Specialist Family & Systemic Psychotherapist (Training & Progression)

Job summary

This post is open to enthusiastic clinicians currently working at Band 7 who are keen to develop their clinical, professional, supervision and leadership skills to progress to an 8a post.

Hammersmith & Fulham CAMHS is a well-established multidisciplinary Specialist Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service based at 48 Glenthorne Road, W6 0LS.

West London CAMHS employs family therapists across many specialties, including generic CAMHS, Crisis CAMHS, Eating Disorders, Neuro-developmental Conditions and Learning Disabilities, providing ample opportunity for networking with colleagues and sharing expertise.

As a Systemic & Family Psychotherapist within West London CAMHS, you will have good opportunities for continuing professional development and support with career progression.

West London CAMHS has developed new and innovative ways of working. Staff provide a combination of face-to-face clinical contact and contact via virtual platforms, resulting in onsite and remote working. All staff are provided with a laptop and mobile phone to support this agile way of working.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will join the Tier 3 NDLD Team and carry out specialist assessments of children and young people with complex mental health presentations, documenting outcomes and providing formulation, diagnosis and recommendations for interventions. They will offer individual, family and group systemic therapy interventions, including risk management.

The successful applicant will work alongside other family therapists in a family therapy clinic and hold an individual caseload. You will receive regular clinical, professional and management supervision, with support to develop supervisory skills in readiness to supervise Band 7 Family & Systemic Therapists. We offer in-house and external training opportunities, e.g. Narrative Therapy, NVR and CYP-IAPT, and specialist placements through links with local family therapy training providers.

We are looking for a CAMHS Specialist Systemic & Family Psychotherapist committed to creative engagement with a culturally diverse population of young people, who shows initiative, works well in a team and communicates clearly with professionals and young people. Knowledge, competence and an interest in working with children with complex mental health needs are essential. You will need flexibility and the skills and experience to provide high-quality, evidence-based and client-focused care.

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Job responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• Post-graduate training in systemic family therapists as accredited by IFT or AFT.
• Professional registration with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• Relevant first profession experience or the equivalent (e.g. criteria laid down by UKCP for "grandparent" and "APEL" route to qualification as Family Therapists)

Desirable

• Training in CYP/IAPT
• Systemic supervision training

Experience

Essential

• Experience of practice in relevant first profession or the equivalent.
• Experience of work with children and adolescents in a mental health or equivalent setting

Desirable

• Experience of other treatment approaches
• Experience of teaching, supervision and/or consultation
• Experience of NVR (non violent resistance) approach.
• Experience of research and audit

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence base in relation to child and adolescent mental health
• Research and research methodology at post-graduate level in relation to children and adults with mental health and social problems
• The impact of abuse, trauma and other adverse experiences on children, young people and families.
• Legislation and DOH guidelines relevant to child and adolescent mental health e.g. Mental Health Act 1983, Children Act 1989
• Child protection policies and procedures.
• Child development in relation to mental health difficulties.
• Knowledge of other modalities (i.e. psychoanalytical, biological, cognitive, behavioural etc.) sufficient to engage appropriately with colleagues and their work with clients

Desirable

• Specialist knowledge in one or more areas of systemic therapy.

Skills

Essential

• Skills in working with children and families with mental health and social problems using a variety of approaches coherent with a systemic perspective.
• Ability to apply analytical skills to multi-layered complex cases.
• Ability to formulate comprehensive assessments and offer effective treatment based on systemic principles.
• Ability to provide ongoing treatment in complex, often unstable, and frequently changing circumstances.
• Ability to liaise with and manage complex professional networks in relation to individuals and families.
• Skills in consulting to professional colleagues within and outside CAMHS
• Ability to withstand high levels of emotional distress and think clearly in emotionally charged situations.
• Ability to manage the risk of verbal and physical aggression. Ability to manage and plan own workload of complex cases.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Willingness and ability to work in co-operation with others.
• Physically able to withstand the effort of working in conditions of stress

Administration and Record Keeping

Essential

• Competent in the use of clinical recording systems such as RIO.
• Understands the process for keeping safe, secure and relevant clinical records
• Understands and is able to use online incident reporting systems.

Attitude, Aptitude and Personal Characteristics

Essential

• Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills.
• Treats service users with respect and dignity at all times.
• Enthusiastic, flexible and confident approach to working.
• Able to prioritise own workload.
• Willingness and ability to learn new skills and adapt to change.
• Honesty, enthusiasm and a sense of loyalty Conducts self in a professional, courteous manner at all times