Consultant Family and Systemic Psychotherapist

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

27 days annual leave

NHS pension scheme

Learning and career development

Cycle to Work and EV scheme

Wellbeing tools and services

Maternity, paternity and adoptionLeave

Free parking across Trust sites

Job summary

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced consultant to lead family and systemic therapy across services in Berkshire. The role combines clinical caseload with supervision, consultation and training for qualified and trainee therapists, while contributing to service development and governance within the psychological leadership team.

The post involves on-site work with travel between Berkshire sites, requires UKCP psychotherapist registration and an AFT-accredited

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree at 2:2 or above, or equivalent graduate qualification in a relevant mental health or social care discipline
• MSc or equivalent in family and systemic psychotherapy, accredited by AFT
• Postgraduate qualification in systemic supervision, plus post-qualification specialist training to an accreditable level in at least two relevant psychological practice areas

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership, supervision, consultation, training and clinical governance for family and systemic therapy across mental health, learning disability and physical health services for all ages
• Maintain a specialist clinical role, preferably in CAMHS, and work across services where your expertise is required
• Oversee systemic and family therapy provision, ensuring qualified and trainee therapists receive high-quality supervision and clinical support
• Lead and develop services and staff, and implement governance frameworks
• Influence strategic service and workforce development with Consultant Psychologists and Heads of Service
• Support accessible, high-quality psychological care pathways across the Trust
• Collaborate with colleagues, services, professional groups and external agencies to improve psychological care and service delivery
• Provide professional leadership within the psychological leadership team, including change management

Job description

This consultant post leads family and systemic therapy provision across Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, sitting within its psychological leadership team. It combines a specialist clinical caseload with supervision, consultation and training for qualified and trainee family therapists, plus input to strategic service and workforce development. The post is three days a week (0.6 WTE), with most days on site and travel between Berkshire sites. Fit turns on UKCP psychotherapist registration and an AFT-accredited family therapy qualification.

What the job involves

• Provide clinical leadership, supervision, consultation, training and clinical governance for family and systemic therapy across mental health, learning disability and physical health services for all ages
• Maintain a specialist clinical role, preferably in CAMHS, and work across services where your expertise is required
• Oversee systemic and family therapy provision, ensuring qualified and trainee therapists receive high-quality supervision and clinical support
• Lead and develop services and staff, and implement governance frameworks
• Influence strategic service and workforce development with Consultant Psychologists and Heads of Service
• Support accessible, high-quality psychological care pathways across the Trust
• Collaborate with colleagues, services, professional groups and external agencies to improve psychological care and service delivery
• Provide professional leadership within the psychological leadership team, including change management

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree at 2:2 or above, or equivalent graduate qualification in a relevant mental health or social care discipline
• MSc or equivalent in family and systemic psychotherapy, accredited by AFT
• Postgraduate qualification in systemic supervision, plus post-qualification specialist training to an accreditable level in at least two relevant psychological practice areas

Registration & licences

• UKCP psychotherapist registration within the College of Family, Couple and Systemic Psychotherapy
• UKCP Approved Supervisor registration reflecting AFT supervisory standards

Experience

• Extensive experience as a qualified principal family and systemic psychotherapist at a highly specialist level, including NHS mental health services and work with children and young people
• Substantial evidence-based work with service users, carers and families across the full range of severity and care settings, including highly emotive or threatening situations
• Extensive experience of complex safeguarding, risk management, clinical governance, complaints and investigations
• Leading multidisciplinary or multi-agency teams and services with complex caseloads, with a professional leadership qualification or equivalent substantial experience, and accountability for local and national targets

Skills & knowledge

• Extensive experience of teaching, clinical supervision and developing training and supervisory models
• Consultation, coaching, teaching and group facilitation skills, and managing a demanding caseload while supporting junior colleagues
• Highly effective written and oral communication, including difficult discussions with system partners where responsibility for care is disputed
• Advanced IT skills (such as RiO, Outlook and MS Office) and ability to produce complex multimedia presentations

Other

• Ability to work autonomously, build effective interpersonal networks and lead others through change
• Responds sensitively to people's needs, including all aspects of diversity
• Works flexibly, including on call where relevant, and travels independently between locations

What’s offered

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service, plus opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites