NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
Senior DBT Therapist
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Job Overview
The post holder will be a key member of a developing specialist DBT-A service within CAMHS, delivering a comprehensive, evidence-based Dialectical Behaviour Therapy pathway to adolescents presenting with high-risk behaviours and complex emotional needs. This includes young people who have histories of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and traits consistent with emerging Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder.
This is part of an exciting expansion of CAMHS specialist services within the North, East and Central London (NCEL) collaborative that align closely to national, regional and local health and care goals and objectives for improving access to specialist care for young people with complex emotional needs. The post holder will work across multidisciplinary teams and in collaboration with Tier 4 services, CAMHS, crisis teams and community agencies to ensure timely access to specialist DBT-A intervention, and continuity of care across transitions.
Job Summary
The role is a 1-year fixed term opportunity (or possible secondment) with the aim of securing further extension into a permanent role with the successful implementation of the service. The service offers a consistent, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to young people presenting with high-risk behaviours including self-harm, suicidal ideation, and emotional dysregulation. The primary aim is to reduce inpatient admissions and A&E presentations, support timely transitions from inpatient to community settings, and enhance the long-term emotional wellbeing of young people and their families.
The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of a high-quality, structured fully comprehensive DBT-A programme, including individual therapy, multifamily group skills training, telephone coaching and active participation in the weekly DBT consultation team. They will work closely with other DBT therapists, CAMHS colleagues, crisis teams, schools, Tier 4 providers, and other community stakeholders to ensure effective engagement, risk management, and continuity of care for young people accessing the pathway.
The role includes contributing to the coordination and implementation of the DBT-A model within a multi-disciplinary framework, providing specialist DBT assessment and intervention, supporting trauma-informed care planning, and offering consultation and training to professionals across the local system. The post holder will also support the ongoing development and evaluation of the DBT-A service through audit, clinical outcome monitoring, and quality improvement activity.
Working within professional guidelines and the DBT model, the post holder will demonstrate a high level of clinical autonomy, and will actively contribute to maintaining governance, supervision standards, and the overall fidelity of the DBT-A model.
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Key Responsibilities
- To provide specialist DBT assessments for young people presenting with complex emotional needs, drawing on structured interviews, self-report measures, behavioural observations, and collateral information from families, schools and professionals.
- To formulate and deliver individualised DBT treatment plans for young people based on a robust psychological formulation, identifying crisis patterns, vulnerabilities and behavioural targets, in line with evidence-based practice.
- To deliver all components of the standard DBT-A model, including weekly individual therapy, co-facilitating multi-family skills training groups, phone coaching (during working hours), and participating in weekly DBT consultation meetings.
- To co-facilitate multi-family DBT skills groups, contributing to the delivery of DBT content to both young people and their parents/carers.
- To provide DBT-informed parent/carer coaching and family sessions as part of the standard DBT-A model, and to support the inclusion of carers in the therapeutic process where clinically appropriate.
- To undertake comprehensive assessments with parents and carers as part of pre-treatment and formulation development.
- To contribute to the maintenance of treatment fidelity through active participation in the DBT consultation team, offering and receiving peer consultation to support high-quality, consistent DBT delivery.
- To monitor and evaluate therapeutic outcomes using routine outcome measures, goal-based outcomes, and behavioural tracking tools, adapting interventions accordingly.
- To provide specialist DBT-informed consultation and advice to colleagues within CAMHS and external partner agencies (e.g., schools, social care, inpatient units), promoting psychologically informed care and trauma-sensitive practice.
- To support the delivery of psychoeducation and DBT-informed interventions to families and carers, in collaboration with colleagues where appropriate.
- To contribute to multi-disciplinary risk assessments, formulations and management plans, including assessing and responding to risk of suicide, self-harm, and other high-risk behaviours.
- To work collaboratively with professionals across agencies to ensure coordinated, holistic care planning and safe transitions, including discharge planning and step-down from inpatient care.
- To maintain high standards of clinical record keeping in accordance with professional and Trust guidelines, including contemporaneous notes, formulation summaries, risk documentation, and structured reports.
- To receive regular specialist DBT supervision and clinical supervision, engage in continuing professional development, and contribute to a learning culture within the team.
- To contribute to the development and improvement of the DBT-A service through participation in audit, service evaluation, and team learning forums.
- To practice within professional ethical guidelines and Trust policies, including safeguarding, health and safety, information governance, and equality and diversity.
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Please see the attached job description for further information on this post.
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
High Cost Area Supplement Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME)
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,870 to a maximum of £6,137 p.a. pro rata for part time).
Working for Us
Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.
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