Job summaryWe have an exciting opportunity for a family therapist within our leading-edge adult eating disorder services. The service supports both the direct work with adults and their families on the adult specialist eating disorder unit and supports with the integrated eating disorder care pathways.
We are looking for an experienced family therapist who is interested in working in this fascinating area. Please note you do not need to have experience in eating disorders as we will provide support and training to develop this specialist knowledge.The successful candidate will work closely with the multi-disciplinary team on the ward in the delivery of evidence based psychological systemic therapies.
Main duties of the jobAvalon ward is a 15-bedded unit for adults suffering with severe eating disorders, often at a very low weight and there is a high level of co-morbidity with other conditions. The team is a recovery focused service, working with patients on the goal of discharging safely back to their local community services where they can continue to work towards recovery. The team is made up of nurses, healthcare assistants, psychiatrist, dieticians, occupational therapists, social worker, psychologists and peer support workers.
The ward receives adult patients from both the local Eating Disorders Service as well as from other outpatient services nationally across the UK and Northern Ireland.
About usUnless expressly stated in the job advert this role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety ofbenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
DetailsDate posted: 27 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £66,274 to £73,496 a year per rata inclusive of Inner London HCAs
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 294-CAMHS-8259319-AZ
Job locations: Springfield University Hospital, Springfield Drive, London, SW17 0YF, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities- Support the development of the delivery of evidence based systemic family therapies adapted to an in-patient setting for adults with eating disorders.
- Participate in assessment and care planning for people admitted to the ward.
- Facilitate psycho-educational workshops and parent/carer support groups.
- Support nursing & healthcare assistant staff to implement care plans through the dissemination of systemic frameworks and interventions.
- Support management of ROMs and audit.
- Offer systemic family therapy to carers and clients using a range of systemic interventions and family therapy for anorexia nervosa.
- Attend all multi-disciplinary meetings and care planning reviews.
- Run systemic consultations across the MDT and contribute to thinking about the patients and their families from a systemic psychotherapy perspective.
- Set up and run reflecting team groups to develop systemic thinking across the staff groups.
Person SpecificationTraining & QualificationsEssential- Qualified Systemic Family Psychotherapist registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) via the College of Family Couple and Systemic Therapy,
- post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession with demonstrable practice over a minimum of four years, OR additional short training and post-qualification experience in mental health consolidated over a minimum of two years
Desirable- Clinical Systemic Supervision Training
- Registration as Clinical Supervisor by Association for Family Therapy (AFT)
ExperienceEssential- Substantial experience in relevant first profession
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
- Experience of multi disciplinary team working
- Experience of inter agency working
- Experience of safeguarding and Child Protection experience and skills in risk assessment, management and intervention with individuals, their families and/or social networks
Desirable- Experience of working with eating disorders
- Experience of leading case reviews
- Experience of working in the NHS
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).
Employer detailsEmployer name: South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
Address: Springfield University Hospital, Springfield Drive, London, SW17 0YF, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Principal Clinical Psychologist, Jennifer Walker, Jennifer.Walker@swlstg.nhs.uk, 07816332287
Supporting documentsPrivacy notice: South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)
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). 
