About this role
Job summary
We are looking for a compassionate and motivated Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist (CBT Therapist) to join our multidisciplinary community-based Weight Management Programme across Lincolnshire. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting adults living with obesity to make sustainable lifestyle changes and improve both their physical and psychological wellbeing.
Main duties of the job
Working as part of an integrated team of healthcare professionals, you will provide evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy and psychological interventions to individuals whose emotional, behavioural, and mental health needs impact their ability to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. You will work collaboratively with patients to address barriers to change, enhance motivation, develop coping strategies, and support long-term behaviour change.
The role involves delivering individual and group-based interventions, undertaking comprehensive psychological assessments, developing person-centred treatment plans, and contributing to the ongoing development of the service. You will work closely with dietitians, physical activity specialists, GPs, and other healthcare professionals to ensure a holistic approach to patient care.
This role is ideal for a qualified CBT Psychotherapist who is passionate about improving health outcomes through psychological therapies and enjoys working within a supportive multidisciplinary environment. You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people across Lincolnshire while contributing to an innovative, community-focused service that places patients at the heart of everything we do.
About us
Join a Team that is stronger together, delivering innovative and integrated care that makes a meaningful difference to people's lives.
At LADMS, we are committed to delivering high-quality healthcare services that put people first. Our focus is on providing safe, compassionate, and person-centred care while supporting individuals to achieve the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes.
We believe that exceptional care starts with exceptional people. That's why we invest in our team, creating a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative working environment where every employee is valued, respected, and encouraged to grow. We are passionate about continuous learning, professional development, and maintaining the highest standards of clinical excellence.
Joining LADMS means becoming part of a dedicated team that is driven by integrity, compassion, and a shared commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of the people and communities we serve. If you are looking for a rewarding career where your skills and dedication will have a meaningful impact, we'd love to hear from you.
We are entering an exciting period of growth and are looking for enthusiastic, values-driven individuals who share our ambition to improve population health and shape the future of healthcare across Lincolnshire.
Job description Job responsibilities 1. Job Purpose Summary
The post holder will provide CBT-informed assessment and behaviour-change interventions to support people engaging with the Lincolnshire Community Based Weight Management Service (LCWMS), using evidence-based approaches (including cognitive behavioural therapy techniques, motivational interviewing, and habit-based behaviour-change models) to address the psychological and behavioural barriers to weight management.
This is a physical-health-focused role and does not involve treatment of primary mental health conditions. Where a patient's presentation suggests an active or unmet mental health need, the post holder will recognise this and refer via agreed pathways rather than provide treatment.
The post holder will also provide direct behaviour-change support to patients with severe mental illness (SMI) who are engaged with LCWMS, focused specifically on weight-related behaviours, and will provide consultation, supervision and training to other LCWMS staff supporting this cohort.
The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages and should be committed to equal opportunities.
2. Nature of the ServiceThe Lincolnshire Community Weight Management Service (LCWMS) is a community-based specialist weight management service, delivered in partnership across the Lincolnshire Primary Care Network Alliance (PCNA), Lincolnshire and District Medical Services, K2 Healthcare and ICB partners. The service provides holistic, personalised weight management support in line with NICE NG246 (Overweight and obesity management, 2025), including for patients with complex comorbidities such as severe mental illness.
Where the service supports patients with SMI, this is done with reference to NICE guidance on the physical health of people with severe mental illness (including CG178, CG185 and NG181) and the NHS England SMI physical health check framework, working alongside not in place of patients' existing mental health care.
Duties Undertake behavioural and psychological assessment of patients referred to LCWMS, focused on identifying weight-related behaviours, barriers to change, motivation and readiness, and appropriate behaviour-change goals. This is a behavioural/physical-health assessment, not a mental health diagnostic assessment.
Formulate patients' weight-related behaviours using cognitive behavioural and other evidence-based behaviour-change models and deliver 1:1 and group interventions in line with NICE NG246 (Overweight and obesity management, 2025).
Make decisions on the suitability of referrals into the behaviour-change element of the LCWMS pathway, adhering to agreed referral protocols, and refer on to the relevant clinical or specialist service where behaviour change support is not appropriate.
Provide direct 1:1 and group/MDT behaviour-change support to patients with severe mental illness (SMI) engaged with LCWMS, focused specifically on weight-related behaviours (for example eating patterns, physical activity, and antipsychotic-related weight gain), and not on treatment of the underlying mental health condition.
Provide regular consultation, case discussion, training and advice to other LCWMS MDT staff (including dietitians, health coaches and nursing staff) supporting patients with SMI, to build their confidence and competence in managing weight-related behaviours within this cohort.
Liaise as required with patients' community mental health teams or care coordinators to ensure the behaviour-change approach is consistent with, and does not conflict with, the patient's existing mental health care plan.
Maintain clear scope-of-practice boundaries and recognise presentations that fall outside the behaviour-change remit of the role (for example signs of an active or deteriorating mental health condition, disordered eating, or risk), escalating and referring via agreed pathways.
Contribute to LCWMS's data collection and outcome monitoring requirements relating to the behaviour-change workstream.
Attend team meetings, MDT meetings and mandatory training.
Attend regular clinical supervision.
Provide supervision, training and consultation to other LCWMS staff on behaviour-change technique and practice, including trainee or less experienced practitioners as required.
Comply with, and carry out, safe practice in accordance with Trust/organisational policies and procedures, and other relevant national and local guidance, including NICE guidance on overweight and obesity management (NG246) and physical health monitoring for people with severe mental illness
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience of working as a qualified CBT therapist Experience of working in Primary Care, community health or weight management services Experience of working with people with severe mental illness (SMI) or complex physical/mental health comorbidity Experience of working in a service with agreed targets demonstrating clinical or behavioural outcomes
Desirable
Experience providing consultation or training to non-specialist colleagues. Understanding of antipsychotic-related weight gain and metabolic side effects, and relevant physical health monitoring requirements
General, Skills and Abilities Essential
Advanced interpersonal skills CBT/behaviour-change skills Good written and communication skills, including sensitive, non-stigmatising communication about weight A good level of analytical and judgemental skills, including recognising when a presentation falls outside the scope of a physical-health behaviour-change role Excellent organisational skills IT skills Ability to use own initiative and work autonomously with caseload and administration Ability to use clinical supervision effectively Ability to reflect on own clinical practice Ability to provide consultation, supervision and training to colleagues who are not behaviour-change specialists Personal values consistent with non-judgemental, person-centred practice in clinical sessions and supervision within a highly specialist field to meet the needs of own client group Ability to use own initiative and work independently Ability to reflect and appraise own performance Presentation skills Team player Flexible and adaptable Commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice
Desirable
Training in provision of supervision
Qualifications Essential
Postgraduate diploma (or equivalent recognised training) in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), meeting BABCP minimum training standards Accreditation with BABCP Core professional/clinical training underpinning CBT practice (e.g. mental health nursing, clinical or counselling psychology, or an equivalent core profession recognised by BABCP as a route into CBT training)
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 (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Lincolnshire And District Medical Services (LADMS)
Address Office 7
Fairfield Enterprise Centre
Fairfield Industrial Estate
Louth, Lincolnshire
LN11 0LS
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.ladms.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)