CAMHS DBT Mental Health Practitioner

Job Summary

MATERNITY COVER 19 hrs per week - 12-months fixed term. An exciting opportunity has arisen within Plymouth CAMHS Therapies pathway, we are looking to recruit a qualified CAMHS Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Mental Health Practitioner to work with our team covering maternity cover for 12mths. Relevant and significant experience in a Mental Health Therapeutic setting and a core profession is essential. Our CAMHs DBT pathway offers an intensive psychological assessment and treatment programme, which includes a weekly skills groups, sessions for parents/carers, Individual weekly support to the young people and telephone coaching on top of the individual support. DBT is for young people aged 13-18 years, with a history of self-harm and suicidal behaviour and traits of emerging Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). DBT is a NICE guideline recommended evidence-based therapy. DBT has been shown to be effective with clients with suicidal behaviours and symptoms associated with emerging BPD (e.g. impulsive behaviours, emotional dysregulation, difficulties with relationships etc.). The treatment targets self-harm behaviours and other high-risk behaviours and helps people to manage their emotions, develop mindfulness skills, improve their relationships with others and to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings. For informal queries about this post and/or to arrange a visit please contact: Laura McCormack: CAMHS DBT Pathway Lead [contact hidden]

Main Duties of the Job

See the attached Job Description for further information. The post holder will provide a specialist DBT assessment and intervention for children, young people and their families as outlined above. There will be an expectation that the post holder will support the lead in promoting and maintaining adherence to the model. To provide specialist DBT to Children and Young People and their families identified through Plymouth CAMHS. To facilitate skills training groups, individual therapy and telephone skills support for young people and to support parents/carers. To take a part in DBT consultation. To use and maintain skilled standards of professional clinical practice in the treatment modalities required by the young people in the service. They will work in partnership with other agencies. Maintain appropriate clinical records, in line with [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] policy. To provide services, advice and support to other areas of [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] as required. To contribute to the developments of DBT across the wider CAMHS service. To participate in the regular use of Routine outcome measures and other validated outcome measures. This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility. Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline. All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About Us

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs. As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve. We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives. We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Details

• Date posted: 29 April 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year, pa, pro-rata
• Contract: Fixed term, 12 months
• Working pattern: Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
• Reference number: B9832-2026-NM-10259
• Job locations: 200 Mount Gould Road, Mount Gould, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 7PY

Job Responsibilities

To provide specialist DBT to Children and Young People and their families identified through Plymouth CAMHS. To facilitate skills training groups, individual therapy and telephone skills support for young people and to support parents/carers. To take a part in DBT consultation. To use and maintain skilled standards of professional clinical practice in the treatment modalities required by the young people in the service. They will work in partnership with other agencies. To provide specialist DBT to Children and Young People and their families identified through Plymouth CAMHS. To facilitate skills training groups, individual therapy and telephone skills support for young people and to support parents/carers. To take a part in DBT consultation. To use and maintain skilled standards of professional clinical practice in the treatment modalities required by the young people in the service. They will work in partnership with other agencies. The post is located with a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]. To improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people with Mental Health Difficulties across the full age range (5-18 years) and prevent the development of severe and enduring challenging behaviors. To develop shared understanding and collective responsibility of all teams within CAMHS to improve children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health. For all multi-agency services to work in partnership to promote the mental health of all children and young people, to provide specialist intervention, and meet the needs of children and young people with established or complex problems. That all children, young people and their families have access to specialist mental health services and support that is based upon the best available evidence, meets minimum core standards and is needs based. Sustained where appropriate, and provided by staff with an appropriate range of skills and competencies. To contribute to the establishment of a positive working environment and open learning culture, which fosters high morale and commitment within CAMHS and promotes wellbeing, personal development and continuous improvement in the standards of business activities and professional practice. This post holder will predominately work within Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) part of the service. The MHP will be able improve children and young people’s mental health through the delivery of an integrated and coordinated system of community based mental health care to children, young people and their families, providing safe, culturally competent, effective, cost efficient, timely and accessible services that are in accordance with national and local priorities and are responsive to the needs and views of local children, young people and their families. To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and Health and Care Professionals Council (HPCP) guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, taking full responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decision, caseload, and supervision responsibilities. The post holder will receive regular individual and team supervision and will be expected to seek advice whenever necessary. To administer and interpret psychological and risk assessments, and to have experience in the use of psychometric measures in the assessment of young people with symptoms of emerging BPD/EUPD, in particular suicidal behaviours and self-harm. Provide specialist Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and have knowledge of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for the young people on your caseload in line with NICE guidance and recognised good practice. Provide good quality group work and take a role in facilitating groups to teach the young people new skills and to support parents/carers. The post holder may need to be flexible in the timing of the groups (e.g. after school). Participate and lead in joint complex assessments and care plans with DBT staff, other disciplines, and other agencies and provide reports for referrers, families, and other agencies as required. Participate in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the pathway to ensure the needs of the children and young people it serves are being met. Liaise with other services within LSW and other external agencies. To provide specialist assessment and consultation across community CAMHS and Multi Agency / professional forums. To ensure that you are up to date with Safe Guarding and Child Protection Policy’s within LSW. Regularly assess safeguarding issues and risk for each case, and refer concerns to Child Protection teams (etc) where appropriate. Contribute to the single point of access process to ensure referrals into the service are addressed in a timely manner, this may include electronic triage. To provide autonomous specialist clinical practice within the CAMHS. Clinical assessment and formulation. Making an autonomous judgment about whether the Child or young person requires further DBT CAMHS assessment or intervention. Assess and manage risk. Care planning. Intervention using a range of therapeutic modalities. Hold a case load as identified in the post holders job plan. Determining the point of discharge and agreeing this with the child, young person and family. Communicating appropriately the clinical information to the General Practitioner, relevant professionals and parent/carers where appropriate. All documentation must be compliant with LSW policy’s including CPA. To participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings. Be available for and make use of clinical supervision, child protection supervision and operational line management supervision. Ensure the agreed outcome measures are adhered to within the post holders area of work. Ensure participation with children and young people to improve service provision is included within CAMHS and undertaken at every opportunity. The MHP will develop skills and knowledge enabling them to make an autonomous decision about the time of discharge, and agree with the child, young person and family/carers as well as multi-agency key partners. Communicate a summary of the work undertaken and how to sustain improvements made and include correspondence to General Practitioner. The MHP is required to maintain high effective standards in the recording of clinical observations and actions, risk and risk management including child protection in health records. The MHP will strongly adhere to culturally competent and anti-discriminatory practice, promote equity of opportunity and use their professional position to empower others and challenge power imbalances where they are found to exist. Contribute to the development of team protocols and clinical practice, proposing changes for discussion. Maintain good activity records and input them onto the electronic recording system in a timely manner. To participate in audit and quality and patient safety activity in line with service objectives. To be aware of and familiar with LWSW policy and procedure and operate within that e.g. lone working policy. To maintain high standards of infection prevention and control in day to day delivery of practice. To measure and make available clinical outcome measures within an agreed system. This is most likely to be the CAMHS Outcomes Research Consortium. Please see JD/PS for further information

Person Specification

Qualifications
Essential: Professional qualification at degree level relevant to CAMHS e.g. mental health nursing, social work, psychology. Registration with appropriate professional body.
Desirable: Completed a formal (U.K based) DBT training, DBT foundation training through British Isles or equivalent. Post-graduate training in treatment approaches relevant to CAMHS. CBT Qualification in an accredited BABCP course. Post-graduate training in a specific treatment modality.

Experience
Essential: Relevant & significant experience of working in CAMHS which includes all of the following - Clinical mental health assessment and formulation. Assessment and management of risk. A range of therapeutic interventions relating to mental health and behaviour. Culturally competent practice with people from a range of diverse backgrounds. Consultation to professionals and non-professionals. Working with individuals who have experienced trauma and abuse. Experience of working with clients across the whole age range in a wide variety of settings and circumstances. Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of emotive and distressing circumstances.
Desirable: Experience in working with families. Experience of being part of a full DBT consultation team. Experience of assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature. Experience of consulting with other staff and multi-agency collaboration. Experience of running and facilitating groups. Experience of delivering a full DBT programme in a clinical setting.

Knowledge and Skills
Essential: Demonstrate cultural competence in practice. Demonstrate a good understanding about the policy and practice of safeguarding children and young people. Capacity to be reflective and adapt therapeutic practice accordingly. Competent and confident in managing distressing situations or the care of young people who are at risk of harm. Enthusiastic, empathic and curious. Demonstrate excellent communication skills including being able to write clear, comprehensive reports. Good interpersonal skills, being able to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team. Resilient and able to manage a degree of stress and uncertainty. Maintains continuous professional development. Demonstrates an ability to manage own time and work independently.
Desirable: Apply approaches using innovation or creativity. Skills in conflict resolution. Skills in delivering training / presentations. Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.

Additional Information

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. 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. UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

Employer name: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]
Address: 200 Mount Gould Road, Mount Gould, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 7PY
Employer's website: https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/