Job summaryFamily and Systemic Psychotherapist - Band 8a
Children in Care & Care Leavers Team
Are you a passionate Family and Systemic Psychotherapist looking to make a meaningful difference for children and young people in care?
We are excited to offer a Band 8a (1.0 WTE) opportunity within our Children in Care and Care Leavers Team, working collaboratively across complex systems to support some of our most vulnerable young people.
This is a unique and rewarding role where you will bring a systemic lens to understanding and supporting the networks around children and young people in care. Much of the work involves supporting professionals, including social workers, Personal Advisors, Residential and Foster carers, nurses, and wider Multi-agency and Division MDT colleagues, to develop thoughtful trauma-informed formulations, care plans, and safety strategies.
Main duties of the jobYou will:
- Provide consultation across complex multi-agency systems
- Contribute to MDT and network meetings
- Deliver trauma-informed training to staff
- Deliver Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) training to carers and residential homes.
- Support and shape care planning with a strong relational and systemic focus
There will also be opportunities to contribute to direct work with children and young people, alongside experienced colleagues.
About YouWe are looking for someone who:
- Is a qualified Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
- Is confident working with complexity, risk, and multi-agency dynamics
- Has a strong interest in trauma and its long-term impact
- Enjoys working collaboratively and influencing systems
- Ideally has experience in NVR (or willingness to develop this)
Why Join Us?- Work in a supportive, collaborative team focused on systemic thinking
- Shape practice across services and influence whole systems
- Opportunities to develop specialist skills in trauma and care-experienced populations
- Flexible working arrangements considered, including split roles with other posts
If you are looking for a role where you can apply systemic thinking at scale and make a real impact, we would love to hear from you.
About usWelcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.
Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people's lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.
Job responsibilitiesSee attached Job Description and Person Specification for outline of the role and responsibilities within the CiC and Care Leavers Team
Applicants are encouraged to get in touch with Usha Jayarajan (Consultant Clinical psychologist and Lead for CiC and Care Leavers Team) and / or Karen Daniel (Head of Systemic Family Psychotherapy) to discuss the postThe post is a full time post but part-time and job share applications will also be considered.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- Masters/Diploma level qualification in Systemic Psychotherapy or AFT accredited equivalent.
- Post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice over a minimum of four
- Eligible for UKCP Registration
Desirable- Training in other relevant therapeutic modalities.
Knowledge and Nature of ExperienceEssential- Minimum four years practice in relevant first profession
- Experience working with children and young people with complex needs
- Experience of multi-agency working and MDT collaboration.
Knowledge and Nature of ExperienceEssential- Experience working with risk and complexity in safeguarding contexts.
- Ability to provide systemic consultation and develop formulations.
- Knowledge of and skill in using a wide variety of systemic theories and evidence-based interventions and the ability to use these appropriately in relation to client need and work setting.
- Knowledge of trauma and its developmental impact.
Desirable- Experience working with Children in Care and/or Care Leavers
- Experience delivering Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) interventions/training.
- Experience delivering training to professional groups and carers.
Analytical and Judgement SkillsEssential- Skills in the use of complex methods of systemic assessment and treatment of individuals, couples, family systems, groups and organisations, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration in the face of emotional intensity, and potential verbal and physical intimidation.
- Ability to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behavior.
Professional / Management / Specialist KnowldegeEssential- Ability to work with a racially and culturally diverse community in a wide variety of contexts including highly specialist skills for working therapeutically in the community.
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, ethical issues and strategic frameworks, and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management
- Knowledge of child and adult safeguarding processes and procedures.
Desirable- Knowledge and ability to contribute to research, audit, teaching and training.
Personal Skills / Abilities and AttributesEssential- Ability to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy using excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
- ility to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals, in accordance with professional ethics guidelines and Trust policies.
- Skills in using complex methods of specialist systemic assessment, intervention and clinical management in a range of contexts frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration and maintaining a restricted position for long periods.
- Ability to maintain high standards of record keeping including electronic patient record system and reports.
- Able to use supervision effectively.
- Ability to contribute to the development and evaluation of the team's operational policies and services.
Other RequirementsDesirable- Flexibility regarding working hours, including the ability to work some evenings if necessary.
- the candidate must have access to a reliable means of transportation to fulfil the role's duties effectively
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
