Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Family & Systemic Psychotherapist

The closing date is 29 March 2026

Job summary

The post holder will provide a specialist family therapy service to young people and their parent/carers in Forest House Adolescent Unit and the wider Enhanced Specialist Pathway, who are presenting with complex mental health presentations, as part of a multidisciplinary CYP MH Service. The post holder will work autonomously and with initiative within their professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service's policies and procedures.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide advice and consultation to parents, carers and non-family therapy colleagues / professionals in the network with regard to the provision and delivery of specialist family psychotherapy provided in Forest House Adolescent Unit and within the wider Enhanced Specialist Pathway. The post holder will provide assessment, formulation and treatment interventions as well as providing specialist family therapy assessments & interventions. They will contribute to support plans for the care of children and young people with a range of complex psychological and psychiatric presentation, alongside contextual challenges. They will also contribute to highly specialist assessments of children with complex mental health presentations such as ASD, OCD and Eating Disorders and support case formulation and treatment plans in line with best practice and evidence-based intervention. They will hold an individual caseload and have responsibility for case management.

The post holder will promote understanding and education of family therapy, through formal and informal training where required, and provide family therapy advice when needed. The post holder will utilise research skills for audit to support policy and service development, and undertake research within the area served by the service and of relevance to young people and their families and carers.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Details

Date posted

13 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

367-CYP-10148

Job locations

Forest House, Forest Lane, Radlett, WD7 9HQ

9 Forest Ln

Radlett

WD7 9HQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibility

o Provide generic assessments, formulation and treatment sessions and contribute to MDT discussions from a systemic point of view.

o Provide family therapy assessments of children and young people based upon the appropriate use, interpretation, and integration of complex data from a variety of sources

o Formulate and implement plans for the formal treatment and/or management of the child/young persons problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings

o Be responsible for implementing a range of family therapy interventions for individuals, carers, families, and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, grounded in the principles and techniques of systemic and family therapy. These will include long and short-term interventions as appropriate to need

o Evaluate and make decisions about treatment options considering both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group

o To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of children and young people whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans

o Provide specialist expertise, advice, guidance, and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to children and young people formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan

o Contribute directly and indirectly to a framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all children and young people of the service, across all settings and agencies serving children and young people with learning disabilities and mental health problems/challenging behaviour

o To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual children and young people and to provide advice to other professions on risk assessment and risk management

o Act as case manager, where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of CYP MHS care plans including children and young people, their carers, referring agents and others involved the network of care. Provide case management / care coordination for a caseload of children and young people following the service clinical models and specific guidance.

o To facilitate clients and families in providing substantive feedback to the service using ROMs, Experience of Service questionnaires and other feedback mechanisms including FFT, patient support services and Datix feedback.

o Communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of children and young people under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

o Provide clinical and performance management appraisal and supervision of less experienced family therapists and trainees and ensure any concerns around performance are communicated and acted on in conjunction with line manager according to Trust policies.

o Manage the workloads of family therapists and trainee family therapists within the framework of the team/services policies and procedures.

o Regularly review individual caseload and supervisees caseloads throughout the year and have an overview of family therapy treatment waiting times to provide to sub-team leads / line manager.

o Participate as requested by line manager in recruitment and retention processes.

o Ensure that supervisees / trainees are adhering to local and Trust policies.

Service Development and Improvement

o Receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior family therapist and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.

o Develop skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training and supervision and to provide supervision to other MDT staffs work as appropriate.

o Contribute to the pre- and post-qualification teaching of family therapy, as appropriate.

o Provide advice, consultation and training to professionals working with the client group across a range of agencies and setting

Research and Audit

o To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service valuation and audit

o To communicate to both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where clinical and/or organisational matters warrant concern or improvement.

o To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence- based practice in individual work and work with other team members to improve the quality of care provided to children and young people and their families served by CAMHS

o To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research that relates directly to service needs.

o Participate in Trust Quality Improvement (QI) programme through registering for QI and taking part in QI training and identifying potential QI projects directly related to care quality and service needs.

o To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes.

o To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in systemic and family therapy across the service.

Administration and Clinical Recording

To enter required data into the Trusts patient administration systems and to make use of data bases as directed by managers in the course of clinical duties

To use computer and computer software to prepare reports, presentations, and documents relevant to working duties

To undertake administrative tasks in line with service requirements, making appropriate use of administrative support available

Standard

Mandatory Training

The post holder will complete all HPFT mandatory training programme annually within directed timescales.

The post holder with also complete CPI Training

Multi-agency Meetings

As appropriate and agreed per job plan, the post holder will represent the service at relevant multi-agency planning meetings such as Child In Need, Child Protection conferences, professionals meetings, CPAs, panels for Domestic Abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation, Early Help, & CETRs.

Policy and Procedure

The post holder will work in line with HPFT policy and procedures at all times. These include;

o Confidentiality, Data Protection and Information Sharing

o Code of Conduct

o Capability

o Equality and Diversity

o Health and Safety

o Infection Prevention and Control

o Finance

o Safeguarding Children

o Sickness Absence

o Use of Information Technology

Professional Standards and Performance Review

The post holder will fully participate in the Trusts Appraisal / Supervision Programme and work with their line manager to ensure that they have a clear job plan and objectives

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibility

o Provide generic assessments, formulation and treatment sessions and contribute to MDT discussions from a systemic point of view.

o Provide family therapy assessments of children and young people based upon the appropriate use, interpretation, and integration of complex data from a variety of sources

o Formulate and implement plans for the formal treatment and/or management of the child/young persons problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings

o Be responsible for implementing a range of family therapy interventions for individuals, carers, families, and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, grounded in the principles and techniques of systemic and family therapy. These will include long and short-term interventions as appropriate to need

o Evaluate and make decisions about treatment options considering both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group

o To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of children and young people whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans

o Provide specialist expertise, advice, guidance, and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to children and young people formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan

o Contribute directly and indirectly to a framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all children and young people of the service, across all settings and agencies serving children and young people with learning disabilities and mental health problems/challenging behaviour

o To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual children and young people and to provide advice to other professions on risk assessment and risk management

o Act as case manager, where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating planning and review of CYP MHS care plans including children and young people, their carers, referring agents and others involved the network of care. Provide case management / care coordination for a caseload of children and young people following the service clinical models and specific guidance.

o To facilitate clients and families in providing substantive feedback to the service using ROMs, Experience of Service questionnaires and other feedback mechanisms including FFT, patient support services and Datix feedback.

o Communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of children and young people under their care and to monitor progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

o Provide clinical and performance management appraisal and supervision of less experienced family therapists and trainees and ensure any concerns around performance are communicated and acted on in conjunction with line manager according to Trust policies.

o Manage the workloads of family therapists and trainee family therapists within the framework of the team/services policies and procedures.

o Regularly review individual caseload and supervisees caseloads throughout the year and have an overview of family therapy treatment waiting times to provide to sub-team leads / line manager.

o Participate as requested by line manager in recruitment and retention processes.

o Ensure that supervisees / trainees are adhering to local and Trust policies.

Service Development and Improvement

o Receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior family therapist and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.

o Develop skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training and supervision and to provide supervision to other MDT staffs work as appropriate.

o Contribute to the pre- and post-qualification teaching of family therapy, as appropriate.

o Provide advice, consultation and training to professionals working with the client group across a range of agencies and setting

Research and Audit

o To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service valuation and audit

o To communicate to both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where clinical and/or organisational matters warrant concern or improvement.

o To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence- based practice in individual work and work with other team members to improve the quality of care provided to children and young people and their families served by CAMHS

o To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research that relates directly to service needs.

o Participate in Trust Quality Improvement (QI) programme through registering for QI and taking part in QI training and identifying potential QI projects directly related to care quality and service needs.

o To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes.

o To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in systemic and family therapy across the service.

Administration and Clinical Recording

To enter required data into the Trusts patient administration systems and to make use of data bases as directed by managers in the course of clinical duties

To use computer and computer software to prepare reports, presentations, and documents relevant to working duties

To undertake administrative tasks in line with service requirements, making appropriate use of administrative support available

Standard

Mandatory Training

The post holder will complete all HPFT mandatory training programme annually within directed timescales.

The post holder with also complete CPI Training

Multi-agency Meetings

As appropriate and agreed per job plan, the post holder will represent the service at relevant multi-agency planning meetings such as Child In Need, Child Protection conferences, professionals meetings, CPAs, panels for Domestic Abuse, Child Sexual Exploitation, Early Help, & CETRs.

Policy and Procedure

The post holder will work in line with HPFT policy and procedures at all times. These include;

o Confidentiality, Data Protection and Information Sharing

o Code of Conduct

o Capability

o Equality and Diversity

o Health and Safety

o Infection Prevention and Control

o Finance

o Safeguarding Children

o Sickness Absence

o Use of Information Technology

Professional Standards and Performance Review

The post holder will fully participate in the Trusts Appraisal / Supervision Programme and work with their line manager to ensure that they have a clear job plan and objectives

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

Essential

  • Post-graduate family therapy training to MSc level or equivalent.
  • UKCP registration as family therapist
  • Post-qualification training in teaching and supervision of child family therapy
  • Qualification in core mental health or social welfare profession (e.g. social work, mental health nursing, psychology, occupational therapy) and significant post qualification experience

Desirable

  • Post-qualification training in additional CAMHS related specialised areas
  • CYP IAPT training/Supervisor training OR accredited supervisor with the Association for Family Therapy (AFT).

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial post qualifying experience of working within a multidisciplinary CAMHS team.
  • Significant experience of working with a range of families and young people with very complex needs who may be at risk of entering the care system.
  • Sound knowledge of issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and child protection issues
  • Ability to effectively manage time and balance clinical time with clients and their families and administration time.
  • Proven record of working in keeping with diversity and equal opportunity principles, including anti- discriminatory practice and how these impacts on service users.
  • Demonstrable confidence in communication and presentation necessary to represent the service/department in multi-agency forums
  • Experience in supervising as Family Therapist

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY

Essential

  • Able to confidently and competently undertake Initial CHOICE and emergency CAMHS assessments
  • Understands developmental issues for children and able to adapt interventions accordingly
  • Understands the need for and able to competently assess risk
  • Understands individual and service safeguarding responsibilities, policy and procedure
  • Understands the elements of effective engagement and can apply these to working practice
  • Understanding of and commitment to the principles and practices of CYP IAPT/ Thrive
  • Experience of providing consultation and liaison support to colleagues, referral agencies and services responsible for the care, support and wellbeing of service users and their families/carers

SPECIALIST COMPETENCIES

Essential

  • Experience of running parenting groups (Triple P, Mellow, Webster Stratton, etc) and other types of group work group such as multi- family groups

Desirable

  • Experience of undertaking and supervising specialist family therapy assessments
  • Experience, knowledge, and skills in the use of and supervision of family therapy intervention and management of children, adolescents and their families
  • Knowledge of CHOICE and PARTNERSHIP model and of IThrive
Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

Essential

  • Post-graduate family therapy training to MSc level or equivalent.
  • UKCP registration as family therapist
  • Post-qualification training in teaching and supervision of child family therapy
  • Qualification in core mental health or social welfare profession (e.g. social work, mental health nursing, psychology, occupational therapy) and significant post qualification experience

Desirable

  • Post-qualification training in additional CAMHS related specialised areas
  • CYP IAPT training/Supervisor training OR accredited supervisor with the Association for Family Therapy (AFT).

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial post qualifying experience of working within a multidisciplinary CAMHS team.
  • Significant experience of working with a range of families and young people with very complex needs who may be at risk of entering the care system.
  • Sound knowledge of issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and child protection issues
  • Ability to effectively manage time and balance clinical time with clients and their families and administration time.
  • Proven record of working in keeping with diversity and equal opportunity principles, including anti- discriminatory practice and how these impacts on service users.
  • Demonstrable confidence in communication and presentation necessary to represent the service/department in multi-agency forums
  • Experience in supervising as Family Therapist

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY

Essential

  • Able to confidently and competently undertake Initial CHOICE and emergency CAMHS assessments
  • Understands developmental issues for children and able to adapt interventions accordingly
  • Understands the need for and able to competently assess risk
  • Understands individual and service safeguarding responsibilities, policy and procedure
  • Understands the elements of effective engagement and can apply these to working practice
  • Understanding of and commitment to the principles and practices of CYP IAPT/ Thrive
  • Experience of providing consultation and liaison support to colleagues, referral agencies and services responsible for the care, support and wellbeing of service users and their families/carers

SPECIALIST COMPETENCIES

Essential

  • Experience of running parenting groups (Triple P, Mellow, Webster Stratton, etc) and other types of group work group such as multi- family groups

Desirable

  • Experience of undertaking and supervising specialist family therapy assessments
  • Experience, knowledge, and skills in the use of and supervision of family therapy intervention and management of children, adolescents and their families
  • Knowledge of CHOICE and PARTNERSHIP model and of IThrive

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.

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.

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

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Forest House, Forest Lane, Radlett, WD7 9HQ

9 Forest Ln

Radlett

WD7 9HQ


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Forest House, Forest Lane, Radlett, WD7 9HQ

9 Forest Ln

Radlett

WD7 9HQ


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Meg Riddington

meg.rididngton1@nhs.net

07985951266

Details

Date posted

13 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

367-CYP-10148

Job locations

Forest House, Forest Lane, Radlett, WD7 9HQ

9 Forest Ln

Radlett

WD7 9HQ


Supporting documents

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