Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Therapist

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a clinician to deliver a structured DBT-A programme for young people with high-risk behaviours, including self-harm and emotional dysregulation. The post involves individual therapy, multifamily group skills training, telephone coaching, and active participation in the weekly DBT consultation team with CAMHS and crisis services.

This is a newly established role to support service development, audit, and quality improvement, with involvement in launching the

Job description

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.

Additionally, this is a newly established role to contribute to our growing service and opening our Family Connections Programme.

Family Connections is an evidence-based program developed by BPD Alliance for family members and loved ones supporting someone with borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits or chronic emotion dysregulation. Family Connections blends education, practical skills, and peer support to help participants better understand what their loved one is experiencingand to respond with greater confidence, clarity, and compassion.

The post holder will be expected to take part in facilitating our Family Connections programme. 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.

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex. We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.