High Intensity Psychotherapeutic Counsellor Trainee (DIT pathway): Sponsorship Available

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Job Summary

We welcome eligible applications to an innovative NHS fully funded three year training programme leading to dual qualifications as Accredited Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and Accredited Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) practitioner. Applicants will be graduates (or able to demonstrate professional and academic equivalence) with a commitment to the NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression (TTaD) model. The programme starts late September 2025 and is a joint recruitment between Hillingdon Talking Therapies, provided by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, as the participating site service and the University of Roehampton and Anna Freud Centre providing the national curriculum for High Intensity Psychotherapeutic Counselling (DIT pathway).

Attendance is required both at the site and university on prescribed days through training.

The NHS TTad Psychotherapeutic Counselling national curriculum delivers a Foundation level training with eligibility to apply to continue to Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma training in Psychotherapeutic Counselling leading to qualification to practise as a High Intensity Therapist in NHS TTad services delivering NICE-recommended evidence based psychological therapy for adults with depression. Pay in Yr1 Foundation level training is Agenda for Change (AfC) band 5, and Yrs 2 and 3 Diploma level is AfC band 6 with outer London weighting reflected in the pay bands advertised.

 

Main duties of the job

This training aims to:

  • Develop high intensity psychotherapeutic counsellors with the qualities, skills and competences to develop, engage in and sustain strong therapeutic relationships and work effectively with Talking Therapies service users with depression, and their families where appropriate.
  • Ensure clinical practice in accordance with local and national Service policy, including working to create inclusive and effective services for all.
  • Promote personal and professional development and self-awareness essential to successful psychotherapeutic counselling.

Training Requirements:

  • A one-year core psychotherapeutic counselling Foundation level training, which also introduces the psychodynamic theory. Following sign off for readiness, enables practice in the service with people with mild to moderate depression
  • A two-year Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in psychotherapeutic counselling (minimum 120 credits at Level 7)
  • Embedded training in Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy aligning to the NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression (TTad) national curriculum.
  • A minimum of 450 supervised client hours gained within an NHS Talking Therapies service
  • A minimum of 450 training hours (skills and theory)
  • A minimum of 50 personal therapy hours (self funded)
  • Individual registration in line with the TTad Manual (see the Manual for more details).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised degree at 2:2 or above in any relevant subject, or equivalent, or Demonstrates competency via a portfolio of evidence, which meets specified academic equivalence requirements
  • Completed a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, (minimum of 10 days or 60 hours of face-to-face tuition at level 2 or level 3).

Experience

Essential

  • Show a commitment to working with people with common mental health problems
  • Demonstrable interpersonal skills and values consistent with providing hopeful, person-centred care within the NHS TTad stepped model of care
  • Evidence of working within a team environment
  • Evidence of communicating with individuals from diverse backgrounds

Desirable

  • Evidence of working with people who have experienced a common mental health problem.
  • Previous clinical or professional expertise in mental health
  • Worked in a setting where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes
  • Experience managing own caseload and time
  • Evidence of working in the local community
  • Experience of working in partnership with other services

Skills & Competencies

Essential

  • Ability to integrate training into practice
  • Capacity for reflexivity
  • Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course

Desirable

  • Received training in and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice
  • Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development activity positively and effectively

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 06 August 2025

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.