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Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Postgraduate Diploma in CYP-MH in Systemic Family Practice Trainee

The closing date is 22 October 2025

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Job summary

Are you passionate about relationships and what happens in 'the space in-between' people, especially in families? Are you interested in mental health and want to develop skills to explore eating disorder presentations for the benefit of the whole family system(s)? If so we would love to hear from you.

This is an exciting opportunity for clinicians, particularly those with existing core qualification such as: nursing, social work, occupational therapy to join one of our well-established CAMHS teams in Sussex.

The systemic recruit to train posts will be situated within the Sussex Family Eating Disorder Service. The service provides support for young people and adolescents between 10 and 18 years of age who present with anorexia, atypical anorexia and bulimia. SFEDs is a multi disciplinary team The recruit to train systemic post will be part of the family psychotherapy provision for the team and will offer family based interventions for eating disorders. The family based approach is based on a manualised approach informed by the Maudsley model in eating disorders , but there will be opportunities to engage in other systemic approaches.

This role offers the perfect opportunity for career development due to the skills that you will learn through this type of work, or for those considering moving to CAMHS from other services.

Main duties of the job

The role will be variable and exciting, sometimes challenging and there is a need for flexibility. You will need to be motivated, forward thinking, have a strong commitment to providing high quality care and the best outcomes for young people.

The successful candidate/s will be trained in the FT-AN manualised model which originated at The Maudsley in London. They will carry a small caseload of up to 4 families and have weekly intensive supervision with our principal family & systemic psychotherapist. They will also have the opportunity to participate in the family and systemic psychotherapy team with reflecting team intervention.

Your week will consist of attending the one-year training course, delivering clinical work in the team to young people and their families. You will be supported by an experienced principal systemic psychotherapist and a team of skilled clinicians. Building experience and working towards your course requirements, you will be delivering systemic family interventions.

All trainees begin with a basic systemic skills module which will introduce a range of systemic approaches for working with families from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds and you will learn a range of systemic techniques and interventions.

The skills you develop will enable you to work more effectively and confidently with young people and their families. The course is accredited by the Association for Family Therapy as an Intermediate level training in Systemic and Family Practice.

About us

This trainee Band 6 systemic family practice (SFP) posts will be based in the Sussex family eating disorder service at Aldrington House in Hove. Staff need to be able to travel across sites and are required to be on site 60% of their working week and attend the face-to-face MDT.

We are looking for a clinician who should be willing to work autonomously as well as part of a team. The team thrives through being supportive to each other in an environment that can be changeable due to service capacity and demand. You will need to be flexible and have excellent communication skills. In return you will be well supported by experienced clinicians who will help you to develop and flourish in this environment. All your skills and training will be fully utilised and developed through clinical supervision and training opportunities.

We are a supportive, collaborative team who celebrate and embrace diversity and are committed to the well-being of our staff.

If successful, you will need to be able to start the training/clinical post in January 2026. The course will require travel to KCL's site in London, with some of the training delivered remotely.

Details

Date posted

08 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-CS-21790

Job locations

Aldrington House

35 New Church Road

Hove

BN3 4AG


Job description

Job responsibilities

As this is a training position, please be aware that this is a dual application process where you must be employed in a Recruit to Train funded job to also receive a place on the course, and vice-versa. If you are ineligible for the University Course, you will be unable to be offered the role. If you withdraw from an employment offer but you have accepted a University offer, you will be unable to join the course.

This is a training position and so all candidates will need to apply for both the trainee role with our organisation and the KCL Post Graduate Diploma systemic family practice (FSP) in order to be shortlisted (for more information about the course and minimum entry criteria, please see the course page and brochures: https://www.kings-cyp.com/page/recruit-to-train). Please complete your university application using the KCL University Application Guidance supplied. https://apply.kcl.ac.uk

KCL covers the modalities of CBT, SFP and Parent Training. It is very important to mention that you are applying for the systemic family practice (SFP) modality, and why you are qualified & interested in working with families. You only need one application to the associated University no matter how many Recruit to Train job posts you apply for. However, it is very important to mention which modality/modalities you are applying for and why you are qualified/interested in them.

These roles are best suited for applicants that are able to balance a busy work and study schedule. You will be an employee at the service but also enrolled on a Postgraduate Diploma course, and trainees will be expected to study at a Postgraduate level. This will mean that applicants must be prepared to study and write assignments outside of protected study time (such as on weekends and after work).

Please note that when you apply to this role, your name will be shared with the Higher Education Institute (HEI) running the course. The service will usually be the Course Teams main way of contacting you until you have been sent an Offer, and so the Course Team at the HEI may ask for information if it is missing but relevant to deciding eligibility. Other information that might be shared is:

Reason behind ineligibility for the course.

Queries regarding application (such as if you claim to have a professional registration without submitting certificates, course may ask service to pursue more information)

Name change if you may have registered with a different name than HEI was given, they will confirm with service to ensure that they are reviewing the correct candidate.

This is an integral part of the process to confirm that you have applied to the University and that you meet their course requirements. Please apply to the University at the same time as applying to this job position.

If you apply to this job, you are giving permission for information to be shared between the Course Team at the HEI and the Recruitment team at the Service. The only information that is shared will be relevant to establishing eligibility for the job/course. No irrelevant information will be disclosed or discussed in relation to your application.

By applying for this role, you accept in the event you are successful that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which is aimed at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers. Therefore we want you to complete your e-learning modules prior to joining our organisation.

We communicate to all job applicants via the email address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure you check your email on regular basis and inform us if you would prefer an alternative option or any changes to your details after making your application.

PLEASE NOTE:* The closing date given is a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.* Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification on their application will be shortlisted for this job.

*Candidates suitable for shortlisting will be contacted within three weeks. If you have not heard from us within this time then you have not been successful on this occasion.

* Interview arrangements: We have set a provisional interview date of Friday 3rd November 2023 & Wednesday 15th November. This is subject to change so please check your email regularly following the closing date* In submitting an application form, you authorise SPFT to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed to the post

*Once this training is completed, you will be required to apply for suitable roles in line with Equal opportunities. We will of course strive to support staff with securing a substantive post and where possible we would hope this is within the organisation, however, applicants should be aware that we are not able to provide assurance that there will be a substantive post within SFEDS or indeed SPFT.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order (as amended) and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please seeapplying from overseas.

Further information:

- Name

Pratima Hurrymun, Clinical team leader.

Email: p.hurrymun@nhs.net

Jay Jameson-allen, All-Age Eating Disorder Services General Manager

Email: jay.jameson-allen@nhs.net

Additional contact information

Fay Roberts, Principal family & systemic Psychotherapist

Email: fay.roberts5@nhs.net

John Cavanagh. Consultant family & systemic psychotherapist and Professional Lead for systemic psychotherapy and practice, Sussex CAMHS.

Email: john.cavanagh8@nhs.net

Tel: 07738 757213

Job description

Job responsibilities

As this is a training position, please be aware that this is a dual application process where you must be employed in a Recruit to Train funded job to also receive a place on the course, and vice-versa. If you are ineligible for the University Course, you will be unable to be offered the role. If you withdraw from an employment offer but you have accepted a University offer, you will be unable to join the course.

This is a training position and so all candidates will need to apply for both the trainee role with our organisation and the KCL Post Graduate Diploma systemic family practice (FSP) in order to be shortlisted (for more information about the course and minimum entry criteria, please see the course page and brochures: https://www.kings-cyp.com/page/recruit-to-train). Please complete your university application using the KCL University Application Guidance supplied. https://apply.kcl.ac.uk

KCL covers the modalities of CBT, SFP and Parent Training. It is very important to mention that you are applying for the systemic family practice (SFP) modality, and why you are qualified & interested in working with families. You only need one application to the associated University no matter how many Recruit to Train job posts you apply for. However, it is very important to mention which modality/modalities you are applying for and why you are qualified/interested in them.

These roles are best suited for applicants that are able to balance a busy work and study schedule. You will be an employee at the service but also enrolled on a Postgraduate Diploma course, and trainees will be expected to study at a Postgraduate level. This will mean that applicants must be prepared to study and write assignments outside of protected study time (such as on weekends and after work).

Please note that when you apply to this role, your name will be shared with the Higher Education Institute (HEI) running the course. The service will usually be the Course Teams main way of contacting you until you have been sent an Offer, and so the Course Team at the HEI may ask for information if it is missing but relevant to deciding eligibility. Other information that might be shared is:

Reason behind ineligibility for the course.

Queries regarding application (such as if you claim to have a professional registration without submitting certificates, course may ask service to pursue more information)

Name change if you may have registered with a different name than HEI was given, they will confirm with service to ensure that they are reviewing the correct candidate.

This is an integral part of the process to confirm that you have applied to the University and that you meet their course requirements. Please apply to the University at the same time as applying to this job position.

If you apply to this job, you are giving permission for information to be shared between the Course Team at the HEI and the Recruitment team at the Service. The only information that is shared will be relevant to establishing eligibility for the job/course. No irrelevant information will be disclosed or discussed in relation to your application.

By applying for this role, you accept in the event you are successful that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which is aimed at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers. Therefore we want you to complete your e-learning modules prior to joining our organisation.

We communicate to all job applicants via the email address which has been provided on the application form. Please ensure you check your email on regular basis and inform us if you would prefer an alternative option or any changes to your details after making your application.

PLEASE NOTE:* The closing date given is a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.* Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification on their application will be shortlisted for this job.

*Candidates suitable for shortlisting will be contacted within three weeks. If you have not heard from us within this time then you have not been successful on this occasion.

* Interview arrangements: We have set a provisional interview date of Friday 3rd November 2023 & Wednesday 15th November. This is subject to change so please check your email regularly following the closing date* In submitting an application form, you authorise SPFT to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed to the post

*Once this training is completed, you will be required to apply for suitable roles in line with Equal opportunities. We will of course strive to support staff with securing a substantive post and where possible we would hope this is within the organisation, however, applicants should be aware that we are not able to provide assurance that there will be a substantive post within SFEDS or indeed SPFT.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order (as amended) and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please seeapplying from overseas.

Further information:

- Name

Pratima Hurrymun, Clinical team leader.

Email: p.hurrymun@nhs.net

Jay Jameson-allen, All-Age Eating Disorder Services General Manager

Email: jay.jameson-allen@nhs.net

Additional contact information

Fay Roberts, Principal family & systemic Psychotherapist

Email: fay.roberts5@nhs.net

John Cavanagh. Consultant family & systemic psychotherapist and Professional Lead for systemic psychotherapy and practice, Sussex CAMHS.

Email: john.cavanagh8@nhs.net

Tel: 07738 757213

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy.

Desirable

  • Experience of working toward the 'Association of Family Therapy' (AFT) guide: The blue book for training standards and course accreditation. (4th edition, 2015) (Year 1 foundation training in systemic practice).
  • Experience working in a service for young people and their families and/or eating disorders.

Knowledge / ~Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working in child and adolescent mental health services
  • Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
  • Ability to manage own caseload and time
  • Demonstrates high standards in written communication
  • Demonstrates an understanding of mental health difficulties in young people and how it may present in various different ways
  • Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
  • Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post

Desirable

  • Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes

Skills & Competencies

Essential

  • Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
  • Computer literate
  • Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients and carers
  • Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice

Training

Essential

  • Able to attend one day per week course
  • Able to complete academic components of the course including attendance at clinical supervision
  • Able to integrate training into practice
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A recorded/registered qualification in one of the following at graduate level in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or within a psychological therapy.

Desirable

  • Experience of working toward the 'Association of Family Therapy' (AFT) guide: The blue book for training standards and course accreditation. (4th edition, 2015) (Year 1 foundation training in systemic practice).
  • Experience working in a service for young people and their families and/or eating disorders.

Knowledge / ~Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of working in child and adolescent mental health services
  • Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets
  • Ability to manage own caseload and time
  • Demonstrates high standards in written communication
  • Demonstrates an understanding of mental health difficulties in young people and how it may present in various different ways
  • Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health
  • Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post

Desirable

  • Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical outcomes

Skills & Competencies

Essential

  • Ability to evaluate and put in place the effect of training
  • Computer literate
  • Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients and carers
  • Has received training (either formal of through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice

Training

Essential

  • Able to attend one day per week course
  • Able to complete academic components of the course including attendance at clinical supervision
  • Able to integrate training into practice

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Aldrington House

35 New Church Road

Hove

BN3 4AG


Employer's website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Aldrington House

35 New Church Road

Hove

BN3 4AG


Employer's website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Interim Service Manager

Pratima Hurrymun

p.hurrymun@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

08 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

354-CS-21790

Job locations

Aldrington House

35 New Church Road

Hove

BN3 4AG


Supporting documents

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