East London NHS Foundation Trust

Family and Systemic Psychotherapist

The closing date is 29 March 2026

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Systemic Family Psychotherapist to join our innovative Systemic Family Therapy Service in the Forensic Directorate. The post holder will join a team of Systemic Family Psychotherapists who work across the Medium and Low Secure units and Forensic Outreach teams, ELCFS (The East London Community Forensic Service).

The post holder will deliver specialist systemic interventions to service users referred to the Family Therapy Service. This will involve providing specialist assessment and psychotherapy to service users, their families, and to other non-professional carers. The post involves offering in-reach services to service users approaching discharge, working with inpatient wards, community teams, service users and their families.

This is a split post, and the successful candidate will be working across in-patient services and the community outreach team, ELCFS (The East London Community Forensic Service). ELCFS is multidisciplinary service, for service users in the process of and following discharge from the Forensic inpatient service.

This role is ideally suited to experienced Band 8A and Band 7 Systemic Family Psychotherapists who are seeking to advance their careers within a dynamic, innovative, and forward-thinking environment

Main duties of the job

  • ? Provision of specialist systemic & family psychotherapy services to serviceusers and their families and /or carers within inpatient setting and in thecommunity.? To offer inreach services to service users approaching discharge, working withinpatient wards and community teams.? Facilitating systemic case discussions, co-leading formulation meetings, andactively participating in Risk meetings and seclusion reviews.? Providing systemic consultation for service user management, offeringsupervision, training, and guidance on psychological care to different teams.? To contribute to and participate in the teaching and training of staff members ofthe MDT in the community and inpatient settings on the principles of systemicpsychotherapy. This is through methods such as offering live supervision in thefamily therapy clinic, joint work modelling systemic psychotherapy and teachingand training across the forensic directorate and to partners where appropriate(e.g. accommodation providers).? To contribute to service wide innovations, representing systemic family therapy(E.g. Trauma Informed care service, Inequality and Diversity Forum, Carer'sforum, Recovery College for Carers).? To contribute and meet ELFT's Carer's Strategy, offering staff training, systemicconsultation and supervision across the inpatients and community services, tobe aware of carers and engage with carers effectively

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the qualityof life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so weare looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting serviceusers and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partnerorganisations.

Details

Date posted

06 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum Inc HCAs

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-FOR7660380-A

Job locations

Centre for Forensic Mental Health/Forensic Community Service

Wolfson House, Green Lanes

London

N4 2ES


Job description

Job responsibilities

Provision of specialist systemic and family psychotherapy services to serviceusers and their families and /or carers within an inpatient setting and in thecommunity. To offer inreach services to service users approaching discharge, working withinpatient wards and community teams. Facilitating systemic case discussions, co-leading formulation meetings, andactively participating in Risk meetings and seclusion reviews. Providing systemic consultation for service user management, offeringsupervision, training, and guidance on psychological care to teams. To contribute to and participate in the teaching and training of staff members ofthe MDT in the community and inpatient settings on the principles of systemicpsychotherapy. This is through methods such as offering live supervision in thefamily therapy clinic, joint work modelling systemic psychotherapy and teachingand training across the forensic directorate and to partners where appropriate(e.g. accommodation providers). To contribute to service wide innovations, representing systemic family therapy(E.g. Trauma Informed care service, Inequality and Diversity Forum, Carer'sforum, Recovery College for Carers). To contribute and meet ELFT's Carer's Strategy, offering staff training, systemicconsultation and supervision across the inpatients and community services, tobe aware of carers and engage with carers effectively

Job description

Job responsibilities

Provision of specialist systemic and family psychotherapy services to serviceusers and their families and /or carers within an inpatient setting and in thecommunity. To offer inreach services to service users approaching discharge, working withinpatient wards and community teams. Facilitating systemic case discussions, co-leading formulation meetings, andactively participating in Risk meetings and seclusion reviews. Providing systemic consultation for service user management, offeringsupervision, training, and guidance on psychological care to teams. To contribute to and participate in the teaching and training of staff members ofthe MDT in the community and inpatient settings on the principles of systemicpsychotherapy. This is through methods such as offering live supervision in thefamily therapy clinic, joint work modelling systemic psychotherapy and teachingand training across the forensic directorate and to partners where appropriate(e.g. accommodation providers). To contribute to service wide innovations, representing systemic family therapy(E.g. Trauma Informed care service, Inequality and Diversity Forum, Carer'sforum, Recovery College for Carers). To contribute and meet ELFT's Carer's Strategy, offering staff training, systemicconsultation and supervision across the inpatients and community services, tobe aware of carers and engage with carers effectively

Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • An AFT recognised Postgraduate qualification in Systemic Psychotherapy/Family Therapy.
  • Post-graduate qualification in a mental health or social welfare discipline and demonstrable practice (or established equivalence according to Association of Family Therapy (AFT) criteria
  • Registration as a systemic psychotherapist with United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or equivalent body
  • Provide Evidence of Continuing Professional Development as required by UKCP/AFT guidelines leading to continuing registration

Desirable

  • Postgraduate training in supervision of systemic and family psychotherapy

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience practice in relevant first profession. Experience of working with a Multidisciplinary Team
  • Experience in maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems where there may be high expressed emotion, verbal abuse and threats of violence.
  • Experience of conducting risk assessments, preparing risks management plans and initiating appropriate action where indicated.
  • Experience of systemic consultation and supervision.
  • Experience of contributing or leading systemic knowledge and practice to service wide innovations

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an Adult mental health setting in first profession or as a systemic practitioner.
  • Experience of working in a forensic setting.
  • Experience of working with Children, Adolescents and families
  • Experience of the application of psychological therapies in different cultural contexts.
  • Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
  • Experience of working of working in the NHS.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Skills in the use of methods of Systemic Psychotherapy / Family based assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
  • A high level of sophistication in regard to relationship and communication skills when working with clients, families and/or professionals, including where the atmosphere might be highly emotive with clients and families expressing anger and hostility
  • An ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from other disciplines and in other settings including primarily CMHTs, in order to establish effective working relationships and partnerships that support care packages.
  • Ability to apply analytical skills to multi -layered complex cases
  • Ability to formulate comprehensive assessments and offer effective treatment based on systemic principles.
  • Provide evidence of continuing Professional Development as required by UKCP/AFT guidelines leading to continuing registration
  • Skills in providing systemic/Family Therapy consultation, teaching and training to other professional and nonprofessional groups
  • Skills in both live and indirect supervision of systemic psychotherapists and/or multidisciplinary colleagues
  • Knowledge and skills of risk management and ability to perform a clinical risk assessment.

Desirable

  • Knowledge and skills on working systemically with children, adolescents and families
Person Specification

Education

Essential

  • An AFT recognised Postgraduate qualification in Systemic Psychotherapy/Family Therapy.
  • Post-graduate qualification in a mental health or social welfare discipline and demonstrable practice (or established equivalence according to Association of Family Therapy (AFT) criteria
  • Registration as a systemic psychotherapist with United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or equivalent body
  • Provide Evidence of Continuing Professional Development as required by UKCP/AFT guidelines leading to continuing registration

Desirable

  • Postgraduate training in supervision of systemic and family psychotherapy

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience practice in relevant first profession. Experience of working with a Multidisciplinary Team
  • Experience in maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems where there may be high expressed emotion, verbal abuse and threats of violence.
  • Experience of conducting risk assessments, preparing risks management plans and initiating appropriate action where indicated.
  • Experience of systemic consultation and supervision.
  • Experience of contributing or leading systemic knowledge and practice to service wide innovations

Desirable

  • Experience of working in an Adult mental health setting in first profession or as a systemic practitioner.
  • Experience of working in a forensic setting.
  • Experience of working with Children, Adolescents and families
  • Experience of the application of psychological therapies in different cultural contexts.
  • Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
  • Experience of working of working in the NHS.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Skills in the use of methods of Systemic Psychotherapy / Family based assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
  • A high level of sophistication in regard to relationship and communication skills when working with clients, families and/or professionals, including where the atmosphere might be highly emotive with clients and families expressing anger and hostility
  • An ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from other disciplines and in other settings including primarily CMHTs, in order to establish effective working relationships and partnerships that support care packages.
  • Ability to apply analytical skills to multi -layered complex cases
  • Ability to formulate comprehensive assessments and offer effective treatment based on systemic principles.
  • Provide evidence of continuing Professional Development as required by UKCP/AFT guidelines leading to continuing registration
  • Skills in providing systemic/Family Therapy consultation, teaching and training to other professional and nonprofessional groups
  • Skills in both live and indirect supervision of systemic psychotherapists and/or multidisciplinary colleagues
  • Knowledge and skills of risk management and ability to perform a clinical risk assessment.

Desirable

  • Knowledge and skills on working systemically with children, adolescents and families

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).

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.

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).

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

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Centre for Forensic Mental Health/Forensic Community Service

Wolfson House, Green Lanes

London

N4 2ES


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Centre for Forensic Mental Health/Forensic Community Service

Wolfson House, Green Lanes

London

N4 2ES


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Systemic and Family Psychotherapist

Dr Rakhee Haque

rakhee.haque1@nhs.net

07436027782

Details

Date posted

06 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum Inc HCAs

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-FOR7660380-A

Job locations

Centre for Forensic Mental Health/Forensic Community Service

Wolfson House, Green Lanes

London

N4 2ES


Supporting documents

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