Job overview
Are you interested in working with personality disorder and assisting teams to support individuals with complex needs? We are seeking a DBT therapist, psychologist or psychological therapist to join our ‘Options’ Offender Personality Disorder Team (OPD) 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, outreach stability and treatment preparation work, staff training, consultation and formulation services to our probation and prison colleagues who work alongside us to support and progress women safely 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, there are observed reductions in self- harm and increased stability. As part of a current expansion plan 2026 there will be further developments in treatment offered including MBT and Art therapy. Our team is made up of Operational staff, Assistant psychologists, clinical and Forensic psychologists
Main duties of the job
1. To 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.
Working for our organisation
Central 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 our sites in Surrey offer free use of the onsite leisure facilities and free parking for staff.
Click to find out more about working within the psychological professions at CNWL and to see what our Health & Justice staff say about working within our award winning teams.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please 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
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work. Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience. AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience. Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
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4. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.