Job summary
Systemic Family Therapy within West London CAMHS is a well respected and highly valued discipline. In joining West London, you will become part of a large systemic community, one of the largest in the NHS today. As part of your role, there will be regular contact with Family Therapy colleagues including weekly systemic clinics, monthly local discipline meetings and quarterly Trust wide systemic gatherings. There are many opportunities to grow and develop including supervision, consultation and running training clinics. West London is particularly proud of its Non Violent Resistance / Parent Empowerment Project work.
Working within West London CAMHS there are lots of opportunities for development, training and comradery both as a systemic practitioner and across other therapeutic modalities.
We are offering an exciting opportunity for dynamic, ambitious and motivated Systemic & Family Psychotherapists' to join West London NHS Trust CAMHS teams based in Ealing.
Main duties of the job
As a Specialist Systemic Family Psychotherapist you will work as an autonomous clinician to provide mental health assessments, specialist diagnostic assessments of children and young people and/or complex mental health presentations. You will document the outcome of these assessments, providing formulation, diagnosis, and recommendations for interventions. In addition, you will offer a range of individual, family and group therapeutic interventions, including risk management, appropriate for children and young people attending the service. You will also participate in the team's duty rota. Being part of the team, you will be expected to contribute to the development of the team. You will be offered the opportunity to undertake training in specialist assessments depending on the team.
We are a large, dynamic group of Family Therapists and hold meetings both at a local level and at a tri-borough level where you have the opportunity to meet other family therapists. Systemic training and further systemic development is encouraged and supported. You will also contribute to the development of the CAMHS Systemic Family Psychotherapy team and you will have the opportunity to be involved in service development, audit, research and quality improvement projects. All systemic family psychotherapists in West London CAMHS are members of a family therapy clinic where team and screen are used, in addition to their other clinical responsibilities. Monthly supervision is mandatory.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health, physical healthcare and community services commissioned locally and nationally. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of only three high secure hospitals in the country and one of the highest profile mental healthcare settings in the world.
Our medium-secure and forensic services care for patients from across the South of England. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs - Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow. The Trust employs 3,770 staff, of which 47% are from Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) background. Our turnover in 2019/20 was £314m.
In recent years there has been a trust-wide step change in culture, performance and ambition. The Trust is now rated as 'Good' overallby the CQC, and the rating for our Forensic services has improved from 'Requires improvement' to 'Outstanding'. Rigorous financial management has been central to our ability to deliver service improvements. The Trust has delivered consistent surpluses since 2009, totalling more than £77m. In parallel, we have also improved efficiencies by reducing length of stays and improving patient flow, with almost no out of area placements in recent years.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will join the Specialist CFT and carry out specialist assessments of children and young people with complex mental health presentations and will document the outcome of these assessments, providing formulation, diagnosis, and recommendations for interventions. In addition, they will offer a range of individual, family and group systemic therapy interventions, including risk management, appropriate for children and young people attending the Service.
West London CAMHS employs family therapists across many specialties including generic CAMHS, Crisis CAMHS, Eating Disorders, Neuro-developmental Conditions and Learning Disabilities. This means there is ample opportunity for networking with colleagues and sharing expertise.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work alongside other family therapists in a family therapy clinic in addition to holding an individual caseload. You will receive regular clinical, professional and management supervision. In turn you will be provided with support to develop supervisory skills in readiness to provide supervision to band 7 Systemic & Family therapists. We offer a wide range of in house and external training opportunities e.g. Narrative therapy; NVR; CYP-IAPT. West London CAMHS has good relationships with local family therapy training providers and we offer specialist placements to trainees.
As a systemic & family psychotherapist within West London CAMHS you will be offered good opportunities for continuing professional development and you will be supported in your career progression.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will join the Specialist CFT and carry out specialist assessments of children and young people with complex mental health presentations and will document the outcome of these assessments, providing formulation, diagnosis, and recommendations for interventions. In addition, they will offer a range of individual, family and group systemic therapy interventions, including risk management, appropriate for children and young people attending the Service.
West London CAMHS employs family therapists across many specialties including generic CAMHS, Crisis CAMHS, Eating Disorders, Neuro-developmental Conditions and Learning Disabilities. This means there is ample opportunity for networking with colleagues and sharing expertise.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work alongside other family therapists in a family therapy clinic in addition to holding an individual caseload. You will receive regular clinical, professional and management supervision. In turn you will be provided with support to develop supervisory skills in readiness to provide supervision to band 7 Systemic & Family therapists. We offer a wide range of in house and external training opportunities e.g. Narrative therapy; NVR; CYP-IAPT. West London CAMHS has good relationships with local family therapy training providers and we offer specialist placements to trainees.
As a systemic & family psychotherapist within West London CAMHS you will be offered good opportunities for continuing professional development and you will be supported in your career progression.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Post-graduate training in systemic family therapists as accredited by IFT or AFT.
- Professional registration with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- Relevant first profession experience or the equivalent (e.g. criteria laid down by UKCP for "grandparent" and "APEL" route to qualification as Family Therapists)
Desirable
- Training in CYP/IAPT
- Systemic supervision training
Experience
Essential
- Experience of practice in relevant first profession or the equivalent.
- Experience of work with children and adolescents in a mental health or equivalent setting
Desirable
- Experience of other treatment approaches
- Experience of teaching, supervision and/or consultation
- Experience of NVR (non violent resistance) approach.
- Experience of research and audit
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence base in relation to child and adolescent mental health
- Research and research methodology at post-graduate level in relation to children and adults with mental health and social problems
- The impact of abuse, trauma and other adverse experiences on children, young people and families.
- Legislation and DOH guidelines relevant to child and adolescent mental health e.g. Mental Health Act 1983, Children Act 1989
- Child protection policies and procedures
- Child development in relation to mental health difficulties.
- Knowledge of other modalities (i.e. psychoanalytical, biological, cognitive, behavioural etc.) sufficient to engage appropriately with colleagues and their work with clients
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge in one or more areas of systemic therapy.
Skills
Essential
- Skills in working with children and families with mental health and social problems using a variety of approaches coherent with a systemic perspective.
- Ability to apply analytical skills to multi-layered complex cases.
- Ability to formulate comprehensive assessments and offer effective treatment based on systemic principles.
- Ability to provide ongoing treatment in complex, often unstable, and frequently changing circumstances.
- Ability to liaise with and manage complex professional networks in relation to individuals and families.
- Skills in consulting to professional colleagues within and outside CAMHS
- Ability to withstand high levels of emotional distress and think clearly in emotionally charged situations.
- Ability to manage the risk of verbal and physical aggression. Ability to manage and plan own workload of complex cases.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable
- Ability to adhere to and promote equal opportunities in the development of the service.
- Willingness and ability to work in co-operation with others.
- Physically able to withstand the effort of working in conditions of stress
Administration and Record Keeping
Essential
- Competent in the use of clinical recording systems such as RIO. Understands the process for keeping safe, secure and relevant clinical records Understands and is able to use online incident reporting systems.
Attitude, Aptitude and Personal Characteristics
Essential
- Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
- Treats service users with respect and dignity at all times.
- Enthusiastic, flexible and confident approach to working.
- Able to prioritise own workload.
- Willingness and ability to learn new skills and adapt to change.
- Honesty, enthusiasm and a sense of loyalty Conducts self in a professional, courteous manner at all times.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Post-graduate training in systemic family therapists as accredited by IFT or AFT.
- Professional registration with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- Relevant first profession experience or the equivalent (e.g. criteria laid down by UKCP for "grandparent" and "APEL" route to qualification as Family Therapists)
Desirable
- Training in CYP/IAPT
- Systemic supervision training
Experience
Essential
- Experience of practice in relevant first profession or the equivalent.
- Experience of work with children and adolescents in a mental health or equivalent setting
Desirable
- Experience of other treatment approaches
- Experience of teaching, supervision and/or consultation
- Experience of NVR (non violent resistance) approach.
- Experience of research and audit
Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence base in relation to child and adolescent mental health
- Research and research methodology at post-graduate level in relation to children and adults with mental health and social problems
- The impact of abuse, trauma and other adverse experiences on children, young people and families.
- Legislation and DOH guidelines relevant to child and adolescent mental health e.g. Mental Health Act 1983, Children Act 1989
- Child protection policies and procedures
- Child development in relation to mental health difficulties.
- Knowledge of other modalities (i.e. psychoanalytical, biological, cognitive, behavioural etc.) sufficient to engage appropriately with colleagues and their work with clients
Desirable
- Specialist knowledge in one or more areas of systemic therapy.
Skills
Essential
- Skills in working with children and families with mental health and social problems using a variety of approaches coherent with a systemic perspective.
- Ability to apply analytical skills to multi-layered complex cases.
- Ability to formulate comprehensive assessments and offer effective treatment based on systemic principles.
- Ability to provide ongoing treatment in complex, often unstable, and frequently changing circumstances.
- Ability to liaise with and manage complex professional networks in relation to individuals and families.
- Skills in consulting to professional colleagues within and outside CAMHS
- Ability to withstand high levels of emotional distress and think clearly in emotionally charged situations.
- Ability to manage the risk of verbal and physical aggression. Ability to manage and plan own workload of complex cases.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable
- Ability to adhere to and promote equal opportunities in the development of the service.
- Willingness and ability to work in co-operation with others.
- Physically able to withstand the effort of working in conditions of stress
Administration and Record Keeping
Essential
- Competent in the use of clinical recording systems such as RIO. Understands the process for keeping safe, secure and relevant clinical records Understands and is able to use online incident reporting systems.
Attitude, Aptitude and Personal Characteristics
Essential
- Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
- Treats service users with respect and dignity at all times.
- Enthusiastic, flexible and confident approach to working.
- Able to prioritise own workload.
- Willingness and ability to learn new skills and adapt to change.
- Honesty, enthusiasm and a sense of loyalty Conducts self in a professional, courteous manner at all times.
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
