Around since 1923, SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity. Today, we operate over 70 services in communities across Scotland, providing mental health social care support, addictions and employment services, among others. Together with national programme work in See Me, respectme, suicide prevention, and physical activity and sport, these services inform SAMH’s policy and campaign work to influence positive social change.
SAMH is dedicated to mental health and wellbeing for all: with a vision of a society where people are able to live their lives fully, regardless of present or past circumstances.
For Scotland’s Mental Health
Post: DBI Practitioner
Ref: REC1825
Location: West Dunbartonshire
Hours: 30-35 per week
Salary: Pro rata £27,465 - £27,965; £14.08 to £14.34 per hour (Salary Point 22 - 23)
*Whilst this is a scale for progression, the starting salary is point 22
Contract: Fixed Term
About the Role
SAMH DBI (Distress Brief Intervention) are looking to expand their West Dunbartonshire service that currently delivers support to Children and Young People (C&YP) aged 14 – 24 (26 care experienced). DBI will be offered to include adults in the area. We are looking to recruit a DBI Practitioner to provide support to the people referred to the service who live in West Dunbartonshire. The core hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm; although you may be required to work some evening and weekends. You will need to travel within the West Dunbartonshire area and access to own transport is essential.
DBI is a non-clinical intervention, consisting of two interrelated parts.
Level 1 sees trained front-line staff such as Education, CAMHS, unscheduled care, health, police, ambulance and primary care staff help ease the person’s distress, provide a compassionate response and where appropriate, involves an offer of a seamless referral, with confidence and clarity to a DBI Level 2 service.
Level 2 is provided by commissioned and trained third sector staff (SAMH) who contact the person within 24hours of referral and provide community-based problem-solving support, wellness and distress management planning, supported connections and signposting for a period up to 14 days. The support will be offered to people referred via face to face, over the telephone and video calls.
For more information, please follow this link:
What we are looking for
The DBI Practitioner role is an exciting and very challenging post which makes a real difference to people’s lives. The successful candidate will be confident working on their own as part of a team, have great communication, listening, organisational and IT skills.
They will be resilient with a mature attitude to support people to achieve their identified outcomes. You will have a good understanding of trauma informed practice.
The role of the DBI Practitioners is to provide compassionate connected direction and guidance to people referred to the DBI offering them support to explore their distress, develop immediate coping strategies, signposting/referrals where appropriate into a range appropriate community services and facilities.
The role will involve recording of accurate data information and completed distress management plans. The role is demanding and attention to detail is important.
Communicate and work collaboratively with Level 1 partner agencies such as Police Scotland, Primary Care, CMHT, and Ambulance Service and other Level Colleagues
Training in Level 2 Distress Brief Intervention, specific to the post, will be provided.
To apply please visit:
Closing date for applications will be Friday 06th March 2026 at 12 noon.
PVG Scheme Membership, a Right to Work in the UK check and proof of any qualifications declared in your application will be required.
Applications are welcome from people who have experienced mental health difficulties.
Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high level of applicants and would encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.
SAMH is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to represent the communities we are here to support. We aim to have a truly diverse organisation – diversity of thought, background, experience and of all protected characteristics. We particularly welcome applications from individuals who have experienced mental health problems and individuals from minority communities.
SAMH Privacy Notice