The Role

Have you got experience in supporting/treating people with mental health problems and looking to take your career to the next level? If so, have you considered training in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?

We are looking for aspiring Cognitive Behavioural Therapists to join our Basildon and Brentwood Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service as Trainee High Intensity Therapists (HITs) in the September 2022 cohort at the University of Hertfordshire.

Who can apply?

Applications are invited from qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychological Therapists, Mental Health Nurses, Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and PWP’s (with two years post qualifying experience) to apply for the one-year full-time IAPT post-graduate diploma course based at the University of Hertfordshire.

Please see a full list of eligible professions here https://babcp.com/Professions list

The training will be formatted as a blended approach of teaching in-person and remote learning. The first week of the course will be an intensive five days based at the University of Hertfordshire beginning on 19^th September for which expenses will be paid. There may be other occasions where you will be expected to attend the University in person. Your clinical work within the service will be undertaken both remotely and on a face-to-face basis (dependent on circumstances).

To ensure that you are familiar with our clinical systems and procedures you must be able to begin with Vita for a one week induction (delivered remotely) on 12^th September before beginning at the University on 19^th September.

• You will receive high-quality training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at Hertfordshire University, working towards a Post Graduate Diploma in High-Intensity Psychological Therapies.
   
• You will provide High-Intensity CBT interventions recommended by NICE to clients with moderate to severe common mental health disorders.
   
• The Trainee position is aimed at mental health professionals who have some experience in CBT and who continue to work in a mental health environment.
   
• You will receive weekly supervision provided by both the university and the workplace.

Applicants without a recognised and accredited core mental health professional training (such as Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners or Psychotherapists and Counsellors without UKCP or BACP accreditation) are eligible to apply but must be able to demonstrate at the interview that they meet the KSA requirements set by the BABCP.

See links for further information:

https://babcp.com/Accreditation/Provisional-Accreditation/Knowledge-Skills-and-Attitudes

https://babcp.com/Accreditation/Provisional-Accreditation/Core-Professions

Please note, applicants must be available to attend interviews on 5^th or 7th July, be available to start induction with Vita on 12^th September and attend all university days starting from the 19^th September 2022 to July 2023.

Generally speaking, the role includes working 3 days per week in service (with a reduced caseload of 12 patients over 3 days) and 2 days at the university (this alternates weekly between taught days and university directed study days).

If you have any questions about the role we are holding a question and answer drop-in session on 21^st June. Please contact recruitment@vhg.co.uk if you would like to attend.

Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• Core Professional training or qualification, or able to demonstrate at interview that you meet the KSA requirements set by the BABCP near completed or completed and able to discuss at interview.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent in a discipline connected to mental health (or ability to study at third year undergraduate degree level).
• Membership of the BABCP (from the time that the course commences).
• Availability to attend university as required.
• Experience of working in mental health services, including risk management.
• An understanding of anxiety and depression and how it presents in Primary Care.
• An understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies.
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
• Ability to manage own caseload and time.
• IT literacy and the ability to use patient record information systems, diary systems and maintain clinical records in a timely and accurate manner.
• Evidence of values that are consistent with the NHS constitution and VHG’s values.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills.
• Interpersonal skills to engage and develop working alliances with colleagues and patients, including the ability to develop good therapeutic relationships and inter-agency relationships.
• Evidence of an openness to learning new knowledge and skills.
• High level of enthusiasm and motivation.
• Willingness to travel, which may include overnight stays on occasion, as and when required.

Desirable:

• Evidence of foundation level or sustained CPD in CBT.
• Evidence of supervised CBT practice.
• Experience of working in Primary Care/IAPT services.
• Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place demonstrating clinical outcomes.

Benefits of working for Vita include:

• Weekly supervision.
• Input from a Clinical Lead.
• Regular contact with your line manager.
• A buddy system.
• Excellent duty system support.
• Canada Life WeCare benefits.
• Private healthcare.
• Pension.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Childcare vouchers.
• Gym membership.

Other Requirements:

• A Disclosure and Barring check (DBS, formerly CRB) will be required by the service for appointment to post.

Why Vita Health Group?

Vita Health Group celebrates life. Improving lives physically and mentally drives everything we do.

We are physical and mental health specialists with over 30 years of experience.  We work in partnership with the NHS, support the UK’s largest corporate companies to help assist their workforce and provide a full range of physiotherapy services to private customers.

To achieve our mission of making people better, we recognise the importance of investing in our staff. In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer the opportunity of a flexible work life balance and a comprehensive benefits package which you can view in full on our website.  To progress your skills and enable career development we provide Continued Professional Development opportunities including secondments, management training, a mentoring scheme and regular events and webinars across a range of clinical disciplines.

Vita Health Group is proud to be an equal opportunities employer.  We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion best practice and positively encourage applications from candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion/belief, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity.  To support this we have a dedicated team of EDI specialists and run a range of active in-house diversity networks.

We are actively seeking to increase the diversity of our workforce, to ensure we are representative of the communities we serve at all levels. We therefore welcome applications from candidates with a wide range of lived experience.

We are committed to equitably support the wellbeing of all employees as demonstrated by:

• Our association with the MINDFUL EMPLOYER Charter for Employers who are Positive About Mental Health.
• Our status as a Disability Confident Committed Employer dedicated to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. All disabled candidates that meet the minimum essential criteria will be invited to interview.
• Our status as a Menopause Friendly Committed employer.
• Our sign up to the Employer with Heart Charter.
• Our commitment to meet the standards outlined in the NHS Equality Delivery System (EDS2), Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) and Workforce Disability Equality Standard (WDES).
• The provision of access to health and wellbeing services for colleagues which includes a team of trained Mental Health Advocates and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• An embedded “speaking up” culture facilitated by Freedom to Speak Up Guardians.

Should you wish to discuss any adjustment or assistance you might need in the application or interview process please contact recruitment@vhg.co.uk and we will arrange.

Please note, all applicants must be legally entitled to accept and perform work in the UK and all positions are subject to a DBS check. 

Any data which you share with us throughout the hiring process will be stored securely within the UK and is accessible only by staff who require it. Should your application be unsuccessful, your data will be securely destroyed after 6 months. 

Vita Health Group reserves the right to close this job when sufficient applications have been received.

Vita Health Group