Dialectical Behaviour Therapist

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A dedicated health service organization in the United Kingdom is seeking experienced Band 7 Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Therapists. The role involves delivering DBT programmes, including individual therapy and group skills training, to adults facing complex emotional challenges. Candidates should have a relevant qualification at the graduate diploma level and experience in secondary care mental health services. This position promotes collaboration within multidisciplinary teams while maintaining high standards of care and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Supervision from an accredited DBT supervisor

CPD opportunities

Involvement in service development

Qualifications

• Experience working in secondary care mental health services.
• Skills in applying DBT theory to varied contexts.
• Experience supervising DBT staff and running DBT groups.

Responsibilities

• Deliver DBT individual therapy and co-facilitate skills groups.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for coordinated care.
• Engage in service evaluation, quality improvement, and outcome monitoring.

Skills

DBT theory application

Assessment and formulation

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Risk assessment

Education

Registered qualification in Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Arts Therapy, or psychological therapy discipline

Completed Diploma level training in DBT

Strong record of Continuing Professional Development

Job description

We are seeking experienced and motivated Band 7 Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Therapists to join Adult Core Mental Health Services across Devon. There is currently one full–time post covering Torbay, South and West Devon and a part‑time post covering Exeter and East Devon.

Successful candidates will join established locality DBT services to deliver DBT programmes, including individual therapy and group skills training, to adults with complex emotional and relational difficulties, often linked to personality disorder or significant emotion dysregulation.

Post holders will work within a developing evidence‑based DBT pathway, holding a defined caseload and delivering the full range of DBT interventions, including individual therapy, skills groups, and weekly consultation meetings.

The role involves collaboration with multidisciplinary CMHT colleagues to provide coordinated, trauma‑informed, recovery‑focused care, while supporting the embedding of DBT principles and psychologically informed practice.

This is an opportunity to contribute to a countywide initiative enhancing access to structured psychological interventions. Post holders will receive supervision from an accredited DBT supervisor, CPD opportunities, and involvement in service development and evaluation.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver DBT individual therapy and co‑facilitate skills groups in line with the evidence‑based model, including behavioural analysis, telephone coaching, and participation in weekly DBT consultation meetings.
• Work collaboratively within Community Mental Health Teams to provide coordinated, trauma‑informed, recovery‑focused care.
• Undertake assessments, formulations, and risk management, maintaining accurate clinical records.
• Contribute to local DBT pathway development, provide supervision or consultation to colleagues, and promote psychologically informed practice.
• Engage in service evaluation, quality improvement, and outcome monitoring to ensure fidelity and effectiveness.
• Maintain professional registration, supervision, and CPD.
• Uphold ethical standards, equality, diversity, and trauma‑informed care principles; support a compassionate, collaborative team culture across Adult Core Mental Health Services.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing and strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people’s recovery.

We are committed to a culture of co‑production, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do.

Our values: We recruit based on qualifications & experience, and on behaviours that underpin our Trusts core values, including commitment to quality care, improving lives of others, respect, dignity & compassion.

We are an inclusive employer and encourage applications from all sections of the community, regardless of protected characteristics, in line with the Equality Act 2010. Part‑time & flexible working applications will be considered and supported where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience working in secondary care mental health services.
• Skills in applying DBT theory to individuals, couples, family systems, groups, and organisations.
• Advanced skills in assessment, formulation, engagement, and interventions.
• Experience as a DBT Therapist within a Mental Health setting.
• Knowledge of national targets (e.g., Access & Waiting Time Standards).
• Experience working with people with severe and complex mental health problems, using DBT as a core component.
• Experience of teaching and training others in DBT skills/approaches.
• Experience of running DBT groups and skills training.
• Experience of supervising staff in using DBT.
• Completed clinical audits within a service.

Qualifications

• Registered qualification at graduate diploma level in Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Arts Therapy, or a psychological therapy discipline.
• Completed Diploma level training in DBT (or above) or willingness to undertake Diploma level training and be paid at Band 6 until completion.
• Strong record of Continuing Professional Development and willingness to continue this.
• Trained in provision of supervision for DBT.

Analytical & Judgemental Skills

• Ability to make judgements involving complex facts or situations.
• Experience of carrying out risk assessments within scope of practice.
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively.
• Self‑reflective in personal and professional development.

Communication & Working Relationships

• Ability to communicate highly complex information with empathy and sensitivity.
• Full range of skills and competencies as laid out in the DBT competence framework.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• High standards of written communication, including email and internet use.
• Ability to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
• Ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients.
• Advanced communication skills and ability to work within a team.
• Ability to act as an advocate for the service and foster integration with other health services.
• Ability to provide detailed advice to professionals and non‑specialists.
• Compassionate with exceptional interpersonal skills, sensitive and empathetic.
• Listens to others’ views, respecting individual needs.

Planning & Organisational Skills

• Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan activities.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workload.
• Ability to meet agreed service targets.
• Ability to manage own caseload effectively.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required to check for any previous criminal convictions.