Job summary
Milton Keynes Lifespan Eating Disorder Service (MK-LEDS) are offering an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, ambitious and motivated Systemic and Family Psychotherapist to join our team. Working within CNWL - MK there are lots of opportunities for development, training and working across a lifespan eating disorder service and CAMHS.

Main duties of the job
The role of Family and Systemic Psychotherapist is to provide an active clinical role to compliment the wider multi-disciplinary team which is made up of psychiatrists, therapists, nurses and support workers. This is an NHS Specialist Eating Disorder Service intended to meet the complex mental health needs of young people and adults and their families.

About us
We are passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patients own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We are always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we are hoping to find our future leaders and support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career. With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more whatever stage of your career you are at, there is always a place for you at CNWL.

Details
Date posted: 16 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum (pro rata if P/T)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 333-D-MK-MH-1349-C
Closing date: 30 October 2026

Job responsibilities
To provide a highly specialist systemic assessment of service users and families presenting with significant and highly complex mental health and relationship issues, using the appropriate interpretations and integration of complex information from a variety of other professionals.
For further information about this post please see attached job description

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Post-graduate degree in an appropriate mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent
• Masters/Doctoral level qualification or equivalent in Systemic Family Therapy
• Further specialist training gained through C.P.D.
• Registered with the UKCP (United Kingdom Child Psychotherapy)
• Member of AFT/IFT or similar

Experience
Essential

• Substantial experience at graduate level or equivalent in a mental health or social welfare.
• Substantial experience post - qualifying as a Family Therapist, working with eating disorders.
• Experience of working therapeutically with families and children in various contexts

Desirable

• Experience of working therapeutically in a multidisciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team.
• Experience of teaching and training Systemic Family Therapy to other professionals

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• A high level of skill in assessing the client system, and identifying and prioritising interactional patterns, family dynamics and context
• Highly developed communication skills in relation to complex condition-related conversations with children, parents, family systems, carers and professionals in other agencies
• Knowledge of Children Act, 1989/2004 and ability to work with child protection procedures.
• Organisational skills and an ability to plan and prioritise own patient workload and family sessions in the Family Therapy clinic
• Ability to interpret and act within ethical and Trust guidelines and in accordance with the rules of professional conduct
• Highly developed negotiating skills with families often in a very emotive atmosphere with multiple perspectives
• Advanced skills in report and letter writing
• Ability to work autonomously being accountable for own professional decisions

Desirable

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders and risk assessment.
• Knowledge of research methodology and audit practices as practiced within clinical Family Therapy research
• Ability to train and supervise trainees and other professionals in the Systemic Family Therapy modality
• Interest in working with sexually abused children/young people and their families.

Physical Skills
Essential

• Telephone skills
• IT skills
• Current full driving license
• Advanced video skills

Disposition
Essential

• Tactful, trustworthy and sensitive to other peoples' feelings
• Calmness when dealing with conflicting pressures
• Ability to work with other professionals in multi disciplinary team

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Eaglestone Health Centre, Hospital Campus, Standing Way, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, MK6 5AZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Team Manager Paul Mugwagwa, paul.mugwagwa@nhs.net, 07535141329

Apply through our website.