CAMHS Highly Specialist Therapist (N&S DBT)

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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust CAMHS Highly Specialist Therapist (N&S DBT)

The closing date is 27 September 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

The N&S CAMHS DBT Service is looking for an experienced and committed Senior DBT Therapist to join our established Dialectical Behaviour Therapy team. This is a fantastic opportunity to join us in delivering a high-quality, evidence-based Dialectical Behaviour Therapy programme with young people and their parents and carers. There are also opportunities to be involved in our active programme of research and service evaluation, as well as teaching, supervision and consultation to other NHS teams.

We believe diversity is a strength and we particularly welcome applications from those underrepresented in psychology, i.e. minoritised racial, ethnic and cultural groups, as well as people from all marginalised groups, communities and backgrounds.

Main duties of the job

o To provide highly specialist clinical input to the N&S CAMHS DBT Service including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.o To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment and developing anti-racism knowledge and practice.o To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, within and outside of the team, functioning as a lead specialist in DBT.o To undertake service evaluation, audit and research projects.

About us

The National & Specialist CAMHS Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Service is a well-established and supportive team based at the Pears Maudsley Children and Young People (PMCYP) at the Maudsley Hospital Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ. The multi-disciplinary service consists of Clinical and Counselling Psychologists, a Senior Systemic Psychotherapist, Nurses and a Consultant Psychiatrist, and is open to referrals within South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Greater London Boroughs and Nationally.As a service we offer a comprehensive, evidence-based DBT-A Programme (DBT adapted for working with adolescents and their parents/carers, as recommended by NICE for young people with frequent self-harm and emotion dysregulation difficulties). The team offers all modes of a standard DBT-A programme including individual therapy, skills groups for young people and their parents/carers, telephone coaching, parent/carer/family sessions, and team consultation. We see young people aged 13-17 who meet our inclusion criteria (they struggle primarily with severe self-harm, suicidality, and related problems). The treatment targets self-harm behaviours and other high-risk behaviours and helps young people learn to manage their emotions, improve their relationships with others and to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings.

Details

Date posted

11 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£66,274 to £73,496 a year Pro rata per annum inclusive of HCAS (Inner)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

334-CLI-8199529

Job locations

Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People (PMCYP)

S L A M NHS Foundation Trust

London

SE5 8AZ

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide highly specialist psychosocial assessments, formulations and adherent DBT and related interventions for clients in the N&S CAMHS DBT Service, working with young people with emotion dysregulation, self-harm and suicidality, complex PTSD and comorbidities such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders, and their parents/carers To assess and monitor risk and to develop and implement appropriate risk management plans. To respond appropriately and effectively to emotionally distressing situations (including young people presenting with imminent risk concerns) and to support others in doing so. To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse communities. To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services. To utilise theory and research to support evidence-based practice in providing treatment and supporting the work of other team members. To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects. To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities. To be responsible for the clinical supervision of Band 7 DBT Therapists. To supervise trainee clinicians, within own area of specialism. To provide teaching, supervision and consultation to other NHS teams, as appropriate. To contribute to research, service evaluation and audit projects To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles. To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior clinician according to professional, HCPC and Trust guidelines.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide highly specialist psychosocial assessments, formulations and adherent DBT and related interventions for clients in the N&S CAMHS DBT Service, working with young people with emotion dysregulation, self-harm and suicidality, complex PTSD and comorbidities such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders, and their parents/carers To assess and monitor risk and to develop and implement appropriate risk management plans. To respond appropriately and effectively to emotionally distressing situations (including young people presenting with imminent risk concerns) and to support others in doing so. To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse communities. To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services. To utilise theory and research to support evidence-based practice in providing treatment and supporting the work of other team members. To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects. To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities. To be responsible for the clinical supervision of Band 7 DBT Therapists. To supervise trainee clinicians, within own area of specialism. To provide teaching, supervision and consultation to other NHS teams, as appropriate. To contribute to research, service evaluation and audit projects To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles. To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior clinician according to professional, HCPC and Trust guidelines.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology*, or MSc PG Diploma or Doctorate in Counselling Psychology* or equivalent nursing / family therapy / occupational therapy / social work qualification OR First level nursing qualification/registration RMN or RNLD or Post Grad Diploma Specialist Training
• Registration with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist* or equivalent professional registration with AFT, UKCP, NMC or other professional body.
• Additional training in DBT through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in DBT, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. (A/I)
• Completed training course in clinical supervision and/or management. (A/I)

Desirable

• Formal, foundational training in DBT-Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), EMDR or other evidence-based treatment for PTSD (A/I)
• Management qualification, management training course completion or line management experience (A/I)

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of considerable experience working as a DBT Therapist in a comprehensive DBT programme. (A/I)
• Experience of specialist assessment and treatment of clients with a range of complex mental health needs who present with emotion dysregulation, self-harm, suicidality, PTSD and problems of over- and under-control related to eating. (A/I)
• Evidence of supervising other practitioners in the delivery of psychological interventions (A/I)

Desirable

• Post-qualification experience of working in a CAMHS setting
• Experience of working within a DBT service (including running DBT groups with young people and their parents/carers). (A/I)

Understanding and Knowledge

Essential

• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment of young people with self-harm/emotion dysregulation/emerging EUPD and PTSD. (A/I)
• Advanced knowledge of complex CAMHS assessments and clinical psychometrics. (A/I)
• Understanding and knowledge of child protection procedures and safeguarding (A/I)

Desirable

• Understanding and knowledge of CAMHS care pathways within the NHS (A/I)

Skills

Essential

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/)
• Skills in providing teaching and training to multi-professional groups (A/I)

Desirable

• Skills in delivering CBT protocols with young people (A/I)
• Skills in providing supervision/consultation to teams (A/I)

Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I)
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings (A/I)
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour. (A/I)

Desirable

• Ability to work with young people with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD (A/I)
• Ability to convene and chair multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings with young people and their families (A/I)

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology*, or MSc PG Diploma or Doctorate in Counselling Psychology* or equivalent nursing / family therapy / occupational therapy / social work qualification OR First level nursing qualification/registration RMN or RNLD or Post Grad Diploma Specialist Training
• Registration with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist* or equivalent professional registration with AFT, UKCP, NMC or other professional body.
• Additional training in DBT through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in DBT, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. (A/I)
• Completed training course in clinical supervision and/or management. (A/I)

Desirable

• Formal, foundational training in DBT-Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), EMDR or other evidence-based treatment for PTSD (A/I)
• Management qualification, management training course completion or line management experience (A/I)

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of considerable experience working as a DBT Therapist in a comprehensive DBT programme. (A/I)
• Experience of specialist assessment and treatment of clients with a range of complex mental health needs who present with emotion dysregulation, self-harm, suicidality, PTSD and problems of over- and under-control related to eating. (A/I)
• Evidence of supervising other practitioners in the delivery of psychological interventions (A/I)

Desirable

• Post-qualification experience of working in a CAMHS setting
• Experience of working within a DBT service (including running DBT groups with young people and their parents/carers). (A/I)

Understanding and Knowledge

Essential

• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment of young people with self-harm/emotion dysregulation/emerging EUPD and PTSD. (A/I)
• Advanced knowledge of complex CAMHS assessments and clinical psychometrics. (A/I)
• Understanding and knowledge of child protection procedures and safeguarding (A/I)

Desirable

• Understanding and knowledge of CAMHS care pathways within the NHS (A/I)

Skills

Essential

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/)
• Skills in providing teaching and training to multi-professional groups (A/I)

Desirable

• Skills in delivering CBT protocols with young people (A/I)
• Skills in providing supervision/consultation to teams (A/I)

Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. (A/I)
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings (A/I)
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour. (A/I)

Desirable

• Ability to work with young people with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD (A/I)
• Ability to convene and chair multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings with young people and their families (A/I)

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

Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People (PMCYP)

S L A M NHS Foundation Trust

London

SE5 8AZ

United Kingdom

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

Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People (PMCYP)

S L A M NHS Foundation Trust

London

SE5 8AZ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Systemic Psychotherapist

Helen Wilde

[email protected]

Details

Date posted

11 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£66,274 to £73,496 a year Pro rata per annum inclusive of HCAS (Inner)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

334-CLI-8199529

Job locations

Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People (PMCYP)

S L A M NHS Foundation Trust

London

SE5 8AZ

United Kingdom

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