DBT PractitionerNHS

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated clinician with a passion for working therapeutically with individuals with complex emotional needs within a supportive and dynamic specialist team.

This importantrole is part of the Barnet Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) Pathway. The remit ofthedynamicDBT Pathway is to offer Barnet residents referred into the service a consistent evidence-based therapeutic approach, to reduce inpatient admissions and to support the quick transitions of those in an inpatient service back into the community.

The post holderwill bejoiningaestablished and vibrant DBT Pathwayand willbe working closely with theBarnet Adult Psychology TeamandtheComplex Emotional Needs Pathway Team.

Ideallyyou will have a strong enthusiasm to work in a psychologically informed wayandhadexperienceof DBT, but this is notessentialas trainingwill be provided.

The post holderwill provide formal DBT psychologicalinterventionsusing atrauma -informedapproachwhilst undertaking necessary trainingto upskill for this role asrequired.

The post holder will workautonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance ofappropriate professionalpractice within the service/team.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 6 DBT Practitioner, you will play a key role in delivering specialist Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) to adults experiencing severe emotional dysregulation and complex mental health difficulties. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will provide high-quality, evidence-based interventions that support recovery and promote meaningful change. Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering individual DBT-informed interventions and co-facilitating DBT skills training groups.
• Managing a caseload of service users with complex emotional and relational difficulties, including those presenting with significant risk.
• Undertaking comprehensive assessments, care planning, risk assessment, and ongoing clinical reviews.
• Supporting service users to develop skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness.
• Participating in weekly DBT consultation meetings and contributing to the maintenance of DBT treatment fidelity.
• Working collaboratively with service users, carers, and partner agencies to ensure coordinated and person-centred care.
• Maintaining accurate clinical records and contributing to service evaluation and outcome monitoring.
• Providing specialist advice, consultation, and support to colleagues within the wider mental health services.
• Contributing to service development, quality improvement initiatives, and the promotion of psychologically informed practice.

Job description

• Jointly assess patientsfor suitability for DBT. Where the problemsappear to betoo complex or severe to beappropriate forlevel of experience refer to manager/supervisor for advice on how to manage the case.
• To formulate and implementDBTfocusedtreatment plans,in particular identifying repeatingpatterns of crisis andadviseways of altering these, based uponan appropriateconceptualframework of thepatients problems.
• To educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary, conveying DBT formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language.
• Tosupportthe implementation of arange of DBT psychological interventions(group and individual)forprospectivepatients.
• To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individualpatientsand toprovide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment andrisk management.
• To work closely with referrers,servicesand colleagues to collaborate around the delivery of DBT interventions.
• To deal appropriately with the intense emotional atmosphere surrounding therapycontacts which may be highly distressingon a daily basisand to work withfrequentlyintense concentration for the clinical sessions of assessment and therapy.

About us

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

Our Five-Year Strategy:

• We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.
• With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all
• We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.

Why NLFT?

• We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.
• We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
• NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme
• Excellent internal staff network

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.