About this role
Job summary
Job Title: Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist
Salary: £38,000 per annum pro rata, plus 15% ILW
Hours: 22.5 hours per week over 3 days
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: London
Reports to: Head of Centre
We are recruiting Senior Suicide Prevention Therapists to deliver our clinically proven, life-saving intervention at our James Place centre in London.
To apply, please use the online application system in the links provided to submit your CV detailing your experience, roles and responsibilities, and answer the screening questions.
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON NHS JOBS WILL NOT BE MONITORED.
Main duties of the job
As a Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist, you will work closely with the Head of Centre to provide strong clinical leadership and oversight while also delivering direct therapeutic work with men experiencing suicidal crisis and their supporter(s). You will play a key role in supporting the clinical team to deliver our unique intervention and to co-produce effective, individualised safety plans to help men remain safe.
You will work closely with the Head of Centre in London and the wider James Place leadership team to ensure strong integration between the pilot service and our established centres.
This role requires an experienced mental health professional or therapist with a strong background in suicide prevention, excellent risk assessment and formulation skills, and demonstrable experience of clinical supervision, line management, and leadership. Training, induction, and ongoing support will be provided by the Head of Centre in London and the wider James Place team.
About us
Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London and Newcastle.
James Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didnt find it.
James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. Men who walk through the door at James Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected. We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families.We have so far treated over 5,100 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.
In early 2026 we will be opening our fourth centre in Birmingham. Our new centre in Birmingham will be there to support suicidal men living in the West Midlands.
Job description Job responsibilities
Senior Clinical Duties
Work as a duty therapist to triage and assess suitability of James Place referrals dailyTake full clinical responsibility of the men under James Place care, as a co-leader of the clinical team and in consultation with Head of CentreLead and support peer support sessions, caseload discussions and reflective practice with the teamCreate an environment in which confidentiality, privacy and dignity are respected and be clear with clients about limits of confidentialityDeputise for the Head of Centre when required
Clinical
Conduct initial Welcome Assessments with men in a suicidal crisis, assessing risk and the suitability of the James Place intervention and co-producing effective safety plansDeliver our therapeutic intervention, building trust and exploring the reasons for crisisUse the Lay Your Cards on the Table intervention to encourage men to talk about and explore their feelings, attitudes and behaviours and develop positive coping strategiesEscalate care to appropriate services when necessary, including emergency services and secondary mental health teamsDeliver one-off guidance sessions to supporters of men under the James Place careWork collaboratively with other professionals to coordinate comprehensive careUndergo clinical supervision with a qualified supervisor to reflect on clinical work and raise any issues or concerns arising from workRemain up to date with developments in law, theories and researchMaintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical standardsComplete session notes in a timely and effective mannerParticipate in continuous professional development and engage in training provided both internally and externallySupport the Clinical Administration team as and when necessary
Leadership and Management
Manage, support and lead Suicide Prevention Therapists, encouraging staff to develop and growConduct regular probation reviews, monthly 1:1s and annual appraisals with staffConduct therapist case reviews to ensure work is completed safely, effectively and in accordance with James Place policies and proceduresConfidently identify and sensitively communicate areas for development and conduct performance management reviews when necessaryDemonstrate and promote self-awareness and regularly dedicate time and space, inside and outside of work, to keeping yourself and the team wellProvide support to access training and other developmental activitiesSupport staff wellbeing
Outreach and Engagement
Work alongside the Head of Centre to actively increase contact with local community organisations able to refer to us or offer move on support for men completing our interventionSupport the fundraising team to bring potential supporters into our building and showcase our work, including the facilitation of events
Values
Demonstrate commitment to the James Place values of Focus, Bravery, Respect, Compassion, Professionalism, Collaboration and Hope through all aspects of work
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
A Core Profession such as Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker, counselling or practitioner psychologist registered with NMC, HCPC, or Social Work England or Accreditation as a psychological therapist, psychotherapist, or counsellor registered with BACP, UKCP, BABCP or equivalent, or have completed training and awaiting accreditation
Values Essential
Commitment to clinical supervision Ability to engage with James Place values Ability to promote peoples equality, diversity and rights Ability to work collaboratively and demonstrate commitment to co-production Ability to be transparent, honest and show discretion when needed Commitment to suicide prevention and working with men in a suicidal crisis
Experience Essential
Experience of leading, supervising and developing a team or others Experience of holding supervision, reflective practice and/or case management with colleagues Experience of decision making, when asked by colleagues for advice and support Experience of triaging referrals and demonstrating accountability for decisions made Experience of modelling best practice to others and working to address issues of performance and competency when they arise Willingness to cover Head of Centre delegated duties when needed (e.g. leave and other absence) Commitment to continued professional development and can evidence additional learning since completion of core training Demonstrable experience working with adults experiencing acute psychological distress Demonstrable knowledge of social and other factors which could lead to suicidal thinking and actions Demonstrable knowledge of the factors contributing to male suicide Evidence of being able to deliver a therapeutic session and work in a therapeutic environment Effective communication skills (both written and verbal) Good interpersonal skills with the ability to manage difficult situations Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions An ability to collaborate with clients in the development of a person centred, individual intervention plan An ability to engage clients in the intervention plan, overcoming barriers to communication Ability to conduct effective risk assessments and collaborative safety plans with men who are presenting with high risk of suicide, or be willing and able to learn how to do so Ability to identify if the James Place service is not adequate to maintain the persons safety and facilitate rapid transfer to the most appropriate service Ability to maintain boundaries within a time-limited intervention Ability to work as an effective team member Ability to manage and prioritise own workload, using own initiative and confidence in decision making Strong time management Ability to maintain up to date client records in line with James Place standards Ability to maintain own personal safety and the safety of others within the centre Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding Procedures
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.
Employer details Employer name James' Place Charity
Address 20 Bunhill Row
London
EC1Y 8LP
Employer's website https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)