High Intensity CBT Therapist
The closing date is 23 July 2026

Job summary
Are you an experienced CBT Therapist looking to join Dorset HealthCare's Children and Young People's Mental Health (CYPMH) Service. Working within a multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist CBT assessment and evidence-based interventions for children and young people experiencing anxiety, depression and other common mental health difficulties.

You will work collaboratively with young people, families, schools and partner agencies, delivering high-quality care in line with NICE guidance and a stepped-care approach. The role also offers opportunities to contribute to service development, supervision and quality improvement.

CYPMH Dorset - A Service in Transformation
CYPMH Dorset is entering an exciting period of growth, with new investments enabling us to enhance our services in line with Thrive principles. This role will evolve as we develop, initially supporting existing teams during transition. Positions are pan-Dorset, and future service delivery may include extended operational hours as we expand.

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills, influence new initiatives and help shape the future of children's mental health services across Dorset.We welcome applications from BABCP-accredited CBT Therapists and registered professionals with significant experience of delivering CBT within mental health services.

CAMHS CBT Therapist is 37.5 Hours per week with minimum of 22.5 hours.

Main duties of the job
Our service is undergoing significant growth and transformation, with new investment and development underway. During this period, roles are pan-Dorset, and you may work from a temporary base while new structures are embedded. Flexible working, including extended hours, may be required.

As a CAMHS CBT Therapist, you will provide specialist CBT assessments and evidence-based interventions for children and young people with anxiety, depression and related mental health difficulties.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering CBT interventions in line with NICE guidance and service protocols.
• Completing specialist psychological assessments, formulations and risk assessments.
• Working closely with families, carers, schools and partner agencies to support recovery and positive outcomes.
• Maintaining accurate clinical records, outcome measures and activity data.
• Supporting a stepped-care approach through effective multidisciplinary working and appropriate step-up/step-down arrangements.
• Contributing to clinical audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activities.
• Providing consultation, teaching and supervision to colleagues and trainees where appropriate.
• Participating in team duty systems and contributing to the ongoing development of psychological therapies across CYPMH services.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a transforming service and play a key role in improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people across Dorset.

About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do, and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion, and expertise in all we do.

Details
Date posted: 09 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 152-M187.26
Job locations: Childrens Centre, Damers Road, Dorchester, DT1 2LB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidates individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Person Specification
Educational Requirements/Qualifications
Essential

• Qualification from High Intensity IAPT Course [Post Graduate Diploma]
• Accreditation with appropriate professional body (HPC, BABCP).

Desirable

• Significant experience working as a psychological therapy practitioner and demonstrating the competences as required.
• A recorded/registered qualification in one of- nursing, social work, occupational therapy or a psychological therapy plus further post graduate qualification training in CBT
• A recorded/registered doctoral level qualification in clinical psychology

Personal Qualities and Aptitudes
Essential

• High level of enthusiasm, motivation, and self-reflection.
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
• Ability to use clinical supervision and case management positively and effectively
• An ability to work under pressure advocate for individual rights or autonomy and maintain appropriate confidentiality.
• The ability and skills to engage and foster good professional relationships with other healthcare professionals

Desirable

• Experience of working with difference and diverse communities

Car Owner / Driver
Essential

• Ability to drive with access to transport to meet service requirements

Skills / Experience / Knowledge base
Essential

• Demonstrated experience of working in mental health services with clients who present with a range of mental health issues and degrees of complexity.
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
• Ability to manage own caseload and time
• Well developed computer/digital skills and an ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients their families/carers and other professional colleagues.
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
• Demonstrates and understanding of anxiety and depression and how it may present in primary care.
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other common mental health problems.
• Demonstrates and understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.

Desirable

• Trained in provision of supervision for CBT
• Evidence of commitment to Continued Professional Development

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

For questions about the job, contact:
CBT Lead
Chloe Duffin
chloe.duffin@nhs.net