We are looking for a qualified, or soon-to-qualify, CBT / High Intensity Therapist to join our Talking Therapy (IAPT) team within a Category B Prison. This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to deliver evidence-based psychological interventions to adults in custody, supporting their mental health and recovery within a secure environment.
As a High Intensity Therapist, you will work both one-to-one and with groups, providing interventions that meet IAPT standards and guidance. You will also play a key role in assessing service users’ suitability for treatment, supporting stepped-care approaches, and ensuring interventions are tailored to individual needs and backgrounds.
In addition, you will have management and leadership responsibilities, including line management and clinical supervision of a Senior PWP, as well as contributing to case management, report writing, and multi-disciplinary meetings.
This role requires flexibility, resilience, and a collaborative approach. At times, you may be the most senior representative on site, so professionalism, reliability, and strong relationship-building with both colleagues and partner agencies will be key.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver evidence-based, high intensity psychological interventions (CBT/IAPT) to individuals and groups
- Assess service users’ suitability for interventions and manage care pathways in line with IAPT stepped-care models
- Provide line management and clinical supervision to Senior PWP staff
- Contribute to case management, clinical reviews, report writing, and internal/external MDT meetings
- Work collaboratively with partner agencies and prison staff to ensure integrated, high-quality care
- Manage and prioritise your own workload effectively, ensuring timely and accurate record-keeping
- Act as a senior representative on-site when required, maintaining high professional standards
Essential Skills & Experience
- Qualified (or about to qualify) in High Intensity CBT therapy
- Experience delivering high intensity IAPT interventions
- Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health difficulties in primary care or similar settings
- Knowledge of the IAPT programme and stepped-care model
- Experience of managing and developing staff, including clinical and line management supervision
- Experience working as a Psychological Therapy Practitioner with competencies as set out in the CBT Competence Framework (Roth & Pilling, 2007)
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan and prioritise workloads
- Knowledge of the criminal justice sector and/or community services
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage diverse service users
- Commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous professional development
- Flexibility to travel between sites as required