Senior Addictions Therapist - Maternity Cover

Since North London first opened its doors in 1986, we have worked tirelessly to establish our excellent reputation as a specialist provider of mental health care.

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Addictions Therapist, you will be responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments of individuals presenting with substance misuse and co‑occurring mental health disorders. You will develop, implement, and regularly review individualized treatment plans, ensuring that interventions are tailored to each patient's needs and recovery goals. You will deliver evidence‑based therapeutic interventions through individual, group, and family therapy sessions, utilizing approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and relapse prevention strategies.

You will manage a complex caseload, monitor patient progress, and adapt treatment plans as required to support positive outcomes. A key aspect of the role involves conducting risk assessments, managing safeguarding concerns, and providing crisis intervention when necessary. You will work closely with patients throughout their treatment journey, promoting engagement, motivation, and long‑term recovery.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will collaborate with psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, and external agencies to ensure coordinated and effective care. You will participate in case reviews, clinical meetings, and treatment planning discussions, while supporting discharge planning and aftercare arrangements to facilitate successful reintegration into the community.

As a senior member of the team, you will provide clinical leadership, supervision, and mentorship to junior therapists and support staff. You will contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives, and the implementation of best practices within addiction services. In addition, you will maintain accurate and confidential clinical records, prepare professional reports, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation, safeguarding requirements, professional standards, and organisational policies.

About us

Priory is the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health and adult social care. With 12,000 colleagues and a network of 270 services, we support over 24,000 people each year to live their lives as fully and independently as possible. We treat more than 70 conditions including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and children’s mental health and provide residential and supported living care for autistic adults, people with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome, brain injuries and older people.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to providing an inclusive, accessible recruitment process.

Job responsibilities

Priory Hospital North London Full-time/37.5 hours per week | 12 Month Fixed Term | Site based Salary £41,500 Located in London, in a peaceful and secluded part of Southgate, Priory Hospital North London is set within a striking Grade I listed building, overlooking beautiful parklands. It's one of the UK’s leading centres for the treatment of a range of mental health difficulties, including addictions, depression, anxiety, stress and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). We also offer private autism assessments for adults.

Requirements

Applicants must hold professional registration with HCPC, UKCP, BACP, BPC, ACAT, or ACP. Candidates should have significant post‑qualification experience working within addiction, substance misuse, mental health, or rehabilitation services, including delivering individual, group, and family interventions. Experience supporting clients with co‑occurring mental health and substance use disorders is essential, as is experience working within multidisciplinary teams and managing complex or high‑risk cases.

For senior‑level roles, previous experience supervising, mentoring, or supporting junior staff is typically expected. Applicants should demonstrate a strong understanding of addiction, recovery models, harm reduction, relapse prevention, and trauma‑informed care, alongside knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment, mental health legislation, and confidentiality requirements. Excellent communication, leadership, clinical decision‑making, and report‑writing skills are essential, as well as the ability to manage complex caseloads and contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives. Accreditation with a relevant professional body is desirable; however, in certain circumstances, applicants who are actively working towards accreditation may be considered, provided it can be achieved within 12 months of appointment.

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.