DBT Therapist

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the Stevenage area seeks a DBT Therapist to join their Personality Disorder Pathway. This role includes providing psychological assessments and treatments for clients with personality disorders and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Candidates must have a core mental health qualification and commitment to DBT training. The annual salary range is £38,682 to £46,580, including 5% HCAS.

Qualifications

• Core professional qualification required (e.g., nursing, psychology, social work).
• Registration with relevant professional body (e.g., NMC, HCPC).
• Intensive training in DBT or commitment to complete DBT training and accreditation.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological assessments using various data sources.
• Implement treatment plans based on evidence-based frameworks.
• Evaluate treatment options considering complex factors.

Skills

Psychological assessment

DBT training

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Trauma-informed care

Autonomous working

Education

Qualification in a core mental health profession

Ongoing registration with a professional body

Job description

Overview

DBT Therapist - Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Stevenage and Hitchin area.

The closing date is 21 October 2025

The post is for psychological therapists from core professional backgrounds (e.g., CAPs, Psychiatric nurses, Social workers, Occupational therapists) to join the Personality Disorder Pathway in the North of Hertfordshire. The post holder will be based in Stevenage and Hitchin and will work closely with local DBT leads to provide a local DBT service and contribute to the wider network of therapists within the trust.

The post holder will provide specialist psychological assessment and treatment to clients with a diagnosis of personality disorder, and provide specialist support, guidance and consultation to colleagues, carers and other agencies regarding the psychological care of clients. There will be opportunities for close working with local and quadrant-wide psychological therapy teams and other colleagues, and the post holder will act as a resource on positive risk-taking and the management of people with personality disorder, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the team’s policies and procedures.

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 colleagues
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures
• 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 professionals

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is one of five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of "Outstanding" from the Care Quality Commission. Our family of over 4,000 staff provide health and social care across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering services in the community and in inpatient settings, underpinned by choice, independence and equality with our Trust values: Welcoming, Kind, Positive, Respectful, Professional.

We work to help people with mental ill health, learning disabilities and autism to live life to the fullest across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Norfolk.

Job responsibilities

To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the team using appropriate interpretation of complex data from a range of sources (psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, structured observations, semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients\' care).

To formulate and implement plans for formal psychological treatment and/or management of a client\'s mental health problems based on an evidence-based framework across the full range of care settings.

To be responsible for implementing psychological interventions within your area of specialty for individuals, carers, families and groups, adjusting formulations as the clinical situation evolves.

To evaluate and decide on treatment options considering theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors related to historical and developmental processes.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients managed by psychologically based standard care plans.

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

• 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 the body overseeing practice (e.g., NMC or HCPC).
• Intensive training in DBT or commitment to complete DBT Intensive Training and to achieve DBT Accreditation when available (e.g., through the PG Diploma in DBT).

Areas of Experience and Knowledge

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment across the full range of care settings (outpatient, community, adult mental health, inpatient).
• Experience with complex presentations including adults with personality disorders; ability to maintain professionalism under distressing circumstances.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary teamwork and inter-agency collaboration.
• Ability to teach and train others using diverse materials for public, professional and academic settings.
• Ability to take appropriate action to address issues or risks.
• Awareness of safeguarding procedures (Child and Adult).
• Awareness of current NHS initiatives and developments.
• Knowledge of clinical practices relating to severe and enduring mental health problems including personality issues.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team; experience of facilitating groups; ability to provide consultation to other professionals and non-professionals.
• Experience of service development/project management and service quality monitoring (e.g., clinical audit, evaluative research).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires aDisclosure to the DBS to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 per year, inclusive of 5% HCAS.