Job summary
- Main area
- Highly Specialist Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 222-LS-CAMHS-818
- Employer
- West London NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- H&F CAMHS
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £66,274 - £73,496 per annum inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/09/2026 17:00
- Interview date
- 16/09/2026
Employer heading
Highly Specialist Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
Band 8a
West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.
We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.
Job overview
We are offering an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, ambitious, and motivated Family & Systemic Psychotherapist to join Hammersmith & Fulham CAMHS.
Hammersmith & Fulham CAMHS is a well-established multidisciplinary Specialist Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service which is based at 48 Glenthorne Road, W6 0LS.
We are looking for someone passionate about working with and making the difference to the life of Children and Young people struggling with neurodevelopmental and learning difficulties.
West London CAMHS employs family therapists across many specialties including generic CAMHS, Crisis CAMHS, Eating Disorders, Neuro-developmental Conditions and Learning Disabilities. This means there is ample opportunity for networking with colleagues and sharing expertise.
As a systemic & family psychotherapist within West London CAMHS you will be offered good opportunities for continuing professional development and you will be supported in your career progression. West London CAMHS has a very successful NVR program and we welcome applicants with NVR training.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will join the tier 3 Neuro-developmental & Learning Disability Team within the Service and carry out specialist assessments of children and young people with complex mental health presentations and will document the outcome of these assessments, providing formulation, diagnosis, and recommendations for interventions. In addition, he/she will offer a range of individual, family and group therapeutic interventions, including risk management, appropriate for children and young people attending the Service.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to work alongside other family therapists in a family therapy clinic in addition to holding an individual caseload. The post holder will receive regular clinical, professional and management supervision from the Principal Family & Systemic Psychotherapist. In turn you will provide supervision to band 7 Family & Systemic psychotherapists in line with the supervision structure.
We are looking to appoint a CAMHS Highly Specialist Family & Systemic Psychotherapist who is able to demonstrate a commitment to creative engagement with a culturally diverse population of young people, shows initiative, is a team player and is able to communicate ideas clearly to both professionals and young people alike.
Working for our organisation
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’ overall by 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.
Detailed job description and main 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 criteria
- Post-graduate training in systemic family therapists as accredited by IFT or AFT.
- Professional registration with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- Previous qualification in a relevant profession such as social work, nursing, teaching, psychology or counselling.
Desirable criteria
- Training in Autism assessments e.g. Autistic Diagnostic Interview (ADI)/ Autistic Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)
- Systemic supervision training NVR (non-violent resistance) training.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Substantial length of practice in relevant first profession
- Significant experience of work with children and adolescents in a mental health or equivalent setting
- Good working experience of working with neurodevelopmental disorders and/or learning disabilities
- Experience of teaching, supervision and/or consultation
- Experience of research and audit
Desirable criteria
- Experience of other treatment approaches
- Experience of teaching and training systemic psychotherapy
- Experience of NVR (non- violent resistance) approach.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- An interest in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Skills
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- Ability to adhere to and promote equal opportunities in the development of the service.
- 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 criteria
- 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 criteria
- 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.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Diana Alvis Palma
- Job title
- Principle Systemic Family Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
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