Vacancy at Change Mental Health

Distress Brief Intervention Service Lead

Salary £ 29870

Inverness (Hybrid) with occasional Travel in Highlands

Vacancy listed 08/07/2025

Application deadline 15/08/2025

Details

Job Description

Location: Tomnahurich Street, Inverness (with Occasional travel throughout Highland areas)

Salary: £29,870 pro-rated

Salary Band: 1.6

Hours: Full Time (35hrs per week)

Contract: Permanent

Reports To: Service Manager

Disclosure & Barring Check: This post will be subject to a PVG check for working with Children & Adults.

About Us

Change Mental Health is a leading national mental health charity providing unique support to people with severe and enduring mental ill health. With over 50 years’ experience across Scotland, we believe people affected by poor mental health and illness deserve the highest quality of support in the community and that every person has the right to be valued and to share in the opportunities, challenges, and joys of everyday life.

About the Distress Brief Intervention Project

Change Mental Health is the lead partner in the Highlands, Western Isles, Argyll and Bute and Dumfries and Galloway for the Scottish Government’s Distress Brief Intervention project (DBI). The DBI is a Scotland-wide pilot project, testing a ground-breaking approach to address the emotional and psychological pain experienced by people in distress.

Working in partnership with frontline services (Level 1 delivery teams), including Police, Ambulance service, Primary Care and mental health teams, the project provides rapid referral to focused, short-term support, with the option of onward referral to longer-term support if required. As a DBI Service Lead, you will join this major, high profile Scottish Government project in a key role.

For further information about DBI and our involvement in the project, head to our website and visit www.DBI.scot.

About the Role

You will be part of a team of Service Leads who are responsible for ensuring DBI service delivery is aligned with standard operating procedures. You will oversee case allocation to staff and will actively manage capacity within your team.

You will provide visible leadership to staff and be a strong role model and leader in building a positive and supportive culture as part of your role. You will have responsibility for leading and managing a team of DBI Coordinators, ensuring the support we provide people in distress is delivered to a high standard and within the framework agreed with the Scottish Government

With partnership working at the forefront of the DBI programme, you will work closely with local Level 1 delivery teams providing training and support, in line with DBI guidelines, to ensure consistent high-quality referrals to the service.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Service delivery:

Manage day to day DBI Service delivery ensuring high standards of practice are met and challenges are resolved promptly
Responsibility for case allocation to DBI Coordinators
Provide out-of-hours support to national programme teams on a rota-basis,
When necessary and to support capacity, provide support to people in distress.

Development

Work alongside the DBI Programme Manager to roll out new referral pathways in your area
Develop strong working relationships with local Level 1 delivery teams to ensure high quality consistent referrals to the service
Lead and deliver Level 1 “Buzz” training session and support to Level 1 Delivery teams, in line with DBI guidelines

People and Team

Provide line management, including support & supervision to DBI Coordinators both virtually and face to face.
Develop and maintain positive team dynamics to promote good team working
Ensure the DBI service team are kept up to date with any new developments
Provide out-of-hours support to national programme teams on a rota-basis
Provide DBI level 2 training to new and existing staff

General Duties

Act in accordance with Data Protection legislation. Ensure all records, personal, staff and client data are managed in line with Data Management and Information Governance policies.
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements such as provisions set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
As with all employees, workers and volunteers; to encourage people to join Change Mental Health as a member, donor or activist.
To act in accordance with the charity’s Health & Safety and Safeguarding policies and to notify a line manager promptly if there are any concerns.
To participate in regular supervision and appraisal and undertake any relevant training as appropriate to the role.
To work in accordance with the charity’s national policies and local operating procedures and those of external regulators or professional bodies.

This job profile and list of duties is not exhaustive and serves only to highlight the main requirements. The line manager may stipulate other reasonable requirements and projects commensurate with the general profile and grade of the post.

Essential Criteria

Educated to SVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Social Services, Health Care, or a related field, or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience, or willingness to work towards relevant qualifications if not already held
Sound understanding of mental health issues, particularly distress, suicide prevention, and recovery-focused approaches.
Experience of working with people in distress and/or their families.
Experience in managing caseloads or coordinating service delivery.
Demonstrates the ability to cultivate and maintain stakeholder relationships to support the delivery of the service
Demonstrable experience of positively leading, managing and motivating a team of staff to provide high-quality support to those accessing support
Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication, with the ability to adapt based on the situation and audience, including presenting to external stakeholders
Demonstrates the ability to work autonomously to complete tasks in an efficient manner while being part of a larger team.
Strong commitment to deliver best practice with continuous improvement, including opportunities to embed reflective practice into delivery
Experience of working in a fast-paced environment and with the ability to make sound decisions and judgement calls quickly and appropriately.
Experience of appropriately and safely managing safeguarding and adult protection concerns
Competent in using IT systems for communications, data entry and reporting
Willingness to travel across regions and provide out-of-hours support on a rota basis.
Align with the values of Change Mental Health

Desirable Criteria

Previous experience of working within the DBI framework
Experience of delivering training
Full driving license and access to a vehicle

Please be aware that it is classed as an offence if you apply for this role and are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to vulnerable adults.

Benefits

24/7 access to an award-winning Employee Assistance Programme providing free legal, financial, and medical advice as well as support with life’s challenges.
A 35-hour working week, enhanced sick pay & season ticket loan.
A great work life balance with flexible and blended working environment.
Access to purchase a Blue Light Discount Card
Cycle to Work Scheme
Enhanced sick pay and leave entitlements.
Generous 37 days’ holiday.
Paid Mental Wellbeing days.
Professional development including funded opportunities

Notes

To apply please submit your CV, and a supporting statement explaining why you would like to take on the role (no more than 500 words) by clicking 'apply' below.

Please note all applications must be received by the 15th of August. Interviews are due to be held between the 25th and the 29th of August.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. If you consider yourself to have a disability, please inform us of any arrangements that we may make to the interview process.

If you have any questions or would like an informal chat, please reach out to join@changemh.org

Attached documents

Title	File
Job Description	DBI_Service_Lead_(1).docx

apply