Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Specialist Clinical Practitioner (Mentalization Based Therapy)

The closing date is 25 August 2025

Job summary

Are you someone who has passion to come alongside some of the most complex and vulnerable individuals to access our services what might be described as Complex Emotional Need?
Are you driven by wanting to improve the psychological health and wellbeing of people across Devon?

The role of the Specialist Clinical Practitioner will help Devon Partnership Trust to meet its aspirations to improve the Complex Emotional Needs Pathway.

Following a review of the pathway we are able to reliably offer a range of treatments for individuals with Complex Emotional Needs. The pathways include locality delivered Group Analytical Psychotherapy, Mentalization Based Therapy and Group based Psycho-Social Practice.

The specialist Clinical Practitioner will look to support the delivery of Mentalisation Based Therapy.

In addition to delivery of these specific treatment pathway practitioners will also come alongside wider DPT services supporting individuals with Complex Emotional Need to assess and formulate their difficulties, enable deeper understating of needs, develop co-produced safety plans and identify appropriate interventions and improve recovery.

You will demonstrate courageous and critical thinking. As a caring, compassionate and committed experienced person who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis and formulation, treatment and evaluation of care.

Main duties of the job

Assess, diagnose/formulate, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis.
Support with the triaging of referrals within the service.
Clinically examine and perform complex assessments for patient needs from a psychological perspective, and plan clinical care accordingly
Proactively identify, formulate and manage care plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition (as appropriate)
Work with patients in order to support shared decision making to optimise engagement with therapeutic interventions
Prioritise mental health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care
Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care and well-being
Deliver Training to wider workforce on Complex Emotional Need alongside Experts by Experience.
Deliver and support Mentalization Based Therapy on offer in the locality.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

07 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata (30 hours per week)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0431-2

Job locations

Sherborne House

Kingsteignton Road

Newton Abbot

TQ12 2PF

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
Communicate with and support patients who are receiving bad news
Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.
Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication.
Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders.
Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues.
Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (eg PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate.
Maintain effective communication with those responsible for the overall commissioning and procurement process.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients.
Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
Apply infection-control measures according to local and national guidelines.
Advocate for policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time
Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working.
Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence.
Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need.
Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team.
Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery.
Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care
Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified services or projects as agreed with the practice management team using Quality Improvement tools.
Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

Assessment & intervention: To make highly skilled evaluations and decisions about assessment, treatment and discharge, including the management of risk. To formulate plans for psychological treatment and implementing specialist psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
Consultation & guidance: To provide advice, guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families.

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation.
In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate.
Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care.
Work alongside other management colleagues to ensure the whole team have skills and knowledge, providing guidance and support to ensure appropriate referral if required.
Act as a clinical leader in the delivery of services ensuring that the needs of the patient are a priority.
Use a structured framework (eg root-cause analysis) to manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events.
Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of services.
Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to the area of work.
Enlist support and influence stakeholders and decision-makers in order to bring about new developments in the provision of services

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

Support and participate in shared learning across the service and wider organisation.
Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery.
Working with management in order to monitor and develop the performance of the team in accordance with local policies.
Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities.
Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required.
Interpret national strategies and policies into local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice.
Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

Day to day management; Allocate, place and supervise staff or students/ Line manager for single function or department Manages staff; organises student placements or allocates placement and supervision of staff, students/ Line management
Undertake mentorship for more junior staff, assessing competence against set standards.
Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (eg courses and conferences)
Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate.
Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning.
Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model.
Support staff development in order to maximise potential.
Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice.
Work with management to ensure sufficient staff of appropriate ability, quality and skill-mix are available to meet current and future service delivery, that selection and recruitment processes are effective and that equality of treatment of the team incorporates quality HR principles and processes.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information.
Review and process data to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.
Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases.
Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information to the team.
Ensure care record systems are accurately input and in line with good record keeping standards

Responsibility for Research and Development

Undertakes research and development within their own area

Freedom to Act

Has discretion to work within defined parameters and within broad occupational policies.
Lead specialist in their own area of work.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture.

Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights.
Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity good practice
Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care.
Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
Communicate with and support patients who are receiving bad news
Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.
Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication.
Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders.
Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues.
Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (eg PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate.
Maintain effective communication with those responsible for the overall commissioning and procurement process.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients.
Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
Apply infection-control measures according to local and national guidelines.
Advocate for policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all.

Planning and Organisational Skills

Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time
Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working.
Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence.
Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need.
Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team.
Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery.
Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care
Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified services or projects as agreed with the practice management team using Quality Improvement tools.
Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

Assessment & intervention: To make highly skilled evaluations and decisions about assessment, treatment and discharge, including the management of risk. To formulate plans for psychological treatment and implementing specialist psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
Consultation & guidance: To provide advice, guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families.

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation.
In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate.
Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care.
Work alongside other management colleagues to ensure the whole team have skills and knowledge, providing guidance and support to ensure appropriate referral if required.
Act as a clinical leader in the delivery of services ensuring that the needs of the patient are a priority.
Use a structured framework (eg root-cause analysis) to manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events.
Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of services.
Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to the area of work.
Enlist support and influence stakeholders and decision-makers in order to bring about new developments in the provision of services

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

Support and participate in shared learning across the service and wider organisation.
Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery.
Working with management in order to monitor and develop the performance of the team in accordance with local policies.
Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities.
Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required.
Interpret national strategies and policies into local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice.
Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

Day to day management; Allocate, place and supervise staff or students/ Line manager for single function or department Manages staff; organises student placements or allocates placement and supervision of staff, students/ Line management
Undertake mentorship for more junior staff, assessing competence against set standards.
Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (eg courses and conferences)
Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate.
Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning.
Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model.
Support staff development in order to maximise potential.
Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice.
Work with management to ensure sufficient staff of appropriate ability, quality and skill-mix are available to meet current and future service delivery, that selection and recruitment processes are effective and that equality of treatment of the team incorporates quality HR principles and processes.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information.
Review and process data to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.
Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases.
Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information to the team.
Ensure care record systems are accurately input and in line with good record keeping standards

Responsibility for Research and Development

Undertakes research and development within their own area

Freedom to Act

Has discretion to work within defined parameters and within broad occupational policies.
Lead specialist in their own area of work.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture.

Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights.
Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity good practice
Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care.
Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care.

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

High level communication skills including: Presentation and facilitation skills; Consultation and engagement skills.
An ability to adjust communication effectively to meet the needs of a diverse group including internal and external stakeholders.
Good organisational and interpersonal skills, tact and sensitivity. Ability to gain trust.
Ability to influence significant changes in service delivery through motivation and encouragement which may be highly complex and sensitive and include some barriers to understanding.
Ability to contribute to the supervision and development of others.
Confidence to deliver sometimes contentious and difficult messages to a broad range of stake holders.
Reporting analysis to a range of stakeholders in a manner that is clear and easily understood.
Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
Ability to manage risk.
Ability to assess and interpret specialist acute and other patient conditions
Developing short to medium term project based action plans.
Prioritise and adjust workload to address the changing needs of the organisation
Flexible approach and ability to work independently and on own initiative as well as part of a team.
Ability to undertake special projects in regard to service improvement and collaborative working with other stakeholders.
Ability to travel across Devon and other locations in the course of the business requirement.
Personal commitment to promoting equality, diversity and human rights in all aspects of service delivery.
High level of emotional resilience.

Qualifications

Essential

Clinical based Degree, supplemented by post graduate diploma specialist training, experience, short courses.
A minimum of 60 credits at masters level in relevant subject (e.g. Advanced psychosocial assessment and formulation, Enhancing the Care and Support of the Person with Dementia and their Carer). Or demonstrable equivalent experience/competence at the specialist practitioner level; If a minimum of 60 credits at masters level in relevant subject is not already obtained, this will need to be completed within 2 years of commencing employment as training availability allows.
Accreditation with a Psychotherapy Association for an intervention for people with complex and emotional needs, such as Mentalisation Based Treatment.
Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
Current registration with the NMC, HCPC or BACP.

Experience

Essential

Extensive post registration experience working at a band 6 or higher in mental health care, working in both inpatient and community settings within a mental health and/or learning disabilities setting;
Substantial experience of managing/leading a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health/challenging behaviour needs within a community setting and without supervision;
Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Experience of clinically supervising junior and unqualified staff and mentoring students
Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.
Participation in user involvement in services.

Desirable

Experience in deputising for more senior staff
Evidence of following through specific pieces of work or projects as delegated by ward managers or others

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

High level communication skills including: Presentation and facilitation skills; Consultation and engagement skills.
An ability to adjust communication effectively to meet the needs of a diverse group including internal and external stakeholders.
Good organisational and interpersonal skills, tact and sensitivity. Ability to gain trust.
Ability to influence significant changes in service delivery through motivation and encouragement which may be highly complex and sensitive and include some barriers to understanding.
Ability to contribute to the supervision and development of others.
Confidence to deliver sometimes contentious and difficult messages to a broad range of stake holders.
Reporting analysis to a range of stakeholders in a manner that is clear and easily understood.
Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions.
Ability to manage risk.
Ability to assess and interpret specialist acute and other patient conditions
Developing short to medium term project based action plans.
Prioritise and adjust workload to address the changing needs of the organisation
Flexible approach and ability to work independently and on own initiative as well as part of a team.
Ability to undertake special projects in regard to service improvement and collaborative working with other stakeholders.
Ability to travel across Devon and other locations in the course of the business requirement.
Personal commitment to promoting equality, diversity and human rights in all aspects of service delivery.
High level of emotional resilience.

Qualifications

Essential

Clinical based Degree, supplemented by post graduate diploma specialist training, experience, short courses.
A minimum of 60 credits at masters level in relevant subject (e.g. Advanced psychosocial assessment and formulation, Enhancing the Care and Support of the Person with Dementia and their Carer). Or demonstrable equivalent experience/competence at the specialist practitioner level; If a minimum of 60 credits at masters level in relevant subject is not already obtained, this will need to be completed within 2 years of commencing employment as training availability allows.
Accreditation with a Psychotherapy Association for an intervention for people with complex and emotional needs, such as Mentalisation Based Treatment.
Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
Current registration with the NMC, HCPC or BACP.

Experience

Essential

Extensive post registration experience working at a band 6 or higher in mental health care, working in both inpatient and community settings within a mental health and/or learning disabilities setting;
Substantial experience of managing/leading a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health/challenging behaviour needs within a community setting and without supervision;
Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.
Experience of clinically supervising junior and unqualified staff and mentoring students
Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment.
Participation in user involvement in services.

Desirable

Experience in deputising for more senior staff
Evidence of following through specific pieces of work or projects as delegated by ward managers or others

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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.