This is a new, exciting training role within the Psychological Therapies for Severe Mental Health Problems (PT SMHP) service in Basildon and Brentwood. The service is an innovative psychological therapies service that sits within Primary Care that fills the gap between NHS Talking Therapies services and Secondary Care mental health services.

The successful candidate will undertake a 2-year postgraduate diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy for personality disorder (PGDip. CBT for PD).

The post-holder will work clinically within a NHS Talking Therapies service and the PT SMHP service in the first year, and solely in the PT SMHP service throughout the second year. The post-holder will provide assessment and psychological interventions whilst undertaking the PGDip CBT PD training programme. The intensive training programme will equip the post-holder to provide CBT treatment to clients with a range of complex mental health problems for which CBT is demonstrated to be clinically effective, while developing a specialism in treating personality disorder.

The post-holder will mostly work in the service (a hybrid of remote and face to face) for 3 to 4 days weekly whilst attending on campus training at University College of London (UCL) for 1 to 2 days a week. The post holder will be expected to attend in-person training at UCL as required, and attend clinics in Basildon and Brentwood depending on service need.

Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• A minimum of a 2:2 in a UK undergraduate degree (or equivalent overseas qualification).
• A core mental health practitioner qualification or evidence of meeting the Knowledge Skills and Attitude (KSA) requirements of the BABCP.
• Demonstrable experience of working in the mental health sector with the ability of managing own caseload.
• Ability to evaluate and apply theory to practice as learned on the training programme.
• Ability to communicate to a high professional standard, including writing clear clinical notes, reports, and letters to referrers.
• Demonstrable understanding of a range of mental health difficulties as they may present in PT SMHP.
• Ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients and demonstrate an understanding for the need to apply evidence based psychological interventions.
• Able to attend 70 to 80 days training at UCL over the 2 years of the programme, delivery of which will by a hybrid of remote and face-to-face teaching.
• An awareness of, and commitment to, supporting and facilitating diversity and inclusion.
• Willingness to travel, which may include overnight stays on occasion, as and when required.

Desirable:

• Experience of working within community-based mental health services.
• Experience of working with patients living with mental health difficulties typical to PT SMHP, including severe depression, severe anxiety disorders, personality disorder, bipolar affective disorder, and psychosis.
• Worked in a service that required working to agreed targets, including demonstrating clinical outcomes.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this role. 

Please note interviews will be held on Monday 7th September 2026.

About Us

As part of Spire Healthcare, we’re proud to build on a legacy of improving lives for over 30 years and continue to deliver primary care physical and mental health services accessed through the NHS, via employer-funded care and at our network of private clinics. 

Working here

We are an award-winning employer regularly recognised at industry events and our latest employee survey revealed the top reasons for working here as:

• Supportive teams and managers
• A positive and inclusive culture
• Strong well-being and mental health support
• Trust, autonomy and flexibility

We invest in your growth with frequent career progression opportunities and development initiatives including mentoring, secondments, management training and regular clinical CPD webinars. You will enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working options and a comprehensive benefits package – further details here Careers - Vita Health Group

Equality Diversity & Inclusion

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We actively support a range of initiatives including:

• Disability Confident Leader
• Positive action through Ethnicity and Gender Matters initiatives
• Employer with Heart and Mindful Employer status
• Menopause Friendly accreditation

Learn more about our EDI commitments here Equality, Diversity & Inclusion - Vita Health Group.

If you need any adjustments or assistance during the recruitment process we will be happy to help - please get in touch at recruitment@vhg.co.uk

Additional information

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in the UK and subject to a DBS check at offer stage.

Your application data is handled securely in accordance to UK GDPR guidelines.

We may close jobs to new applications earlier than original stated closing date.

Vita Health Group