Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

DBT Therapist

The closing date is 21 Hydref 2025

Job summary

We are inviting applications from psychological therapists from a core professional background (e.g. CAP's, Psychiatric nurses, Social workers, OT's) to join our Personality Disorder Pathway in the North of Hertfordshire. The post holder will be based in Stevenage and Hitchin.

Working closely with the local DBT leads, this post offers an exciting opportunity to join an established group of therapists who provide a local DBT service, as well as joining the wider network of therapists, locally and across the trust.

The post holder will provide specialist psychological assessment and treatment to clients with a diagnosis of personality disorder within the service and provide specialist support, guidance and consultation to colleagues, carers and other agencies regarding the psychological care of clients.

There will be many opportunities for close working with local and quadrant-wide psychological therapy teams and other psychological therapy colleagues.

The post holder will act as a resource on positive risk-taking and the management of people with personality disorder, for staff within the community hubs, and work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team's policies and procedure.

Main duties of the job

To have good working relationships with multi-disciplinary colleagues in the community mental health team setting

To maintain close working relationships with psychological therapy colleagues both locally and quadrant-wide

To promote and maintain good working relationships with colleagues in the local Hub and beyond and with GPs and other stakeholders in the service.

To work closely with both psychological therapies staff and other non-psychological therapy colleague

To work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team's policies and procedure

To utilise research skills for audit, teaching, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service

To provide specialist psychological assessment and treatment including a range of evidence-based group and individual psychological interventions

To provide specialist support, guidance, and consultation relevant to personality disorders on clients' psychological care to other multi-disciplinary professional

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trustare one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission

Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

About us - Hertfordshire NHS Partnership Trust

Heard. Respected. Included. Together, we help people with mental ill-health, learning disabilities and autism to live life to the fullest. We work throughout Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk...https://www.hertsnhsgreattogether.co.uk/

Details

Date posted

26 Medi 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

367-ACMS-3890

Job locations

Ditchmore Lane Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self- report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients' care.

To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care setting

To be responsible for implementing psychological interventions from within your area of specialty for individuals, carers, families, and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining the psychological formulation according to the evolving clinical scenario.

To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options considering both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plan

For full details of the role and responsibilities for this vacancy please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification documents attached.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self- report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients' care.

To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care setting

To be responsible for implementing psychological interventions from within your area of specialty for individuals, carers, families, and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining the psychological formulation according to the evolving clinical scenario.

To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options considering both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plan

For full details of the role and responsibilities for this vacancy please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification documents attached.

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Qualification and continuing registration* in one of the core mental health professions e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical or counselling psychology, Clinical Associate in Psychology, social work or occupational therapy.
  • *Continuing registration with body overseeing practice of core mental health profession e.g. AND: NMC or HCPC.
  • Intensive training in DBT OR commitment to complete of DBT Intensive Training and commitment to achieve DBT Accreditation when this becomes available, if possible, through the PG Diploma in DBT. Continuing registration with body overseeing practice of core mental health profession, e.g., NMC or HCPC

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

  • Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, adult mental health and in patient settings
  • Experience of working with complex presentations including adults with personality disorders and maintaining professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
  • Knowledge and understanding of trauma informed care.
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration
  • Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
  • Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks
  • Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures
  • Awareness of current NHS initiatives and Developments
  • Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues relating to clients with severe and enduring mental health problems including personality issues.
  • Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
  • Experience of facilitating groups
  • Ability to provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups

Desirable

  • Experience of service development/project management
  • Experience of service quality monitoring e.g. clinical audit, evaluative research, etc.
Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Qualification and continuing registration* in one of the core mental health professions e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical or counselling psychology, Clinical Associate in Psychology, social work or occupational therapy.
  • *Continuing registration with body overseeing practice of core mental health profession e.g. AND: NMC or HCPC.
  • Intensive training in DBT OR commitment to complete of DBT Intensive Training and commitment to achieve DBT Accreditation when this becomes available, if possible, through the PG Diploma in DBT. Continuing registration with body overseeing practice of core mental health profession, e.g., NMC or HCPC

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

  • Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, adult mental health and in patient settings
  • Experience of working with complex presentations including adults with personality disorders and maintaining professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
  • Knowledge and understanding of trauma informed care.
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration
  • Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
  • Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks
  • Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures
  • Awareness of current NHS initiatives and Developments
  • Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues relating to clients with severe and enduring mental health problems including personality issues.
  • Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
  • Experience of facilitating groups
  • Ability to provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups

Desirable

  • Experience of service development/project management
  • Experience of service quality monitoring e.g. clinical audit, evaluative research, etc.

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

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ditchmore Lane Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ditchmore Lane Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Mariette Bothma

mariette.bothma@nhs.net

07483179027

Details

Date posted

26 Medi 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

367-ACMS-3890

Job locations

Ditchmore Lane Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ


Supporting documents

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