Job summary
We are currently looking to recruit a Band 8b Family Therapist to join the Darwin Centre for Young People.
The Darwin Centre for Young People is a Tier 4 adolescent inpatient unit based in Cambridge. The unit offers assessment and treatment to young people, aged 13-18 years old, experiencing psychiatric, emotional or psychological problems that interfere with their social, interpersonal and educational functioning.
Main duties of the job
To provide and a qualified highly specialist systemic family therapy service to clients of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
o The post holder will provide a systemic overview of the family approach to the treatment of mental health disorders within complex situations, specialising in young people's mental health in an in-patient setting. o The post-holder will be responsible for co-ordinating, developing and delivering a variety of family and systemic interventions.o The post holder will be responsible for this process by researching new practices, understanding, and applying evidence-based approaches both in relation to family treatments and in the involvement of service users and carers.o The post holder will provide an important leadership role in the service overall, including multi-disciplinary team functioning, family involvement, training and development, and service development and evaluation.o The post-holder will offer advice and consultation on clients' care to all colleagues and to other, non-professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and codes of ethics and the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.o The post holder will be accountable for their own professional actions and will need to interpret broad service priorities and policies (i.e. commitment to a family approach to treatment, involving service users and carers at all levels of treatment and service development).
About us
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting andempowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
1. To provide highly specialist family therapy with clinical autonomy and to work in ways which are sensitive to the needs of families from a wider range of racial, cultural and religious backgrounds be responsible for the delivery of a full range of family treatments to all patients. These treatments may include the following systemic psychotherapy interventions: Conjoint family therapy (all family members present in the room at the same time, plus patient and other members of multi-disciplinary team). Separated family therapy (i.e. parental counselling and individual systemic counselling running in parallel). Multi-family group therapy Multi-agency risk support meetings within a recognised systemic approach2. The post holder will participate in assessments of patients referred for treatment ensuring a systemic formulation for all young people, and to work in partnership with colleagues, multi-disciplinary and multi-agency, regarding the family treatment component of each patients care. Assessment of family interactions and formulating how these are connected to diagnostic factors will be a key component of the post, influencing the direction of treatment and recommendations for appropriate family interventions. This will include multi-agency network systemic responses at the thrive level of getting risk support.3. To communicate complex clinical information in a skilled and sensitive manner including assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients and families to monitor progress during the course of uni - and multi-disciplinary treatment.4. To work jointly and collaboratively with other team members to enhance and develop work with families by the team as a whole providing highly specialist systemic knowledge and skills and enabling team members to gain confidence in working within a relational practice framework.5. To produce reports on clients, in a timely manner, that convey the key findings of systemic assessment and formulation and treatment outcome, in a way that does justice to the complexity of the challenges arising, and that are understandable to the recipients of the reports, including clients and referrers.6. To assist in the management of the team caseload including the pathway through the service from admission to discharge, including acting on key decision points with colleagues to provide clear understandable contexts for and with clients.7. To work in partnership with other disciplines and to maintain links with statutory and non-statutory and primary care agencies and to actively promote relational network practice using a systemic approach.8. To provide appropriate care for clients across the services by providing psycho-education, liaising with other professionals, who are using other approaches including motivational interviewing, and contributing to risk assessment, health promotion and crisis intervention.9. To contribute to risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and families, and to provide advice to other professions on aspects of risk assessment and risk management in line with Trust and inter-agency policies and procedures.10. To act as in-patient care facilitator for a small number of clients, taking responsibility for arranging CPA reviews as required and communicating effectively with the client, his/her family and all others involved in the network of care, and to monitor progress during the course of multi-disciplinary interventions.11. In common with all Systemic Psychotherapists the post-holder will be responsible for ensuring that they receive regular clinical supervision and continuing professional development, in accordance with United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy/Association of Family Therapy requirements and good standards practice guidelines.12. To act alongside the professional lead and other senior members of the family therapy team within the trust to promote systemic practice contributing to the development of the team as appropriate for a senior leader. This may include teaching, accommodating trainees, supporting other family therapists with supervision, and working to ensure effective governance and standards for family therapy within the trust. This may involve leading and/ or supporting particular short-term projects in line with the family therapy strategic goals each year.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
1. To provide highly specialist family therapy with clinical autonomy and to work in ways which are sensitive to the needs of families from a wider range of racial, cultural and religious backgrounds be responsible for the delivery of a full range of family treatments to all patients. These treatments may include the following systemic psychotherapy interventions: Conjoint family therapy (all family members present in the room at the same time, plus patient and other members of multi-disciplinary team). Separated family therapy (i.e. parental counselling and individual systemic counselling running in parallel). Multi-family group therapy Multi-agency risk support meetings within a recognised systemic approach2. The post holder will participate in assessments of patients referred for treatment ensuring a systemic formulation for all young people, and to work in partnership with colleagues, multi-disciplinary and multi-agency, regarding the family treatment component of each patients care. Assessment of family interactions and formulating how these are connected to diagnostic factors will be a key component of the post, influencing the direction of treatment and recommendations for appropriate family interventions. This will include multi-agency network systemic responses at the thrive level of getting risk support.3. To communicate complex clinical information in a skilled and sensitive manner including assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients and families to monitor progress during the course of uni - and multi-disciplinary treatment.4. To work jointly and collaboratively with other team members to enhance and develop work with families by the team as a whole providing highly specialist systemic knowledge and skills and enabling team members to gain confidence in working within a relational practice framework.5. To produce reports on clients, in a timely manner, that convey the key findings of systemic assessment and formulation and treatment outcome, in a way that does justice to the complexity of the challenges arising, and that are understandable to the recipients of the reports, including clients and referrers.6. To assist in the management of the team caseload including the pathway through the service from admission to discharge, including acting on key decision points with colleagues to provide clear understandable contexts for and with clients.7. To work in partnership with other disciplines and to maintain links with statutory and non-statutory and primary care agencies and to actively promote relational network practice using a systemic approach.8. To provide appropriate care for clients across the services by providing psycho-education, liaising with other professionals, who are using other approaches including motivational interviewing, and contributing to risk assessment, health promotion and crisis intervention.9. To contribute to risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and families, and to provide advice to other professions on aspects of risk assessment and risk management in line with Trust and inter-agency policies and procedures.10. To act as in-patient care facilitator for a small number of clients, taking responsibility for arranging CPA reviews as required and communicating effectively with the client, his/her family and all others involved in the network of care, and to monitor progress during the course of multi-disciplinary interventions.11. In common with all Systemic Psychotherapists the post-holder will be responsible for ensuring that they receive regular clinical supervision and continuing professional development, in accordance with United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy/Association of Family Therapy requirements and good standards practice guidelines.12. To act alongside the professional lead and other senior members of the family therapy team within the trust to promote systemic practice contributing to the development of the team as appropriate for a senior leader. This may include teaching, accommodating trainees, supporting other family therapists with supervision, and working to ensure effective governance and standards for family therapy within the trust. This may involve leading and/ or supporting particular short-term projects in line with the family therapy strategic goals each year.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- M.Sc./Post-graduate Diploma in Systemic Psychotherapy/Family Therapy or equivalent.
- UKCP registered family therapist.
- Additional qualification in a related profession (e.g. social work, nursing, psychology).
Desirable
- Relevant specialist training in adolescent mental health disorders
- Advanced training in supervision
- Doctoral level research experience
Experience
Essential
- Substantial post-qualifying experience as a systemic/family psychotherapist working in health care or social care setting.
- Substantial experience of working with children, adolescents and families with mental health problems in complex situations(ideally working within a CAMHS setting)
- Involvement in strategic planning of services
- Experience facilitating the development of multi-disciplinary staff groups through the application of systemic models
Desirable
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Skills in the use of different methods of assessment, formulation, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. This requires the use of highly developed analytical and judgement skills.
- Of current, evidence based, stepped care models of care as detailed in NICE guidance.
- Skills in individual and group work and in programme planning.
Desirable
- Knowledge and facilitation of specialised family therapy interventions such as multi-family group therapy programmes
- Knowledge of neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD and ASD and learning disability including specific child protection and risk issues relevant to this group of CYP.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Knowledge of Mental health disorders in children and young people
- Good working knowledge of evidence base for the treatment of child and adolescent mental health problems in CAMHS
- Good understanding of other professionals' theoretical perspectives of this client group.
Desirable
- Knowledge of treatment evidence-base for eating disorders
Physical Requirements
Essential
- Ability to work competently with highly distressing circumstances - frequently facilitating discussions in which complex treatment decisions are made.
- Ability to contain and work with organisational stress Mental Effort
Other
Essential
- To maintain highest professional standards and skills required by UKCP for annual registration.
- Willingness to develop the role of the family/systemic psychotherapist within the service and to contribute to the broader field.
- Must be capable of interpreting broad occupational policies and be accountable for own professional actions.
Desirable
- Record of having published in either peer-reviewed journals or equivalent.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- M.Sc./Post-graduate Diploma in Systemic Psychotherapy/Family Therapy or equivalent.
- UKCP registered family therapist.
- Additional qualification in a related profession (e.g. social work, nursing, psychology).
Desirable
- Relevant specialist training in adolescent mental health disorders
- Advanced training in supervision
- Doctoral level research experience
Experience
Essential
- Substantial post-qualifying experience as a systemic/family psychotherapist working in health care or social care setting.
- Substantial experience of working with children, adolescents and families with mental health problems in complex situations(ideally working within a CAMHS setting)
- Involvement in strategic planning of services
- Experience facilitating the development of multi-disciplinary staff groups through the application of systemic models
Desirable
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Skills in the use of different methods of assessment, formulation, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. This requires the use of highly developed analytical and judgement skills.
- Of current, evidence based, stepped care models of care as detailed in NICE guidance.
- Skills in individual and group work and in programme planning.
Desirable
- Knowledge and facilitation of specialised family therapy interventions such as multi-family group therapy programmes
- Knowledge of neurodevelopmental disorders including ADHD and ASD and learning disability including specific child protection and risk issues relevant to this group of CYP.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Knowledge of Mental health disorders in children and young people
- Good working knowledge of evidence base for the treatment of child and adolescent mental health problems in CAMHS
- Good understanding of other professionals' theoretical perspectives of this client group.
Desirable
- Knowledge of treatment evidence-base for eating disorders
Physical Requirements
Essential
- Ability to work competently with highly distressing circumstances - frequently facilitating discussions in which complex treatment decisions are made.
- Ability to contain and work with organisational stress Mental Effort
Other
Essential
- To maintain highest professional standards and skills required by UKCP for annual registration.
- Willingness to develop the role of the family/systemic psychotherapist within the service and to contribute to the broader field.
- Must be capable of interpreting broad occupational policies and be accountable for own professional actions.
Desirable
- Record of having published in either peer-reviewed journals or equivalent.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
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
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Darwin Centre for Young People
Block 19 Ida Darwin site
Fulbourn, Cambridge
CB21 5EE
Employer's website
https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
