Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated individual to join our dynamic team and take the role of Principal Systemic Family Psychotherapist, leading on systemic thinking, practice and development at the Lavender Walk Adolescent Unit.
Lavender Walk is a busy and friendly service which welcomes new skills and new ideas. It is part of Central & North West London (CNWL) Foundation Mental Health Trust and is situated in Kensington & Chelsea (South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre, 1 Nightingale Place, London, SW10 9NG) with close transport links and local amenities.
We are a 12 bed General Adolescent Unit (GAU) that cares for young people between the ages of 13-18 years old, with complex mental health needs and emotional difficulties. We serve young people from Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham and Hounslow.
The team is made up of two Consultant Psychiatrists (one of which is the Clinical Lead), Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Therapies Lead), Matron (Clinical Unit Manager), Ward Manager, Qualified Nurses, Nurse Associates, Health Care Assistants, Speciality Doctors Junior Doctors, Occupational Therapist, Art Therapist, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner, Speech and Language Therapist, Clinical Psychologists, Systemic Family Psychotherapist, Social Worker and Teaching staff. At times we will also have students from the above professional disciplines joining the team.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a motivated individual who is enthusiastic, forward thinking, and adaptable to work within our well established and welcoming multi-disciplinary team. The post-holder will be part of the Senior Management Team (SMT) influencing and supporting the service development and growth. The post-holder will lead on ensuring the provision of highly specialist systemic interventions, formulation and practice. You will hold a family therapy caseload and the role will also involve care managing a limited caseload. The post-holder will provide line management and clinical supervision to specific members of the Lavender Walk therapy team and deputise for the Therapies Lead in their absence.
The post-holder will have strong links with Systemic Family Psychotherapist colleagues within the CNWL service line and will provide clinical supervision for Systemic Family Psychotherapists in CNWL’s Tier 4 CAMHS pathway.
For further information or to arrange an informal visit please contact: Dr Barry Starr, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Therapies Lead Tel : 07784239504 Email:barry.starr@nhs.net
About us
CNWL have a pioneering history improving health outcomes in people’s lives, by providing physical and mental health services at GPs, clinics, hospitals, and in the community.
Our base is in the Chelsea area, next to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Thanks to the heavy NHS influence many local cafes, restaurants and bars give discounts at 10-20% to all NHS staff. As well as Better Gym offering a 50% discount to all staff.
As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues, and patients when working on our healthcare settings.
We take flexible working seriously, and will always be open to discussion to meet our workforces competing work life demands.
To find out more about working in CAMHS, CLICK HERE for our video.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a detailed description of the roles and responsibilities of the post, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a detailed description of the roles and responsibilities of the post, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Professional Registration
Essential
- oPost-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field
- oMasters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP
- oAdditional 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.
- oRegistered with the UKCP as Systemic Psychotherapist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the UKCP
Desirable
- oAdvanced theoretical knowledge of the evidence base and psychopathology of child and adolescent inpatients
Knowledge
Essential
- oHighly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of inpatient focused family therapy for adolescents with mental health problems (for some this will be desirable rather than essential)
- ooAdvanced knowledge of a wide range of systemic and family models and interventions
- oAdvanced knowledge of assessment techniques
- oMSc level knowledge of research methodology and complex statistical analysis
Desirable
- oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues and child protection.
- oKnowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care
Experience
Essential
- oEvidence of having worked as a Band 8A or higher, qualified systemic family psychotherapist under supervision in CAMHS (preferable Tier 4).
- oExperience of care coordination of complex cases
- oExperience of specialist systemic assessment, formulation and intervention with individuals and families with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in child and adolescent inpatients
- oExperience of supervising trainee family and systemic psychotherapists, having completed the relevant training
- oExperience of providing teaching and training to family and systemic psychotherapists or other professional groups.
Desirable
- oExperience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework
- oExperience of carrying out research, audit or service evaluation projects
- oExperience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area
- oExperience of working with and contributing to a Multi-Disciplinary Team
Skills
Essential
- oHighly 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.
- oTo communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients and carers overcoming sensory, emotional and cultural barriers to communication.
- oAdvanced consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups
- oTo deliver systemic therapy across cultural and other differences
- oSkills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
- oTo consult with colleagues, referrers and other professional groups within own service
Desirable
- oAdvanced 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
- oWell-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data and for teaching purposes.
- oAdvanced skills in professional supervision; including skills for offering live supervision of multi-disciplinary colleagues
- oAdvanced 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
Abilities
Essential
- oAbility to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, hold a substantial leadership role and contribute to effective team functioning
- oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
- oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
- oAbility 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
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self
- Ability to manage physical aggression directed at self, including use of physical interventions as prescribed by Trust policies
Desirable
- oTraining in Supervision accredited by AFT to supervise qualified Systemic and Family Psychotherapists
- oExperience of contributing to Family Therapy and / or Child and adolescent inpatients research
- oExperience of delivering Multi-Family Therapy Groups for Child and adolescent inpatients
- oRecord of publications in either peer reviewed, academic or professional journals/books
- oTraining in or knowledge of Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) and/or Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT)
Person Specification
Qualifications and Professional Registration
Essential
- oPost-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field
- oMasters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP
- oAdditional 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.
- oRegistered with the UKCP as Systemic Psychotherapist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the UKCP
Desirable
- oAdvanced theoretical knowledge of the evidence base and psychopathology of child and adolescent inpatients
Knowledge
Essential
- oHighly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of inpatient focused family therapy for adolescents with mental health problems (for some this will be desirable rather than essential)
- ooAdvanced knowledge of a wide range of systemic and family models and interventions
- oAdvanced knowledge of assessment techniques
- oMSc level knowledge of research methodology and complex statistical analysis
Desirable
- oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues and child protection.
- oKnowledge of racial and other diversity issues and factors affecting access to mental health care
Experience
Essential
- oEvidence of having worked as a Band 8A or higher, qualified systemic family psychotherapist under supervision in CAMHS (preferable Tier 4).
- oExperience of care coordination of complex cases
- oExperience of specialist systemic assessment, formulation and intervention with individuals and families with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in child and adolescent inpatients
- oExperience of supervising trainee family and systemic psychotherapists, having completed the relevant training
- oExperience of providing teaching and training to family and systemic psychotherapists or other professional groups.
Desirable
- oExperience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework
- oExperience of carrying out research, audit or service evaluation projects
- oExperience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area
- oExperience of working with and contributing to a Multi-Disciplinary Team
Skills
Essential
- oHighly 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.
- oTo communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients and carers overcoming sensory, emotional and cultural barriers to communication.
- oAdvanced consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups
- oTo deliver systemic therapy across cultural and other differences
- oSkills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
- oTo consult with colleagues, referrers and other professional groups within own service
Desirable
- oAdvanced 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
- oWell-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data and for teaching purposes.
- oAdvanced skills in professional supervision; including skills for offering live supervision of multi-disciplinary colleagues
- oAdvanced 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
Abilities
Essential
- oAbility to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, hold a substantial leadership role and contribute to effective team functioning
- oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
- oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
- oAbility 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
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self
- Ability to manage physical aggression directed at self, including use of physical interventions as prescribed by Trust policies
Desirable
- oTraining in Supervision accredited by AFT to supervise qualified Systemic and Family Psychotherapists
- oExperience of contributing to Family Therapy and / or Child and adolescent inpatients research
- oExperience of delivering Multi-Family Therapy Groups for Child and adolescent inpatients
- oRecord of publications in either peer reviewed, academic or professional journals/books
- oTraining in or knowledge of Dialectic Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) and/or Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT)
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.
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
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).
