Family Therapist

Job overview

We are seeking a skilled and compassionate individual to join the new NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Service (London) in the role of Family Therapist.

The post holder will provide, develop, and ensure the systematic provision of a highly specialist family and systemic psychotherapy service to the CYP Gender Service – London, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

The successful applicant will have experience working as a qualified systemic family psychotherapist under supervision in specialism relevant to CYP with Gender Diversity, and experience in the systemic assessment, formulation and intervention of individuals and families with a range of psychological needs that are complex in nature, relevant to the needs of CYP with gender diversity.

Unlock your potential and elevate your career by joining the NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Service (London).  You will work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team with strong leadership. We are dedicated to fostering a supportive work environment and professional growth. We are offering attractive recruitment packages including:

• Link graded posts
• Offering a clear path for advancement
• Training opportunities
• Relocation Support
• Refer a Friend Bonus- up to £500 per referral *T&Cs Apply

Main duties of the job

A new clinical pathway has been developed, based on the recommendations of The Cass Review Interim Report, the NHS England interim service specification, and the expertise of many clinicians from across the Northern and Southern Hubs. The service will be delivered by a wide multi-disciplinary team including paediatricians, mental health practitioners, youth workers, nurses, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists. Who patients see will be dependent on the support and care they need.   

Children and young people will receive an in-depth assessment of their needs, and a care plan will be developed with them and, if needed, those supporting them. Children and young people may be offered a range of care interventions such as therapy, family therapy, physical health support, or mental health support for any identified difficulties they may want help with. The team will also liaise with health professionals in local services nearer to the child or young person.  

It is expected that the NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Service will continue to change and evolve as more learning, research and evidence is developed in this area, and therefore we would encourage applications from individuals with a passion for service improvement, audit and research.

Working for our organisation

Following the recommendations of The Cass Review Interim Report, two new nationally networked services led by specialist children’s tertiary care providers are being established. The Southern Hub, based in London, is delivered by a partnership of Evelina London Children’s Hospital (part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust), Great Ormond Street Hospital and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

The Northern Hub is delivered by a partnership of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust). This role is based in the Southern Hub.

We are committed to promoting an environment that embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. We would like all our families and staff to feel valued and respected because we try to understand and provide for their individual needs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.

Person specificationCulture and ValuesEssential criteria

• •Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• •Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace.
• •Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Academic/Professional qualification/TrainingEssential criteria

• •Post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field
• •Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP
• •Additional training in a specialised area of systemic practice through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent),OR a combination of specialist short courses, OR an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice–based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
• •Registered with the UKCP as Systemic Psychotherapist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the UKCP.
• •Accredited by AFT to supervise qualified Systemic and Family Psychotherapists

Experience/KnowledgeEssential criteria

• •Evidence of having worked as a qualified systemic family psychotherapist under supervision in specialism relevant to CYP with Gender Diversity
• •Experience of specialist systemic assessment, formulation and intervention with individuals and families with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in relevant to the needs of CYP with Gender Diversity
• •Experience of supervising trainee family and systemic psychotherapists, having completed the relevant training
• •Experience of providing teaching and training to family and systemic psychotherapists or other professional groups.
• •Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• •Experience of carrying out research, audit or service evaluation projects.
• •Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area.
• •Record of publications in either peer reviewed, academic or professional journals/books
• •Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised systemic and psychological therapies relevant to CYP with Gender Diversity
• •Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment (specify for the post if necessary).
• •Advanced knowledge of assessment techniques
• •Advanced knowledge of a wide range of systemic and family models and interventions
• •Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues and child protection.
• •MSc level knowledge of research methodology and complex statistical analysis
• •Knowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care.

Skills/AbilitiesEssential criteria

• •Highly specialist skills in the selection and use of complex assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources, on which opinion may differ.
• •To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues and external agencies overcoming sensory, emotional and cultural barriers to communication.
• •Advanced consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups.
• Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
• •Advanced knowledge of and skill in using a wide variety of systemic theories and interventions and the ability to use these appropriately in relation to client need and work setting
• •Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data and for teaching purposes.
• •Advanced skills in professional supervision; including skills for offering live supervision of multi-disciplinary colleagues.
• •Advanced skills in working with a number of clients and systems together, managing the highly complex emotional relationships within and between the component parts of the systems in ways, which maximise the potential for therapeutic outcomes
• •Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, hold a substantial leadership role and contribute to effective team functioning.
• •Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
• •Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
• •Ability to manage highly complex situations involving multiple difficulties, and competing/conflicting views about those difficulties; and to help create contexts that develop systemic engagement, and harness the strengths and abilities of those involved in order to work towards solutions

 

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