CAMHS Highly Specialist Therapist

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS mental health trust is seeking an experienced CAMHS Highly Specialist Therapist focusing on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. This role includes providing specialist assessments for young clients with mental health challenges and supervising junior staff. The position supports research and evaluation efforts within a collaborative, culturally sensitive environment. Opportunities exist for flexible working hours, contributing to a healthy work-life balance.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Supervision and training opportunities

Access to research projects

Qualifications

• Extensive experience with DBT in a clinical setting.
• Experience managing clients with complex mental health needs.
• Ability to supervise and train junior therapists.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specialist assessments and implement DBT interventions.
• Supervise Band 7 DBT Therapists and trainees.
• Participate in service evaluation and clinical audits.
• Provide teaching and consultation to other NHS teams.

Skills

DBT Therapy

Psychological assessments

Supervision and consultation

Cultural competence

Education

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent

Formal training in DBT

Clinical supervision training

Job description

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

CAMHS Highly Specialist Therapist (N&S DBT)

The closing date is 25 January 2026

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

• To provide highly specialist clinical input to the N&S CAMHS DBT Service including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
• 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.
• To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, within and outside of the team, functioning as a lead specialist in DBT.
• To undertake service evaluation, audit and research projects.

About us

The N&S CAMHS DBT Service is based at the Michael Rutter Centre, De Crespigny Park, SE5 8AZ on the Maudsley Hospital site. Located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2) and is within walking distance from the beautiful green spaces of Ruskin Park and the vibrant high‑street that offers great shopping opportunities and with a wide range of restaurants. (Due to move to the Pears Maudsley Children and Young People (PMCYP) at the Maudsley Hospital in early 2026)

The Trust is proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday from 9a.m. to 5p.m. with occasional slightly earlier starts or later finishes in line with service needs – which will allow a good work‑life balance. (This may include working early mornings, later evenings or Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post)

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

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, or MSc, PG Diploma or Doctorate in Counselling Psychology or equivalent nursing/family therapy/OT etc. qualification; or first level nursing qualification/registration RMN or RNLD; or other mental health professional training that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. (A/I)
• 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)
• Formal, foundational training in DBT‑Prolonged Exposure (DBT‑PE), EMDR or other evidence-based treatment for PTSD (A/I)

Experience

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

Understanding and Knowledge

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

Skills

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences. (A/)
• Skills in providing teaching and training to multi‑professional groups. (A/I)
• Skills in delivering CBT protocols with young people. (A/I)
• Skills in providing supervision/consultation to teams. (A/I)

Abilities

• 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)
• 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.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

£64,156 to £71,148 a yearper annum incl. of inner HCAs