Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Mental Health Practitioner

The closing date is 06 November 2025

Job summary

Trainee DBT Therapist

Specialist Mental Health Practitioner, Band 6

22.5hours pw

The Intensive Psychological Therapies Service is a forward thinking, dynamic group treatment service for people with complex trauma and long-standing interpersonal difficulties. Our therapies include Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT), Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic professional to join our Pan Dorset DBT team for 22.5 hours per week. You must have a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions e.g. psychology, psychiatric nursing, social work or occupational therapy, and previous experience in mental health. Training in DBT will be provided - this is a 2-year course and successful completion will result in a Postgraduate Diploma in DBT. The IPTS DBT team, which is based in Poole and Dorchester, will support the applicant throughout.

Main duties of the job

Under the direction of the Head of IPTS, to be responsible for delivering a comprehensive, psychological therapy assessment and specialist intervention service, and to recommend in the allocation of patients to appropriate interventions. To provide peer clinical supervision to other staff as directed. In keeping with NIMHE Personality Disorder guidelines (2003), the emphasis of the IPTS will be on time-limited, focused and evidence-based interventions.

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 almost800,000 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

22 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£23,209 to £27,948 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

152-M334.25

Job locations

Branksome Clinic

51a Layton Road

Poole

BH12 2BJ


Job description

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 using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, 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

Job description

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 using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, 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 / Qualifications

Essential

  • A recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions eg psychiatric nursing, psychology, social work or occupational therapy

Desirable

  • An awareness of DBT through formal training, eg Introduction to DBT

Skills, Experience and Knowledge Base

Essential

  • Previous experience in mental health.
  • Experience of being able to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and threats of physical abuse.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge Base

Essential

  • Experience of assessment and treatment of patients with complex trauma and long-standing interpersonal difficulties.
  • Skills in the use of assessment, risk assessment, intervention and management of people with complex trauma and long-standing interpersonal difficulties requiring sustained and intense concentration.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge Base

Essential

  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups

Desirable

  • Experience of teaching, training and / or supervision

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to manage own caseload, plan and prioritise patient workload and group sessions, working both independently and within the therapeutic team
Person Specification

Educational / Qualifications

Essential

  • A recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions eg psychiatric nursing, psychology, social work or occupational therapy

Desirable

  • An awareness of DBT through formal training, eg Introduction to DBT

Skills, Experience and Knowledge Base

Essential

  • Previous experience in mental health.
  • Experience of being able to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and threats of physical abuse.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge Base

Essential

  • Experience of assessment and treatment of patients with complex trauma and long-standing interpersonal difficulties.
  • Skills in the use of assessment, risk assessment, intervention and management of people with complex trauma and long-standing interpersonal difficulties requiring sustained and intense concentration.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge Base

Essential

  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups

Desirable

  • Experience of teaching, training and / or supervision

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to manage own caseload, plan and prioritise patient workload and group sessions, working both independently and within the therapeutic team

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).

Additional information

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

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Branksome Clinic

51a Layton Road

Poole

BH12 2BJ


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Branksome Clinic

51a Layton Road

Poole

BH12 2BJ


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Psychological Therapist and DBT Team Lead

Tara Walker

tara.walker2@nhs.net

01202584120

Details

Date posted

22 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£23,209 to £27,948 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

152-M334.25

Job locations

Branksome Clinic

51a Layton Road

Poole

BH12 2BJ


Supporting documents

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