Senior DBT Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Responsibilities

To formulate a range of treatment options within the context of a DBT service, based on an appropriate conceptual framework and employing methods based upon evidence e.g. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines

To be responsible for a substantial caseload of complex assessment, treatment and consultation work and to identify priorities of action in complex circumstances.

To work in ways which are sensitive to and appropriate for the needs of families from a wide range of racial, cultural and religious backgrounds. This includes abilities to understand and offer therapeutic interventions to a variety of family forms including single parents, same sex couples and their families, extended families and people with mental health difficulties

Working Relationships and Communication Requirements of the Job

Working relationships

To have good working relationships with multi-disciplinary colleagues

To maintain close working relationships with colleagues of their relevant discipline as well as and other Psychological Therapists both locally and CYPMHS-wide

To promote and maintain good working relationships with colleagues in all areas of The DBT Service as appropriate

To promote and maintain good working relationships with clients, their families, carers and other external agencies

To have good working relationships within HPFT

Clinical Responsibilities

To practice in a way which is inclusive and considerate of the needs of each individual in the system and their varying developmental stages and current emotional state

To be responsible for ensuring that consultation, assessment and treatment interventions are provided in partnership with children, adolescents and their families

To be responsible for implementing DBT interventions, for individuals, carers, families and groups, including meetings with parents, family members and caring networks

To be responsible for organizing, attending and chairing professional meetings and reviews as appropriate

To provide specialist consultation to professionals and agencies outside of the Trust in relation to highly complex cases (for example, families with multi-agency involvement)

This will include liaison and working with professional networks involved with complex, emotive and often conflictual issues such as those involving child protection, deliberate self-harm, violence, trauma and suicide risk

To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account complex factors concerning historical, familial, social, educational and developmental processes which have impacted on the young person and their family

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility under the supervision of the DBT Therapy Team Lead for the assessment, treatment and discharge of patients as appropriate. To be responsible for ensuring that referrals and discharges are made in accordance with relevant policy and procedures and the principles of good practice

To manage complex clinical planning, and provide specialist consultation, advice and guidance to other professionals working with families both within the service and in partner agencies. This will include liaison and working with professional networks involved with complex, emotive and often conflicting issues

To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner information concerning assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients

To effectively communicate professional opinion, verbally and in writing to families, other professionals, statutory and voluntary agencies and to maintain close links with relevant clinicians and services

To provide reports for court and case conferences as appropriate

To work in partnership with other agencies to ensure that Child Protection issues are addressed effectively and within all local procedures

At all times to be mindful of risk (suicidality, self-harm, violence, abuse), to carry out risk assessments when indicated and to intervene to minimize risk

To undertake urgent mental health assessments of overdose and serious self-harm and to advise staff on risk

Communication requirements

The Trust is committed to providing services to both internal and external clients of the highest possible standards and each employee is required to reflect this in all aspects of their work. The service aims to be non-discriminatory on the grounds of race and gender, and staff are expected to be aware of, and respond to, the different cultures of clients and families using the service

The service aims to be non-discriminatory on the grounds of race and gender, and staff are expected to be aware of, and respond to, the different cultures of clients and families using the service

To maintain adequate clinical notes as well as reports for internal use and external agencies, as well as maintaining good communication with referrers and other professionals involved with young people attending the clinic

To maintain appropriate Professional Registration

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibilities

Teaching, Training and Supervision

To be responsible for assisting in the provision of DBT training and the promotion of DBT thinking and ideas as part of the continuing professional development of multidisciplinary team members and training to other agencies. To make a contribution to the team as a specialist team resource.

To supervise trainees on placement with The DBT Service as agreed with DBT Lead Therapist and relevant Consultant Lead.

To provide clinical/professional supervision to more junior child and adolescent clinicians within DBT Service as necessary and as agreed with appropriate operational mangers and professional/consultant leads including the Lead of the relevant profession

To provide clinical supervision to other disciplines within The DBT Service as agreed with Operational Managers and Professional Lead for Psychological Services (CAMHS)

To act as a specialist resource through provision of consultation and training to the multidisciplinary team and to other health and social care agencies

To contribute to in-service training days and training of staff from other agencies on issues of practice and complex mental health issues

To develop skills, and undertake post-graduate training as appropriate, in the area of post-graduate teaching, training and supervision

As agreed with the Operational Managers and Professional Leads (including Consultant Lead) to receive regular individual clinical and professional supervision from a more senior clinical supervision from other senior professional colleagues as appropriate and participate in regular peer supervision within the CAMHS team in accordance with Trust supervision policy and as required for Registration

Service Development and Improvement

To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of The DBT Services operational policies and services through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. This will include, where required, assisting with the completion of statistical information to ensure quality and quantity of services available or highlight areas of deficit

To regularly promote, conduct and collaborate in such clinically relevant research projects as agreed and appropriate

To seek ways of involving children and families in the design of user-friendly research methods and create opportunities for feedback from service users and use this to enhance and develop service delivery

To contribute to the supervision and organisation of research carried out by less experienced clinician and multi-disciplinary colleagues within The DBT Service, ensuring attention is paid to disseminating findings and that appropriate Trust Research and Development guidelines are followed

To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where sand/or organisational matters need addressing

To propose and implement changes in the development of policies, procedures and plans in order to enhance and develop The DBT Service as part of a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the evidence base in relation to DBT and other related psychotherapies and to use such knowledge to develop The DBT Service, inform the post-holders own clinical practice, the supervision of trainees as appropriate and consultation to colleagues in other disciplines

To attend and actively participate in team meetings to share, promote and integrate DBT thinking and practice in the work of the multidisciplinary team

Person Specification

Essential and desirable

Essential

• Professional qualification (RMN, RGN or RSCN; Clinical/Counselling Psychologist; social worker)
• DBT Trained (Intensive or Foundation) with experience of working within the model in an outpatient setting
• Registered with the appropriate professional body such as the HCPC, UKCP; ACP
• Substantial experience of working with children and/or adolescents and families in a relevant mental health or social welfare setting or equivalent, including experience within DBT model

Desirable

• Experience of supervising junior colleagues and trainees

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

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

15 Forest Lane

Kingsley Green

Radlett

WD7 9HQ

Employer's website

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