Job summary
The new team are looking to appoint
a full-time, permanent Systemic Family Therapist to provide specialist systemic
psychotherapy across a range of community settings. You will support
practitioners and managers working with families experiencing significant
challenges, offering expert consultation, guidance, and direct therapeutic
intervention.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity to
do more than just practice systemic therapy, it is an opportunity to shape,
develop and create new ways of practising. This role will give you the chance
to use your skills directly with families, offering targeted interventions
mainly within family homes. You will deliver trauma-informed work aimed at
reducing risk, strengthening resilience, and facilitating positive behavioural
or relational change within families. A key aspect of the role involves leading
and supporting the development of robust risk assessments, ensuring risks to
children and vulnerable adults are identified, analysed, and addressed.
About us
Southend on Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority,
providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community. We employ
around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities
to deliver the city vision and make lives better for the people of Southend.
Working for Southend on Sea City Council offers a challenging and
rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovate
environment, with the benefit of flexible working practices to support a
positive work life balance. As a Unitary Authority we are responsible for all
local government functions ranging from social services, transport, public
health and parks through to planning, trading standards, community safety and
education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of
our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration
projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a pivotal post within the new service and will play a vital role in improving the quality of assessments, decision-making, and interventions across childrens services.
The multi-disciplinary team will work alongside the Family Help teams as part of the Families First transformation in childrens services. You will be working with families open on high-end child in need plans (CIN) and child protection plans (CP). The aim of working at this level is to address the needs and risks presented with interventions that reduce the likelihood of children entering care.
This service will provide you with the opportunity to effect positive change and offer support to families in our area.
Other key responsibilities
- Deliver specialist systemic psychotherapy and trauma-informed direct work with children and families.
- Provide expert consultation and reflective practice sessions for practitioners and managers.
- Lead and support high-quality risk assessments, care planning, and safety planning.
- Promote a whole family, systemic approach as part of a wider therapeutic service.
- Model relational, strengths-based, and evidence-informed practice across Childrens Services.
- Help embed systemic principles organisation-wide, ensuring children remain at the centre of all interventions.
- Work collaboratively within multi-agency environments, contributing to improved safeguarding and risk management.
Whilst this position is predominately on site at Southend City Council, working from home options are available, but will depend on the needs of the team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a pivotal post within the new service and will play a vital role in improving the quality of assessments, decision-making, and interventions across childrens services.
The multi-disciplinary team will work alongside the Family Help teams as part of the Families First transformation in childrens services. You will be working with families open on high-end child in need plans (CIN) and child protection plans (CP). The aim of working at this level is to address the needs and risks presented with interventions that reduce the likelihood of children entering care.
This service will provide you with the opportunity to effect positive change and offer support to families in our area.
Other key responsibilities
- Deliver specialist systemic psychotherapy and trauma-informed direct work with children and families.
- Provide expert consultation and reflective practice sessions for practitioners and managers.
- Lead and support high-quality risk assessments, care planning, and safety planning.
- Promote a whole family, systemic approach as part of a wider therapeutic service.
- Model relational, strengths-based, and evidence-informed practice across Childrens Services.
- Help embed systemic principles organisation-wide, ensuring children remain at the centre of all interventions.
- Work collaboratively within multi-agency environments, contributing to improved safeguarding and risk management.
Whilst this position is predominately on site at Southend City Council, working from home options are available, but will depend on the needs of the team.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- You will have extensive experience of working within children, young people and families facing emotional, relational, or social complexity.
- Have a strong ability to work within multi-agency environments, applying a systemic lens to safeguarding, child development, trauma, and family functioning.
- Be warm, reflective, and collaborative communication and interpersonal skills with families in need of support
Qualifications
Essential
- To be shortlisted for this position, it is essential that you have a degree in Family & Systemic Psychotherapy and hold a UKCP registration.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- You will have extensive experience of working within children, young people and families facing emotional, relational, or social complexity.
- Have a strong ability to work within multi-agency environments, applying a systemic lens to safeguarding, child development, trauma, and family functioning.
- Be warm, reflective, and collaborative communication and interpersonal skills with families in need of support
Qualifications
Essential
- To be shortlisted for this position, it is essential that you have a degree in Family & Systemic Psychotherapy and hold a UKCP registration.
Additional information
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
