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 expanding ‘Options’ Offender Personality Disorder Team (OPD) at HMP Downview (a women’s 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 trauma therapy (EMDR, CFT, Prolonged Exposure), outreach stability and treatment preparation. We provide 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.
This post can be offered as B7 preceptorship, paid at band 6 until HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist achieved. This role can be offered as secondment opportunity.
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, an Arts psychotherapist, C c linical and Forensic psychologists
You will ideally 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 co-commissioned Offender Personality Disorder pathway and supports access to local and national training and networking. We are closely linked to our local mental health team and other teams across the prison. We have Governor and operational support for the service and a dedicated delivery space.
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 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.
Please see Job Description for full details
Main duties of the job
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 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.
Our service is expanding to be able to provide MBT informed group therapy. To be able to contribute to the facilitation of these groups.
