Job summary
The Bedfordshire and Luton Complex Needs Service is excited to be able to advertise for a Band 7 Psychologist / MBT Therapist to join our developing MBT team that enables us to offer a choice of evidence-based treatment for people with complex emotional needs (associated with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder'). Ideal candidates would already have an accredited training in Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), an evidence-based therapy for 'personality disorder'. However, the service would consider appointing senior mental health professionals (e.g. Community Social Workers, Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Art Therapists) with highly developed clinical skills, and interest and enthusiasm for working with people with complex emotional needs, to a Band 6 Trainee MBT Therapist role. To be considered for this trainee role, applicants would have to be willing to undertake concurrent training in MBT and would need to maintain satisfactory progress in this training in order to continue working in this role. On successful completion of the accredited training and supervised practice within a two-year period, the banding of this post would change to Band 7 MBT Therapist. This post requires a UK driving license and access to a vehicle insured for business use for the purpose of travel between bases in the county (due to limited public transport in some areas).

Main duties of the job
The successful candidates will be committed to working collaboratively with service users, carers, and colleagues to create a psychologically safe environment that enables the delivery of effective treatment. The post holders will be required to actively participate in weekly team consultation/peer supervision meetings, and will offer specialist advice, supervision, training, and consultation to other professionals and teams to support effective and efficient psychologically-informed care and treatment across Bedfordshire and Luton. We would particularly welcome interest from candidates who are committed to co-producing the development of the care pathway through participation in clinical research, audit and/or quality improvement projects.

About us
This post will be based within ELFT's Bedfordshire and Luton Complex Needs Service. The multi-disciplinary team includes: a Medical Psychotherapist; Clinical Psychologists; Psychological Therapists; a Lived Experience KUF Development Lead; a Clinical Associate in Psychology; a Peer Support Worker; and an Assistant Psychologist. The team operates as a hub, in reaching to community mental health services in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton to provide specialist advice, training, consultation and supervision to other professionals and colleagues. The team also offers assessments and evidence-based interventions to a caseload of service users who have complex emotional needs and engage in self-harming and suicidal behavior.

Details
Date posted: 07 July 2026
Closing date: 09 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 363-LUT7739443-B
Job locations: Complex Needs Service, Mountbatten House, 56 High Street South, Dunstable, LU6 3HD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please see attached job descriptions for details of main responsibilities of both the Band 7 Psychologist / MBT Therapist and Band 6 Trainee MBT Therapist roles.

Person Specification
Education/Qualification/Training
Essential

• Core Mental Health Profession (e.g. Social Worker; Occupational Therapist; Community Psychiatric Nurse; Psychologist; Art Therapist)
• Current HCPC/NMC registration
• Training in an evidence-based psychological therapy

Desirable

• Accredited training in evidence-based therapies for people with a diagnosis of ''personality disorder'' (Mentalization Based Treatment accredited by the Anna Freud Centre)

Experience
Essential

• Substantial clinical experience working with people with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder' as a member of a multi-disciplinary community mental health team.
• Experience of conducting psychologically informed/generic assessments, group interventions, risk assessments, mental state assessments, safety planning and crisis interventions.
• Knowledge and experience of working with people with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance misuse and psychosis
• Experience of offering psychological interventions to people with complex emotional needs associated with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder' (DBT/CBT/MBT)
• Experience of supervising staff and/or students
• Experience of teaching/training others
• Active participation in co-produced service planning and delivery

Desirable

• Post-qualification experience of autonomously managing a caseload in a community mental health setting.
• Experience of using outcome measures in clinical practice
• Experience, skills and ability to liaise effectively with other agencies and professionals

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Knowledge of NICE guidelines for management and treatment of 'personality disorder'; awareness of relevant research and its implications for clinical practice.
• Knowledge and skills in an evidence-based therapy for people with ''personality disorder'' (MBT, DBT, CBT)
• Knowledge and understanding of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the welfare of adults with mental health difficulties and a diagnosis of 'personality disorder' and their friends/families (including children).
• Ability to apply an understanding of diversity, difference and rights to interactions with people with complex emotional needs associated with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder.'
• Ability to analyse and manage complex multifactorial clinical information from a range of sources integrating it into a formulation utilising a biopsychosocial model.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of risk management practice with service users who have a diagnosis of ''personality disorder''.

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.

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 (Apply through our 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 (Apply through our website).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: East London NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Complex Needs Service, Mountbatten House, 56 High Street South, Dunstable, LU6 3HD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.elft.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Carol-Ann Sargent
Carol-Ann.Sargent@nhs.net
01582293000