder will work within NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies, Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service providing high intensity interventions whilst undertaking a programme of training specific for this role. This intensive training post will equip the post-holder to provide a psychological therapy service to clients with a range of problems, especially those for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective. The post holder will work in the service for part of the week using the newly developed skills whilst attending the training programme.
** Please note we may close this vacancy early if sufficient numbers of applications have been received **
Main duties of the job
This post is offered on a fixed term basis, with the opportunity to apply for vacancies within the service on successful completion of the course.
We strongly encourage you to check the job description and the core professional criteria carefully before applying for this post. Unfortunately, we will not be able to answer questions related to your eligibility for the course. We ask that you use the information provided within the job description and through the BABCP website:
Information and entry requirements can be found on the Canterbury Christ Church University, Website:
This is a Sussex-wide recruitment campaign. Our partners in neighbouring Sussex based NHS Talking Therapies services are also actively recruiting for these training opportunities with Canterbury and Christ Church University. Interviews are held in collaboration with the university. Shortlisted candidates will only be invited to one interview and are kindly requested to apply to their preferred service only.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex. Our 6,000 staff serve a population of million providing essential medical, nursing, and therapeutic care to adults and children.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community, helping people plan, manage, adapt to changes in their health, supporting avoidable hospital admissions and reducing hospital stay times.
We have opportunities for everyone across our wide variety of services including medical, clinical, support and corporate services.
Why work for us?
1. Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, scoring highly in compassionate culture & leadership, and staff wellbeing support
2. Variety of working environments across the community, in patients' homes, within our community hospitals and bases across the county
3. Supportive flexible working patterns such as: part time, flexi time, annualised hours, and flexi retirement options
4. Excellent training and development opportunities
5. Research opportunities
6. Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove and Brighton
7. Thriving BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+ and Religion and Belief staff networks
8. Level 3 accredited Disability Confident Leader, committed to creating inclusive workplaces
9. Veteran Aware Trust, achieving accreditation from Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)
10. Located in stunning Sussex, with easy access to the South Downs and the coast
Access to a wide range of benefits and discounts for NHS staff
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be part of a high-performing service which provides remote and face-to-face treatments for our patients including video and in-person appointments, with qualified staff being both home and office based.
You will receive excellent clinical supervision. You will also have the opportunity to work with experienced CBT therapists, Counsellors and qualified PWP's, all of whom have a reputation for being friendly and supportive of trainees.
We have training posts available in a variety of locations across West Sussex. You will need to be able and willing to travel to different sites as required in West Sussex.
Please note that you will be expected to pay for any travel you have to make to and from the University, although any travel between your work base and our locations in West Sussex will be covered by NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies expenses.
Successful applicants can be based in Worthing or Horsham. We will ask your preference at interview and will try to accommodate where possible.
We are looking for candidates from a broad range of backgrounds. This enhances trainees' learning, and we are also keen to develop a workforce that represents the diverse society in which we live.
We are a leading NHS Talking Therapies service with a track record of innovation, imagination and excellence. We are a flagship service within our Trust and recognised as one of the best service providers of psychological interventions in the country.
We pride ourselves on the support we offer trainees in the service, from designated trainers and senior staff to the whole team of administrators, managers and clinicians. Your wellbeing is of paramount importance to us and we have various initiatives in the service and in the wider Trust that can help to support you further.
We know from experience that our trainees are always keen to stay within the service upon completion of their course. Once qualified and accredited you will be able to apply for substantive vacancies within the service.
Should you be successful in a substantive role following your training year, you will be fully supported through all areas of the work to continue building your skills through our excellent preceptorship scheme. We offer flexible working, provide an 8am-8pm service and once qualified working one evening per week is required.
11. Attend and fulfill all the requirements of the training element of the post
12. Apply learning from the training programme into clinical practice
13. Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards
14. To be responsible for working with vulnerable patients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems and high levels of emotional and psychological distress and disturbance.
15. To accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service
16. To assess clients for suitability for treatment within NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies and specifically for Step 3 Psychological Therapy as required
17. As required, to make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary, with due regard for assessment and management of risk. To undertake risk assessment and take the appropriate action. [possibly breaching patient confidentiality in the interests of the patient or as dictated by legislation]
18. To formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients
19. To engage in a collaborative manner to build resilience and hope focusing on recovery.
20. To be alert and respond creatively to change in the patients identified needs or psychological/emotional status
21. To complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service, including the use of routine outcome measures
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
22. A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, art therapy or within a psychological therapy. Please check the BABCP core professions list for specific required qualifications. OR, Evidence using the career framework of training in mental health and experience of working in a stepped care service for anxiety and depression.
Experience
Essential
23. Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
24. Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
25. Ability to manage own caseload and time
26. Demonstrates high standards in written communication
27. Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers
Desirable
28. Experience in working in a primary care service
29. Works in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
30. Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
31. Computer literate
32. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
33. Has received training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
34. Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
35. Demonstrates an understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in primary care
36. Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post
37. Able to attend a minimum of 2 day per week course
38. Able to complete academic components of the course
39. Able to integrate training into practice
40. Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
41. Be committed to the concept of recovery and mental resilience
42. Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively
43. Ability to work under pressure
44. Ability to be self-reflective whilst working with patients, in own personal and professional development and supervision
Desirable
45. Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
46. Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems
47. High level of enthusiasm and motivation
48. Advanced communication skills
49. Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
Other requirements
Desirable
50. Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation
51. Ability to work through interpreters
52. Ability to work cross-culturally
53. Experience of black and minority ethnic communities, and/or the hard to reach communities