South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist DBT (Dialectical Behaviour) Therapist Lambeth SCPT

The closing date is 23 October 2025

Job summary

Lambeth Secondary Care Psychological Therapies (SCPT) is a stepped care Complex Emotional Needs pathway, with three tiers of care. Our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) team offer full programme DBT at the highest tier of care and a lower intensity skills-group only offer. Our tier 1 team offers intake assessments and treatment planning, as well as skills-focused, brief workshops which act as a starting point for some and refresher for others. We are looking for a DBT accredited - or almost accredited - therapist who is enthusiastic about joining us on this pathway, offering interventions across all tier and working closely with the local community mental health teams by offering training and consultations. The postholder would work three and a half days within the DBT team, attend weekly consult and hold a caseload of individual DBT clients, as well as co-facilitate DBT skills groups and be a day and a half with the tier 1 team, co-facilitating DBT-informed tier 1 workshops.

Main duties of the job

To provide a specialist Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) service to clients with Complex Emotional Needs. The job will entail delivering comprehensive DBT (individual DBT sessions, DBT skills training [group sessions], DBT telephone coaching and attending weekly DBT Team Consult meetings), planning and delivering DBT-S groups within the community teams, conducting specialist assessments and comprehensive monitoring of clinical outcomes. Finally, the jobholder will work closely with the tier 1 team in SCPT and co-facilitate brief DBT-informed workshops, as well as offer treatment planning reviews. The job will also require the post holder to offer consultation to other professionals and teams as appropriate, and plan and deliver training or teaching as needed. The post holder will also be required to contribute to service evaluation, audit and research.

About us

Lambeth: the second largest inner London Borough with an official population of around 350,000. The local population has needs related to a high level of social deprivation such as unemployment, poor social housing and child poverty. There are also pockets of greater affluence. There are high levels of morbidity, and levels and complexity of mental health problems are above the national average

The Trust:The South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) and committed to innovation, effective interventions and improved service user outcomes. It provides mental health services to the people of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon, and some more specialist services to people from across the UK.

We believe strongly in staff development and have excellent opportunities to develop this through CPD opportunities across SLaM and through strong links with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience.

The position is full-time and may involve remote as well as face to face working.

Lambeth is a borough of high social and psychological needs with considerable cultural diversity. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Details

Date posted

09 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inclusive of HCAs

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7455577

Job locations

Lambeth Secondary Care Psychology Therapies

151 Blackfriars Road

London

SE1 8EL


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
  • Assess clients for suitability for DBT. Where the problems appear to be too complex or severe to be appropriate for a trainee, therapist to refer to manager/supervisor for advice on how to manage the case.
  • Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the services referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary.
  • Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients, in inpatient and community settings, including care teams as needed.
  • Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying DBT formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
  • Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
  • Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
  • Remain up to date with pathway developments and be able to advocate and explain steps of care
  • Co-facilitate full DBT skills groups as well as informed workshops.
  • Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
  • Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
  • Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach and service flow.
  • Assess and integrate issues surrounding wider care, such as discharge, accommodation, work and employment into the overall therapy process.
  • Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post.
  • Apply learning form the training programme in practice.
  • Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.
  • Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g. BPS, UKCP, BABCP), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g. NHS plan, National Service Framework, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).
  • Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
  • Be aware of and keep up to date with advances in relevant spheres (DBT, presenting conditions).
  • Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
  • Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with manager.
  • Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
  • Keep up to date all records in relation to C.P.D. and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
  • Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
  • Contribute to the development of best practice within the service.
  • To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.
  • All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.
  • All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (2018) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.
  • It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

For more detail please see the full attached Job Description & Person Specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.
  • Assess clients for suitability for DBT. Where the problems appear to be too complex or severe to be appropriate for a trainee, therapist to refer to manager/supervisor for advice on how to manage the case.
  • Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the services referral protocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary.
  • Formulate, implement and evaluate therapy programmes for clients, in inpatient and community settings, including care teams as needed.
  • Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying DBT formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
  • Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
  • Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
  • Remain up to date with pathway developments and be able to advocate and explain steps of care
  • Co-facilitate full DBT skills groups as well as informed workshops.
  • Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
  • Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
  • Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach and service flow.
  • Assess and integrate issues surrounding wider care, such as discharge, accommodation, work and employment into the overall therapy process.
  • Attend and fulfil all the requirements of the training element of the post.
  • Apply learning form the training programme in practice.
  • Receive supervision from educational providers in relation to course work to meet the required standards.
  • Ensure the maintenance of standards of practice according to the employer and any regulating, professional and accrediting bodies (e.g. BPS, UKCP, BABCP), and keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set by the department of health (e.g. NHS plan, National Service Framework, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).
  • Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
  • Be aware of and keep up to date with advances in relevant spheres (DBT, presenting conditions).
  • Ensure clear professional objectives are identified, discussed and reviewed with senior therapists on a regular basis as part of continuing professional development.
  • Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with manager.
  • Participate in individual performance review and respond to agreed objectives.
  • Keep up to date all records in relation to C.P.D. and ensure personal development plan maintains up to date specialist knowledge of latest theoretical and service delivery models/developments.
  • Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professional objectives.
  • Contribute to the development of best practice within the service.
  • To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and procedures in relation to Mental Health and Primary Care Services.
  • All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.
  • All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (2018) and Security and Confidentiality Policies.
  • It is the responsibility of all staff that they do not abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

For more detail please see the full attached Job Description & Person Specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oEntry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration (A/I/E)
  • oIntensivelytrainedinDialectical Behaviour Therapy (A/I/D)
  • oEligible for accreditation with SfDBT

Desirable

  • oAccredited with SfDBT

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature (A/I/E)
  • oExperience of working with adult clients with a range of difficulties using CBT principles/skills (A/I/E)
  • oExperience of consulting with other staff (A/I/E)
  • oExperience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity (A/I/E)
  • oExperience of receiving regular clinical supervision across a range of client needs (A/I/E)

Desirable

  • oExperience of developing and carrying out research projects (A/I/D)
  • oExperienceofdelivering comprehensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (A/I/D)
  • oThe DBT Service and the Trust as a whole encourages and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health challenges. We see this as valuable and recognise the positive impact this experience can have on the work we do.

Knowledge / Skills

Essential

  • oKnowledge of psychological assessment and formulation (A/I/R/E)
  • oSpecialist and transferable psychological skills and knowledge relevant to working with clients with Borderline / Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (BPD/EUPD) or Complex Emotional Needs (A/I/E)
  • oTheoretical knowledge of CBT and DBT and psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment (A/I/R/E)
  • oKnowledge of key legislation relating to mental health issues and Borderline/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (BPD/EUPD) or Complex Emotional Needs (A/I/R/E)
  • oAwareness of racial diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care (A/I/R/E)

Desirable

  • oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for skills groups, presentations in public, professional and academic meetings A/I/R/D
  • oRecord of publications in academic or professional journals/books A/I/R/D
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oEntry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration (A/I/E)
  • oIntensivelytrainedinDialectical Behaviour Therapy (A/I/D)
  • oEligible for accreditation with SfDBT

Desirable

  • oAccredited with SfDBT

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature (A/I/E)
  • oExperience of working with adult clients with a range of difficulties using CBT principles/skills (A/I/E)
  • oExperience of consulting with other staff (A/I/E)
  • oExperience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity (A/I/E)
  • oExperience of receiving regular clinical supervision across a range of client needs (A/I/E)

Desirable

  • oExperience of developing and carrying out research projects (A/I/D)
  • oExperienceofdelivering comprehensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (A/I/D)
  • oThe DBT Service and the Trust as a whole encourages and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health challenges. We see this as valuable and recognise the positive impact this experience can have on the work we do.

Knowledge / Skills

Essential

  • oKnowledge of psychological assessment and formulation (A/I/R/E)
  • oSpecialist and transferable psychological skills and knowledge relevant to working with clients with Borderline / Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (BPD/EUPD) or Complex Emotional Needs (A/I/E)
  • oTheoretical knowledge of CBT and DBT and psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment (A/I/R/E)
  • oKnowledge of key legislation relating to mental health issues and Borderline/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (BPD/EUPD) or Complex Emotional Needs (A/I/R/E)
  • oAwareness of racial diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care (A/I/R/E)

Desirable

  • oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for skills groups, presentations in public, professional and academic meetings A/I/R/D
  • oRecord of publications in academic or professional journals/books A/I/R/D

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).

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.

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).

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

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Lambeth Secondary Care Psychology Therapies

151 Blackfriars Road

London

SE1 8EL


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Lambeth Secondary Care Psychology Therapies

151 Blackfriars Road

London

SE1 8EL


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Co-Lead Lambeth SCPT

Hielkje Verbrugge

hielkje.verbrugge@slam.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

09 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inclusive of HCAs

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7455577

Job locations

Lambeth Secondary Care Psychology Therapies

151 Blackfriars Road

London

SE1 8EL


Supporting documents

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