Psychological Therapist (DBT Service)

Job SummaryAre you interested in working with personality disorder and assisting teams to support women with complex needs? We are seeking a DBT therapist, psychologist or psychological therapist to join our 'Options' Offender Personality Disorder Team at HMP Downview (a female prison in Sutton, Surrey). Options is a treatment and support service running primarily modified forensic DBT Programmes, offering treatment for service users who have been identified on the Personality Disorder Pathway. Additionally, we offer 1:1 EMDR therapy, we offer staff training, consultation and formulation services to our probation and prison colleagues who work alongside us to support and progress women safety through their sentence plan, in preparation for their move into the community. Service users report many improvements in the way they manage emotions and relationships.You will have experience and expertise in working within teams, within multi-agency settings. Individual and/or Group treatment expertise within the field of Personality Disorder or complex need is essential, expertise in DBT is desirable (DBT training within role can be provided). You will be joining an enthusiastic and committed team. The service is part of the national Offender Personality Disorder pathway and supports access to local and national training and networking. We are closely linked to our local mental health team.Main duties of the jobTo deliver Modified Forensic Dialectic Behavioural Therapy to women screened into the OPD pathway, this will include individual and group based treatment. To attend and take part in weekly DBT consultation meetings and adhere to DBT principles.To develop individual formulations and applying theoretical models of the psychology of mental health and personality disorder and offending, to observed behaviour, cognitive, emotional and interpersonal patterns, for service users who present with complex clinical needs.To undertake delivery of individual and group therapy including outreach support and stabilisation with prisoners at HMP Downview as directed.To develop individual formulations and applying theoretical models of the psychology of mental health and personality disorder and offending, to observed behaviour, cognitive, emotional and interpersonal patterns, for service users who present with complex clinical needs.To provide clinical supervision to the team's psychological therapists, Assistant Psychologists and trainees and other members of the team when appropriate.To work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service's policies and procedures.About UsCentral and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is a Top Employer Award Winner and works in partnership to provide responsive and dependable primary care, mental health, intellectual disability and substance misuse services to the diverse and culturally rich communities we serve.By joining CNWL's Health & Justice Directorate you will be joining a large department of psychologists and psychological therapists that provide a variety of mental health and OPD services across prisons, the youth estate, secure hospitals and the community. Our staff are dynamic and welcoming and the networking and CPD opportunities are central to our services ethos. We have active research forums and promote our services and work through academic and clinical forums. All staff receive regular supervision and are supported with career aspirations and progression. All of our sites in Surrey offer free use of the onsite leisure facilities and free parking for staff.Click here to find out more about working within the psychological professions at CNWL and here to see what our Health & Justice staff say about working within our award winning teams.DetailsDate posted29 October 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary£53,751 to £60,651 a year pa inc. HCASContractPermanentWorking patternFull-timeReference number333-D-HJ-1918Job locationsHMP DownviewSutton LaneSutton SurreySM2 5PDJob DescriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see job description and person specification for more details.We are a friendly team and encourage any prospective candidate to contact us with any questions and/or to book an informal visit.You can also find more information on our services and the work we do within the Health & Justice Directorate please do take a look at our new website https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/health-and-justiceJob DescriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see job description and person specification for more details.We are a friendly team and encourage any prospective candidate to contact us with any questions and/or to book an informal visit.You can also find more information on our services and the work we do within the Health & Justice Directorate please do take a look at our new website https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/health-and-justicePerson SpecificationEssentialEDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONSPostgraduate qualification in DBTRelevant clinical qualification within health or social care professions with accreditation and registration with the relevant clinical body (e.g. HCPC) and eligibility for membership of the SfDBT or equivalentPostgraduate qualification in CBTAccredited membership of the BABCP (via having a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions e.g. nursing, psychology, medicine, social work, occupational therapy with additional CBT qualification or evidence of having achieved the Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (KSA) route)Doctoral level training in clinical, forensic or counselling psychology or its equivalent, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPSHCPC Registered as a Practitioner PsychologistDesirablePre- or Post-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychologyTraining or qualification in risk assessmentCompletion of accredited DBT TrainingOtherEssentialAbility to work in a secure environment, in line with HMPS policy and procedure - to obtain and maintain enhanced security clearanceEssentialPREVIOUS EXPERIENCEExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, secondary care community, primary care and in patient settings.Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuseExperience of working effectively in multidisciplinary settings and representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary careExperience of working with clients from a range of cultural and ethnic groups and within a multicultural frameworkDesirableExperience of working within the personality disorder pathwaysExperience of working within a prison environment and or a forensic environmentExperience of trauma informed careEssentialSKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIESSkills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentrationWell developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHSSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groupsAbility to demonstrate an understanding of the Women's Offender Personality Disorder Pathway and how to identify and support women on the pathwayDesirableKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. people with additional disabilities).Can apply psychological knowledge creatively in developing new initiativesAbility to write reports for varied audiences, including courts and purchasers of servicesPerson SpecificationEssentialSkills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentrationWell developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHSSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groupsAbility to demonstrate an understanding of the Women's Offender Personality Disorder Pathway and how to identify and support women on the pathwayDesirableKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. people with additional disabilities).Can apply psychological knowledge creatively in developing new initiativesAbility to write reports for varied audiences, including courts and purchasers of servicesDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Additional informationDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameCentral and North West London NHS Foundation TrustAddressHMP DownviewSutton LaneSutton SurreySM2 5PDEmployer's websitehttps://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)Employer detailsEmployer nameCentral and North West London NHS Foundation TrustAddressHMP DownviewSutton LaneSutton SurreySM2 5PDEmployer's websitehttps://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)