Senior CBT Therapist

Job Purpose

Provide clinical leadership and oversight for Step 3 High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) provision within the Talking Therapies service at NHS Bexley Talking Therapies.

Ensure safe, effective, and recovery-focused delivery of NICE-recommended CBT interventions.

Support the development, supervision, and performance of High Intensity CBT Therapists and Trainees.

Contribute to service quality improvement, data quality and the ongoing development of evidence-based practice.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist and routine CBT in line with NICE guidance for adults with depression and anxiety disorders.

• Maintain an active clinical caseload while modelling best practice in sessional adherence, risk management, and outcome measurement using established measures as required by the national Talking Therapies framework.

• Conduct comprehensive assessments, formulations, and treatment plans.

• Provide clinical oversight on complex cases, including co-morbidity and risk-related presentations.

• Provide one to one and group supervision to Talking Therapies Team.

• Provide ad-hoc supervision and perform the role of a risk escalation and safeguarding as part of the duty supervision rota.

• Ensure high standards of clinical documentation and adherence to Talking Therapies data standards.

• Provide specialist Long Term Conditions supervision to clinicians within the service.

• Support in the allocation of clients and management of waiting lists for Step 3 modalities.

Leadership & Service Development

• Provide clinical leadership for Step 3 therapy pathways.

• Provide line management for other members of Talking Therapies Team.

• Participate in service-wide meetings, audits, and performance reviews.

• Contribute to equitable access, workforce planning, and pathway efficiency.

• Contribute to recruitment and induction for the Talking Therapies Team.

• Attend meetings with other physical and mental health teams in regards to areas of shared interest and to maintain development of joint pathways.

• Support clinical lead and deputy clinical lead in the management of complaints from clients.

• Manage queries from clients in therapy or on waiting lists.

Clinical Supervision & Training

• Deliver regular case supervision, skills supervision, and reflective practice for qualified and trainee High Intensity Therapists.

• Support trainee progression, marking of CTS-R, and competency-based development.

• Provide consultation across the service to colleagues on CBT-informed care.

Quality & Performance

• Monitor clinical outcomes, recovery rates, and therapist performance using ROMs (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7, disorder-specific tools).

• Support therapists to meet activity, recovery, and throughput targets while maintaining clinical quality.

• Undertake clinical audits, contribute to national audits, and produce reports for management as required.

• Ensure adherence to national Talking Therapies manual, governance, and fidelity standards.

Risk Management & Safeguarding

• Provide senior-level input on risk assessments and crisis planning.

• Liaise with GPs, secondary care, safeguarding teams, and other agencies as required.

• Support safe and effective discharge planning.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential:

Postgraduate Diploma in CBT accredited by BABCP.

Full BABCP accreditation (or eligible to apply).

Evidence of CPD consistent with maintaining BABCP accreditation.

Completion of a supervision course for CBT in line with NHS Talking Therapies supervision.

Desirable:

Qualification in other high intensity modalities (e.g., IPT, EMDR DIT etc.)

Experience of working as a psychological wellbeing practitioner or counsellor.

Further training in adapted CBT for long term health conditions.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential:

• Post-qualification experience delivering CBT for a range of anxiety disorders and depression.
• Experience supervising or supporting CBT trainees or qualified therapists.
• Strong understanding of the Talking Therapies model, including Stepped care, performance and outcome frameworks.
• Experience of working with risk and safeguarding.

Desirable:

• Experience delivering service development projects.
• Experience working with complex cases or special interest groups (e.g., LTC pathways, cases where safeguarding concerns are present, perinatal, older adults, diversity-focused interventions).
• Experience of the completion of clinic audits.

Skills & Competencies

• Advanced CBT skills and ability to manage complex clinical presentations.
• Skilled in delivering both individual and group CBT.
• Ability to provide high-quality supervision and feedback.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills.
• Ability to analyse data, interpret outcomes, and use these to improve service delivery.
• Competent IT and data-entry skills aligned with Talking Therapies digital systems, (IAPTUS).

Personal Attributes

• Compassionate, reflective, and committed to evidence-based practice.
• Able to work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Flexible, resilient, and adaptable to service needs.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive practice.

Additional Requirements

• Enhanced DBS clearance.
• Willingness to work flexible hours to meet service needs (e.g., early evening clinics).
• Available to work from our base in Bexleyheath, three days per week.
• Commitment to ongoing CPD and supervision requirements.

Interviews will take place week commencing 2nd November 2026.