Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed term: 24 months (NHSE fund these posts for 2 years on the basis that the trainee would have their contract amended to a permanent Band 7 position in SPFT following successful completion of the training.)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 354-AC-21151
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Arun Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, Pepperville House
- Town
- Littlehampton
- Salary
- £37,338 - £44,962 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/07/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Recruit to Train CBT Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 6
Come and join us
We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.
So what can we offer you in return?
We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.
You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.
As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.
If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.
Job overview
These are new and exciting 'recruit to train' positions across Sussex as part of our transformation of community mental health services. They have been commissioned to improve access to psychological therapies. This post will be based in the Arun Neighbourhood Mental Health Team in Littlehampton.
This is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to develop their mental health expertise and focus on delivering evidence-based therapies to those who need them.
The successful candidate will be employed on a Band 6 salary for 2 years while studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in CBT for Severe Mental Health Problems. During your training you will specialise in Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder.
This course is accredited by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) at level two. While on this course you will have not only the academic support, but also be part of our excellent, established and supportive psychological therapy services in Sussex. After successfully completing the training and applying for practitioner status with the BABCP, you will be guaranteed a post as a Band 7 psychological therapist.
Main duties of the job
While you are training you will be part of a multidisciplinary mental health team providing intervention and support to people with severe mental health problems. You will be offering cognitive behavioural therapy to people with severe and enduring mental health problems and specialising in psychosis and bipolar disorder You will work closely with colleagues from psychology and psychological therapies, as well as from other mental health disciplines.
To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID
Working for our organisation
Sussex Partnership provides mental health and learning disability care for all age groups across Sussex.
Living and Working in Sussex:
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Travel easily between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns
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Embrace the South Coast with a great range of historic and contemporary seaside towns
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According to the Met Office Sussex is the sunniest county in the UK, making exploring the vast countryside all the more enjoyable
We’d love you to join our Trust, rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for caring by the CQC. Our staff agree, in our recent staff survey 82% told us that they recognise that care for patients is our top priority.
Key survey results include:
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70% highlighting flexible working opportunities as a key point for satisfaction at work
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79% reporting feeling able to make suggestions to improve the work within their team
- 77% identifying the opportunities to show initiative in their roles
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Applications are welcome subject to the following requirements:
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That you have a core mental health qualification OR Equivalent through the BABCP assessment of Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes Knowledge Skills and Attitudes] KSA to be submitted before or at the point of offer for a successful candidate.
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Be committed to the implementation of psychological interventions for people with complex and severe mental health problems
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Be comfortable working in a fast-paced and challenging environment and in the face of high clinical demand.
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At least 4 years mental health experience. For people with a core profession, at least 2 of these years should be post-qualification).
PLEASE NOTE: We will close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.
Please also note that there is a similar Recruit to Train post advertised for East Sussex (High Wield Lewis and Havens). You are welcome to apply for both posts.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy. Please see attached list of suitable qualifications
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services
- Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Naomi Horton
- Job title
- Consultant Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07738 758379
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