Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Team Lead

Powys Teaching Health Board; Montgomery; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Powys Adult Secondary Care Mental Health Services is developing a DBT service. This role leads a multi-disciplinary team, oversees DBT groups across community settings, and acts as clinical lead for practitioners and clients.

There will be opportunities for in-reach to wards and outreach to external placements with support for accreditation. The post supports training in advanced DBT and other therapies, with flexible blended home working and a base in Newtown, Brecon, Bronllys or Llandrindod

Qualifications

• Masters level or equivalent post graduate degree in clinical practice.
• Professional qualification leading to NMC/HCPC/Social Care Wales registration.
• DBT training and supervision: post-registration foundation/intensive training.
• Commitment to pursue DBT training/qualification within first year.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage DBT groups across community settings.
• Provide clinical lead to DBT practitioners and clients.
• Set up DBT in-reach to acute wards and outreach to out-of-County placements.
• Manage a small caseload of highly complex clients; conduct assessments and consultations.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical skills

Communication skills

Autonomy

Risk assessment

DBT knowledge

Team management

Education

Masters level or equivalent post graduate degree

Professional registration (NMC/HCPC/Social Care Wales)

Job description

Job summary

Powys Adult Secondary Care Mental Health Services are developing an exciting new Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT) service and are seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to grow and implement this new treatment service. This post will be responsible for leading a small multi-disciplinary team of DBT clinicians to effectively deliver DBT across working age adult mental health services. They will have operational oversight of the DBT groups and clients. The clients will have severe and complex trauma, interpersonal difficulties, low distress tolerance and emotional dysregulation issues.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a new specialist treatment pathway which has the power to bring hope and enduring change to clients. The post comes with a range of excellent development opportunities such as training in advanced DBT and other therapies, and support to become accredited. The post holder will lead and manage DBT groups across community settings, be a clinical lead to DBT practitioners and their clients, as well as setting-up mechanisms for DBT in-reach to acute wards and outreach to out-of-County placements. The post holder will manage a small caseload of highly complex clients, and conduct assessments, consultations and up-skilling opportunities to mental health teams. The DBT service is a treatment pathway of the Complex Emotional Needs Service, which sits within the broader Psychology Department and has full access to the resources and support of the wider psychology service. Applications would be welcomed from experienced, qualified and accredited DBT practitioners, or from newly trained practitioners willing to be supported to gain full DBT accreditation. All specialist training and supervision will be available and supported. This is a Pan-Powys post, with opportunities for some blended home working. The physical base will be negotiated on appointment (Newtown, Brecon, Bronllys or Llandrindod Wells) with some expectations of travel between bases during working hours. A request for part-time hours can be considered.

About us

Being the smallest Heath Board in Wales means that you won't get lost in the crowd. Everybody at Powys Teaching Health Board is valued for the contribution they make to our varied and diverse portfolio of community-based services. Together, we can continue to make a real difference to our patients and build on our unrivalled reputation.

As a supportive and progressive employer, we actively encourage you to carve out a career with us, through a range of development pathways. We're also lucky enough to be situated in one of the most beautiful rural counties in Britain, let alone Wales! Achieving a healthy 'life work' balance is essential, and something we recognise by prioritising your well-being.

There you will find information about our benefits and values, read staff experiences and more about what our beautiful county has to offer.

Details

Date posted: 26 October 2026 Pay scheme: Agenda for change Band: Band 7 Salary: £50,129 to £57,365 a year per annum Contract: Permanent Working pattern: Full-time Reference number: 070-NMR103-1026 Job locations: TBC, Brecon / Bronllys / Llandrindod Wells / Newtown, LD3 0LY, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

We would particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers; but even if you dont speak any Welsh, or want to develop your skills, dont worry: the health board will support you with training.

Person specification - key highlights

Qualifications & Knowledge Essential

• Educated to Masters level or equivalent post graduate degree level qualification and/or demonstrable equivalent experience in clinical practice
• Professional qualification obtained in Health or Social Care that led to professional registration held with NMC (Mental Health Nurse), HCPC (Occupational Therapist or Practitioner Psychologist), or Social Care Wales (Social Worker)
• Post registration foundation / intensive training in DBT with evidenced DBT practice and supervision
• Additional specialist training and expertise in DBT such as DBT master class. Where this in not in place currently, then a commitment to pursue this training/qualification in the first year of post.
• In addition, training/knowledge in at least one other psychological or psycho-social intervention
• Highly developed specialist knowledge and expertise of working therapeutically with people with very serious mental health issues and suicidal behaviour, including appropriate use of risk assessments, acquired through a combination of in-depth experience and advanced training skills developed through specialist post registration training
• Highly specialist knowledge of complex emotional needs clinical area and client group
• Demonstrates very good level of knowledge and understanding of the importance of evidence based psychological therapies and applicability for people with severe mental health difficulties and complex trauma
• Demonstrates very good theoretical knowledge of collaborative and person-centred psychological formulation
• Good record of Continuing Professional Development

Experience

Essential

• Experience of utilising leadership and management skills
• Experience of supervising staff clinically and/or managerially
• Experience of managing and overseeing concerns and complaints, investigations and service performance issues.
• Significant post qualification experience working as a qualified/registered/accredited mental health practitioner
• Significant experience of working in secondary mental health services with people experiencing complex emotional needs
• Significant experience of delivering DBT as part of a comprehensive DBT service
• Relevant previous experience of working in a multi professional/agency setting
• Experience of teaching and liaising with other professional groups
• Experience of risk assessment and risk management
• Experience of service development and improvement and change management

Skills & Attributes

Essential

• Able to demonstrate leadership skills and ability to manage a team
• Must be able to delegate work appropriately
• Highly developed clinical and communication skills
• Ability to be effective in a highly skilled specialist multi-disciplinary team
• Must be able make autonomous decisions, to work autonomously and take responsibility for own practice and time keeping
• Highly specialist knowledge of complex emotional needs clinical area and client group required to perform effectively in the post
• Ability to draw information from a variety of sources and make decisions relating to risk and complex factors; evaluating options and developing and organizing treatment programs for clients
• Ability to skilfully communicate and engage difficult to treat clients, constructively overcoming resistance and fears to treatment
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships

Person Specification

Qualification and Knowledge

Essential

• Educated to master's level or equivalent post graduate degree level qualification and/or demonstrable equivalent experience in clinical practice
• Professional qualification obtained in Health or Social Care that led to professional registration held with NMC (Mental Health Nurse), HCPC (Occupational Therapist or Practitioner Psychologist), or Social Care Wales (Social Worker)
• DBT knowledge and experience
• Experience and knowledge of another therapeutic model
• Experience and knowledge of working with CEN and complex trauma clients with severe mental health difficulties

Desirable

• A DBT qualification, training beyond entry-level or specific advanced accreditation in DBT

Experience

Essential

• leadership and/or operational management experience
• Extensive experience of working as a qualified mental health professional

Desirable

• Experience of line managing staff and/or recruitment

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Excellent communication and inter-personal effectiveness skills
• Ability to work clinically autonomously including managing complex cases and risk

Desirable

• Research, service evaluation and/or service development experience

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: Powys Teaching Health Board

Employer's website: https://pthb.nhs.wales/working-for-us/

Employer contact details: Consultant Clinical Psychologist and CENS Lead, Dr Andrew Turner, [e-mail], 07796004475