Job summary
Are you passionate about making a real difference to deaf children and young people and their families?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and skilled Family Therapist to join our specialist National Deaf CAMHS (South West) service. This is a unique opportunity to work within a bicultural, bilingual multidisciplinary team, providing high-quality, psychologically informed care to deaf young people with complex mental health and neurodevelopmental needs.

You'll be part of a collaborative, psychology-led service where language, identity and culture are central to care, working closely with colleagues across psychology, psychiatry, social work and education.

This is a part-time role (22.5 hours per week), with flexibility available across working days to support work--life balance.

Whether you are an experienced Band 8a Family Therapist or a Band 7 clinician looking to develop, we offer strong supervision, national links, and excellent opportunities for professional development, research and service innovation.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver specialist systemic family therapy assessments, formulations and interventions for deaf children, young people and their families
• Manage a varied clinical caseload, acting as keyworker where appropriate
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to joint assessments and care planning
• Provide consultation, advice and training to professionals across health, education and social care
• Undertake risk assessments and contribute to safeguarding and care planning
• Support and contribute to service development, audit, research and innovation
• Provide clinical supervision and support to junior staff and trainees (dependent on experience)
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively, including through interpreters where required
• Maintain accurate clinical records and produce clear, high-quality reports

About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities
As a Family Therapist, you will play a vital role in delivering specialist, person-centred care to deaf children and young people with complex mental health needs.

You will provide systemic family therapy interventions informed by evidence-based approaches, taking into account the developmental, relational and cultural contexts that shape a young person's experiences. This includes working with families facing a wide range of challenges, including trauma, neurodevelopmental needs and high-risk presentations.

Working both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will be responsible for the assessment, formulation and delivery of therapeutic interventions, alongside contributing to wider care planning and clinical decision-making. You will work in partnership with schools, social care, local CAMHS teams and third-sector organisations to ensure coordinated and effective support.

A key aspect of the role is acting as a specialist resource, offering consultation, training and psychological insight to other professionals and services. You will also contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the service, including involvement in evaluation, audit and innovation.

You will work closely with interpreters and will be supported to develop the skills needed to work effectively in a bilingual environment. Experience of British Sign Language is not required, as training will be provided.

The role includes a mix of community-based work, home visits, school-based interventions and remote working, with flexibility to support a healthy work--life balance. You will manage your own workload and diary, ensuring that care is prioritised based on clinical need and delivered to a high standard.

You will receive regular supervision, peer support and opportunities for continued professional development, while being part of a supportive team committed to improving outcomes for deaf children and young people.

This role also includes responsibilities for:

• Safeguarding and risk management
• Maintaining professional standards and working within relevant legislation and guidance
• Promoting equality, inclusion and culturally responsive practice
• Supporting team development, wellbeing and a positive working culture

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Certificate in Systemic Family Psychotherapy or MSc or Doctorate in Systemic Family Psychotherapy or equivalent AND a professional qualification in one of the following: Social work eg DipSW, Nursing eg CPN, Clinical Psychology, Art Psychotherapy, Occupational Therapy or other related profession

Desirable

• Other related academic qualifications or training
• Knowledge or experience in working with deaf young people and their families
• Clinical Supervision training

Experience
Essential

• Extensive experience working with children, young people and families presenting with complex mental health needs across a range of clinical severities
• Demonstrable experience in CAMHS settings, including managing high-risk presentations such as self-harm, suicidality and harm to others
• Strong understanding of developmental and systemic models of psychological distress, with experience applying these in family-based interventions
• Experience working across multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environments, building effective professional relationships
• Experience in producing high-quality clinical reports, with some involvement in audit, research or data collection

Desirable

• Experience of supporting junior qualified and non-qualified staff members.
• Experience and understanding of Safeguarding Children and other relevant legislation and policies.
• Clinical practice in either inpatient or community settings.

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.

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Foundation House, Wellsprings Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 7PQ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Hiring Manager
Gemma Palmer
gemma.palmer@somersetft.nhs.uk
01823368525

Details
Date posted: 06 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 184-OL-GR-5123
Job locations: Foundation House, Wellsprings Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 7PQ, United Kingdom