West London NHS Trust
Highly Specialist Family Therapist
The closing date is 01 December 2026
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Job summary
Due to on-going investment, a structure review and subsequent expansion of the West London CAMHS Systemic & Family Psychotherapy Team, we are extremely pleased to be able to recruit a permanent Band 8a Higher Specialist Systemic and Family Psychotherapist to join the Cross-borough Eating Disorder Team, based at Ealing CAMHS, 1 Armstrong Way, Southall UB2 4SA.

West London CAMHS Eating Disorders Service is a well-established multidisciplinary Specialist Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, which is an integral part of the wider CAMH Service. West London CAMHS employs family therapists across many specialties including generic CAMHS, Eating Disorders, Neuro-developmental Conditions and Learning Disabilities. This means there is ample opportunity for networking with colleagues and sharing expertise.

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. You will receive regular clinical, professional and management supervision from a Principal Systemic & Family Psychotherapist. We offer a range of in house and external training opportunities e.g. Narrative therapy; NVR; CYP-IAPT. West London CAMHS has good relationships with local family therapy training providers, and we offer specialist placements to trainees.

Main duties of the job
Family Therapy and family-based interventions are the primary intervention offered to families where there is a diagnosed eating disorder. The successful candidate will be key in supporting the continued development of these interventions and supporting colleagues in the facilitation of systemic interventions.

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. The post holder will be part of a growing team of clinicians with a special interest and expertise in working with children, and young people, who are presenting with complex mental health needs.

About us
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.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £63,665 to £70,887 a year per annum inclusive
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 222-LS-CAMHS-849
Job locations: Ealing CAMHS, 1 Armstrong Way, London, UB2 4SD, United Kingdom

Job 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

• Essential: Post-graduate training in systemic family therapists as accredited by IFT or AFT.
• Essential: Professional registration with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
• Essential: Minimum four years' practice in relevant first profession including experience of safe-guarding children.
• Desirable: CYP IAPT training.
• Desirable: Training in Systemic supervision and consultation.
• Desirable: FT-AN/FBT/MFT training.

Experience

• Essential: To have an interest in working with young people who have an eating disorder and their families/carers.
• Essential: At least three years' experience of work with children and adolescents in a mental health or equivalent setting, including work with young people with eating disorders.
• Essential: To have a commitment to and experience of multi-disciplinary working.
• Essential: Experience of supervision or consultation.
• Essential: Experience of research and audit.
• Desirable: Experience and/or interest in running Multi Family Therapy groups (MFT).
• Desirable: Experience of teaching and training in systemic psychotherapy.

Knowledge

• Essential: Evidence base in relation to eating disorder treatments.
• Essential: Evidence base in relation to child mental health.
• Essential: Research and research methodology at post-graduate level in relation to children and adults with mental health and social problems.
• Essential: A developed understanding of the impact of abuse, trauma and other adverse experiences on children and families.
• Essential: Legislation and DOH guidelines relevant to eating disorders and other child and adolescent mental health presentations.
• Essential: Child protection policies and procedures.
• Desirable: Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised systemic family therapy with vulnerable and hard to reach families.
• Desirable: Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies.

Skills

• Essential: Clinical experience and skills in engaging young people who have an eating disorder and their families/carers.
• Essential: Ability to formulate comprehensive assessments and offer effective treatment based on systemic principles.
• Essential: Ability to apply analytical skills to multi-layered complex cases and to attend to issues of risk.
• Essential: Ability to provide on-going treatment in complex and frequently changing circumstances.
• Essential: Ability to liaise with and manage complex professional networks in relation to individuals and families.
• Essential: Skills in consulting to professional colleagues within and outside CAMHS.
• Essential: Ability to manage high levels of emotional distress and think clearly in emotionally charged situations.
• Desirable: Word processing skills, including the ability to use internet and other computer technology effectively.

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. 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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: West London NHS Trust
Address: Ealing CAMHS, 1 Armstrong Way, London, UB2 4SD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Principle Systemic Family Therapist, Jane Willis, j.willis5@nhs.net

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