Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist

NHS; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health charity is looking for a Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist to manage and support a clinical team in Birmingham. The role involves delivering unique interventions and creating effective safety plans for men in crisis. Successful candidates will have a strong mental health background and experience in team management. This position offers a chance to shape the service culture and improve lives through evidence-based interventions in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive training and support

Opportunity to shape local culture

Qualifications

• Experience of leading, supervising and developing a team.
• Demonstrable knowledge of factors contributing to male suicide.
• Ability to conduct effective risk assessments.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial assessments and deliver therapeutic interventions.
• Lead and support peer support sessions.
• Manage the clinical team and ensure effective care delivery.

Skills

Mental health experience

Team management

Crisis intervention

Effective communication

Education

Relevant mental health qualification

Job description

We are recruiting for a teamof clinicians to deliver our clinical proven intervention at our new JamesPlace centre in Birmingham, due to open in early 2026. As a Senior SuicidePrevention Therapist, you will work alongside the Head of Centre to manage andsupport the clinical team in delivering our unique intervention andco-producing effective safety plans to maintain their safety. You will be anexperienced mental health professional or therapist with demonstrable interestin suicide prevention and team management and leadership. You will support menwho are experiencing a suicidal crisis and their supporter(s), delivering ourunique intervention and co-producing effective safety plans to maintain theirsafety. Successful applicants will be joining a new team at a pivotal time andwill have the opportunity to shape the local culture at James Place Birmingham.Training and support will be provided by the Head of Centre in Birmingham andthe wider James Place team.

To apply, please submit your CV with a cover letter of up to 2 sides of A4 explaining why you are applying for this role to [e-mail]. It is important to demonstrate you have the essential knowledge, skills and experience we are looking for in your CV and cover letter. Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.

This position is being recruitedon a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to submit their applications asearly as possible.

Main duties of the job

• Work as a duty therapist to triage and assess suitability of James Place referrals daily
• Take full clinical responsibility of the men under James Place care, as a co-leader of the clinical team and in consultation with Head of Centre
• Lead and support peer support sessions, caseload discussions and reflective practice with the team
• Create an environment in which confidentiality, privacy and dignity are respected and be clear with clients about limits of confidentiality
• Lead on the creation and facilitation of a Peer Support Group once James Place Birmingham is well-established
• Deputise for the Head of Centre when required

About us

Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London and Newcastle.

James Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didnt find it.

James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. who walk through the door at James Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected. We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families.We have so far treated over 4,300 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.

In early 2026 we will be opening our fourth centre in Birmingham. Our new centre in Birmingham will be there to support suicidal men living in the West Midlands.

Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Senior Clinical Duties

• Work as a duty therapist totriage and assess suitability of James Place referrals daily
• Take full clinicalresponsibility of the men under James Place care, as a co-leader of theclinical team and in consultation with Head of Centre
• Lead and support peer supportsessions, caseload discussions and reflective practice with the team
• Create an environment inwhich confidentiality, privacy and dignity are respected and be clear withclients about limits of confidentiality
• Lead on the creation andfacilitation of a Peer Support Group once James Place Birmingham iswell-established
• Deputise for the Head ofCentre when required

Clinical

• Conduct initial WelcomeAssessments with men in a suicidal crisis, assessing risk and the suitabilityof the James Place intervention and co-producing effective safety plans
• Deliver our therapeuticintervention, building trust and exploring the reasons for crisis
• Use the Lay Your Cards on theTable intervention to encourage men to talk about and explore their feelings,attitudes and behaviours and develop positive coping strategies
• Escalate care to appropriateservices when necessary, including emergency services and secondary mentalhealth teams
• Deliver one-off guidance sessionsto supporters of men under the James Place care
• Work collaboratively withother professionals to coordinate comprehensive care
• Undergo clinical supervisionwith a qualified supervisor to reflect on clinical work and raise any issues orconcerns arising from work
• Remain up to date withdevelopments in law, theories and research
• Maintain confidentiality andadhere to ethical standards
• Complete session notes in atimely and effective manner
• Participate in continuousprofessional development and engage in training provided both internally andexternally
• Support the ClinicalAdministration team as and when necessary

Leadership and Management

• Manage, support and lead SuicidePrevention Therapists, encouraging staff to develop and grow
• Conduct regular probationreviews, monthly 1:1s and annual appraisals with staff
• Conduct therapist casereviews to ensure work is completed safely, effectively and in accordance withJames Place policies and procedures
• Confidently identify and sensitively communicate areas fordevelopment and conduct performancemanagement reviews when necessary
• Demonstrate and promoteself-awareness and regularly dedicate time and space, inside and outside ofwork, to keeping yourself and the team well
• Provide support to accesstraining and other developmental activities

Outreach and Engagement

• Work alongside the Head ofCentre to actively increase contact with localcommunity organisations able to refer to us or offer move on support for mencompleting our intervention
• Support the fundraising team tobring potential supporters into our building and showcase our work, includingthe facilitation of events

Values

• Demonstrate commitmentto the James Place values of Focus, Bravery, Respect, Compassion,Professionalism, Collaboration and Hope through all aspects of work

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A Core Profession such as Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Work England, counselling or practitioner psychologist registered with NMC, HCPC, or Social Work England
• or
• Accreditation as a psychological therapist, psychotherapist, or counsellor registered with BACP, UKCP, BABCP or equivalent, or have completed training and awaiting accreditation
• You must hold a relevant qualification to be considered for this role.

Experience

• Knowledge, Skills and Experience
• Experience of leading, supervising and developing a team or others
• Experience of holding supervision, reflective practice and or case management with colleagues
• Experience of decision making, when asked by colleagues for advice and support
• Experience of triaging referrals and demonstrating accountability for decisions made
• Experience of modelling best practice to others and working to address issues of performance and competency when they arise
• Willingness to cover Head of Centre delegated duties when needed (e.g. leave and other absence)
• Commitment to continued professional development and can evidence additional learning since completion of core training
• Demonstrable experience working with adults experiencing acute psychological distress
• Demonstrable knowledge of social and other factors which could lead to suicidal thinking and actions
• Demonstrable knowledge of the factors contributing to male suicide
• Evidence of being able to deliver a therapeutic session and work in a therapeutic environment
• Effective communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to manage difficult situations
• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions
• An ability to collaborate with clients in the development of a person centred, individual intervention plan
• An ability to engage clients in the intervention plan, overcoming barriers to communication
• Ability to conduct effective risk assessments and collaborative safety plans with men who are presenting with high risk of suicide, or be willing and able to learn how to do so
• Ability to identify if the James Place service is not adequate to maintain the persons safety and facilitate rapid transfer to the most appropriate service
• Ability to maintain boundaries within a time-limited intervention
• Ability to work as an effective team member
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload, using own initiative and confidence in decision making
• Strong time management
• Ability to maintain up to date client records in line with James Place standards
• Ability to maintain own personal safety and the safety of others within the centre
• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding Procedures
• Values
• Commitment to clinical supervision
• Ability to engage with James Place values
• Ability to promote peoples equality, diversity and rights
• Ability to work collaboratively and demonstrate commitment to co-production
• Ability to be transparent, honest and show discretion when needed
• Commitment to suicide prevention and working with men in a suicidal crisis

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.