Band 8a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/Senior DBT Therapist

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable senior DBT therapist or clinical / counselling psychologist trained in DBT, with a particular interest in family therapy work.

CASCADE is an all-ages (14+)DBT service, delivering comprehensive, adapted and DBT-informed therapies, to treat core difficulties associated with severe emotional dysregulation, complex PTSD and otherco-occurring presentations related to an Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder.

Essential criteria for this post include being trained in DBT, leadership skills, experience of supervising others, and a flexible working approach. The postholder will be expected to work collaboratively, possess excellent planning and organisational skills, contribute towards and support the delivery of service development initiatives, and demonstrate autonomous professional responsibility for all aspects of their work.

Main duties of the job

You will join a growing team of new and experienced DBT therapists delivering comprehensive DBT, adapted DBT models such as DBT-PE, DBT for cPTSD, RO-DBT and other DBT-informed interventions.You will work across both the CYP and Adult DBT programmes providing individual therapy, skills training groups and telephone coaching. Additionally, you will offer specialist psychological assessments and formulations, as well as provide consultation and advice to staff teams on DBT and behavioural principles to shape environments to support clients' adaptive behaviours. As part of your role, you will be responsible for ensuring the inclusion of family and carers throughout, and for the planning and implementation of direct family work where appropriate. An interest in or experience of family therapy or delivering DBT-informed interventions and psychoeducational groups to family and carers will be desirable.

About us

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people's lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Details

Date posted

29 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

436-7471455

Job locations

Thomas Telford House - Ardenleigh site

Kingsbury Road, Erdington

Birmingham

B24 9SA

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential

• Core professional training with appropriate associated professional registration.
• DBT trained diploma level or intensive training (with or without accreditation).

Desirable

• Pre-qualification training or additional qualifications in an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or other psychological therapy: including MBT, CAT, EMDR. Completed training in adapted DBT models such as DBT-PE for PTSD; DBT-RO; DBT-A

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children/young people and/or adult service users diagnosed with or presenting with personality difficulties and complex trauma, in community and or inpatient mental health settings, or within a personality disorder and complex trauma pathway.
• At least 2 years post qualification experience of delivering comprehensive DBT and/or DBT-A; in mental health community, specialist or inpatient settings.

Desirable

• Experience of direct therapeutic work with parents, family and carers, within a DBT programme.
• Experience of leading service development or implementing service initiatives.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Skills in the formulation of problems from a psychological perspective and in the implementation of highly specialist psychological therapies, interventions and management techniques that are appropriate for use with complex presenting problems. Able to deliver established/evidenced based psychological therapy to fidelity.
• Skills in providing consultation and advice from a psychological perspective to members of other professional and non-professional groups.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies such as DBT, MBT, CBT for personality disorder.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential

• Core professional training with appropriate associated professional registration.
• DBT trained diploma level or intensive training (with or without accreditation).

Desirable

• Pre-qualification training or additional qualifications in an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or other psychological therapy: including MBT, CAT, EMDR. Completed training in adapted DBT models such as DBT-PE for PTSD; DBT-RO; DBT-A

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children/young people and/or adult service users diagnosed with or presenting with personality difficulties and complex trauma, in community and or inpatient mental health settings, or within a personality disorder and complex trauma pathway.
• At least 2 years post qualification experience of delivering comprehensive DBT and/or DBT-A; in mental health community, specialist or inpatient settings.

Desirable

• Experience of direct therapeutic work with parents, family and carers, within a DBT programme.
• Experience of leading service development or implementing service initiatives.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Skills in the formulation of problems from a psychological perspective and in the implementation of highly specialist psychological therapies, interventions and management techniques that are appropriate for use with complex presenting problems. Able to deliver established/evidenced based psychological therapy to fidelity.
• Skills in providing consultation and advice from a psychological perspective to members of other professional and non-professional groups.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies such as DBT, MBT, CBT for personality disorder.

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).

Additional information

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

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Thomas Telford House - Ardenleigh site

Kingsbury Road, Erdington

Birmingham

B24 9SA

Employer's website

https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Thomas Telford House - Ardenleigh site

Kingsbury Road, Erdington

Birmingham

B24 9SA

Employer's website

https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)