Informed Systemic Family Practitioner

Alliance Psychological Services Limited; Billingham; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A local mental health service provider is seeking an Informed Systemic Family Practitioner to improve the lives of families facing mental health challenges. The role involves delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions and collaborating with families and other professionals. Candidates must hold a recognized qualification and demonstrate experience with children in a mental health service setting. Offering competitive compensation of £31,000 to £37,000 per annum, the position includes comprehensive training opportunities and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

38 days annual leave pro rata

EAP health scheme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience working therapeutically with families facing mental health difficulties.
• Demonstrated understanding of assessment and risk in mental health.
• Ability to support the implementation of CBT approaches.

Responsibilities

• Assess children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions for families.
• Work collaboratively to develop effective treatment plans.

Skills

Effective communication skills

Therapeutic practice

Experience with children and young people

Flexibility

Understanding of children's mental health

Education

CYP IAPT qualification (Diploma in SFP)

Psychology or health/social care/youth related degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Database systems for case recording

Job description

Alliance Psychological Services Ltd is a leading local mental health provider delivering psychological support and emotional well-being services in a range of settings.

Our Children, Young People and Family Service provides support for children's mental health on behalf of, and in partnership with, Northeast and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundations Trust (TEWV) and other local organisations including the voluntary sector. Collectively we work together using theiThrivehttps://implementingthrive.org/about-us/i-thrive-implementing-thrive/ framework to improve mental health services and make them more accessible for children and young people in Tees Valley. Our mission is to help families navigate the mental health system so they can get the right support when they need it. We want to make sure everyone gets the help they deserve for better outcomes.

Are you wanting to improve the lives of young people and families facing mental health difficulties and deliver support in a dynamic and creative children's team? If so, we would love to hear from you as we have an exciting Informed Systemic Family Practitioner opportunity available.

Main duties of the job

A collaborative of local organisations (TEWV, The Link, The Junction, Alliance Psychological Services, Changing Futures Northeast, and Teesside Mind) have come together to provide the Tees Valley CYP Getting Advice & Help (GA&H) service. This innovative partnership is built on a shared commitment to improving mental health outcomes for children and young people by making services more equitable, accessible & responsive to local needs.

TEWV leads the partnership with Alliance & The Link providing operational leadership in North Tees (inc. Darlington) & South Tees respectively; ensuring strong, place-based delivery.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a transformative initiative that is reshaping how mental health support is delivered to young people in our communities. This role is based at Belasis, Billingham with a requirement to travel across Teesside.

The post holder will be part of a wider team that collaboratively provides high-quality, brief, and evidence-based support that is sensitive to the unique needs and experiences of children & young people. The SFP will deliver therapeutic interventions for families focussed on improving family functioning within families whose children are experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties in particular conduct disorder, depression and self-harm. The postholder will have the necessary knowledge, attitude& capabilities to operate effectively in an inclusive, value driven service.

Interviews are on 22.1.26 at Belasis

About us

We offer first rate training & development opportunities, 38 days annual leave pro rata, rising 1 day every 5 years of service (& the option to purchase additional AL) EAP health scheme including costs towards opticians, dentist, physio and shopping discounts plus a 3% contributory pension scheme. We also offer lots of health & wellbeing initiatives for our staff & promote flexible working for a positive work life balance.

Alliance is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment practice & service delivery. We are signatories to the Mindful Employers Charter. Alliance also has Investors in People status and the Better Health at Work Bronze award. We are committed to the National Living Wage.

Alliance Psychological Services follows safer recruitment for all appointments. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each persons individual responsibility and are committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of clients.

Please note that due to the nature of the duties of these roles an enhanced criminal records disclosure will be sought in the event of a successful application.

You must have right to work in the UK as we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for employment visas.

We monitor the use of AI , if applicants have used it they should declare it.

AI-generated content may lack detail and not address key criteria outlined in the job description.

Personalisation is essential to convey individual skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively.

Job responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

To provide, under supervision, assessment, including risk assessment, of children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

To support management of the waiting list playing a proactive role in prioritisation, assessment and signposting.

Deliver outcome focused, evidence-based systemic interventions in communities with families, where children or adolescents present with Depression and/or Self Harming behaviour and/or Conduct Disorders

To make use of referral pathways following assessment for children, young people and families requiring other services, including statutory and voluntary agencies.

To explore and evaluate clinical treatment using evaluation tools, contributing to evidence-based practice.

Working in collaboration to support children, young people and families in the self-management of presenting difficulties.

Working in collaboration with children, young people and families to develop effective treatment plans and agreed outcomes.

To operate within the Service Referral to Discharge Protocols.

Through close case management and supervision, escalate cases where the level of need becomes beyond scope, or more severe ensuring adherence to other relevant element of service delivery.

Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of children and young people contacts offered, and sessions carried out per week to improve timely access and minimise waiting times.

Comply with the national requirement for professional registration and maintain annual registration.

Make reasonable adjustments to interventions to support engagement e.g. modifying language for CYP with autism, holding shorter sessions for CYP with ADHD or printing on green paper for individuals with dyslexia

As appropriate, assist in the development and production of resources for the benefit of children and young people.

Take part in the delivery of training (as appropriate), consultation with and guidance to, others, pertaining to the level of development.

To work within CYP IAPT Delivering with and Delivering Well Values and Standards.

To work within the principles of CYP IAPT ensuring the appropriate use of routine outcome monitoring tools

Supervision:

Receive clinical supervision and case management in relation to clinical work to meet the required standards.

Prepare and present case load information to supervisors and case managers within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, to ensure safe practice and the governance obligations of the trainee, supervisor and service are delivered.

Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in practice.

Work within the boundaries of service delivery and support to meet the requirements of the service needs.

Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competencies and practice

Safeguarding

Be responsible for safeguarding children and promoting their welfare, operating within local policies and procedures.

Under guidance and support take appropriate safeguarding action to protect children and young people at risk of significant harm.

Ensure that consent is obtained and verified before sharing information, except in safeguarding situations.

Under guidance and supervision identify and support families in accessing Early Help Services.

Service Monitoring and Development

To maintain appropriate clinical notes and records on IAPTUS

To undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development as required for the purposes of continued professional accreditation or registration and as identified through professional development and Appraisal system.

Contribute to the setting of targets and action plans to assist with service development.

Encourage children and young people to be involved in the monitoring, evaluation, and development of the service.

Collaboration with Other Staff/Agencies

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Headteachers, Deputy Heads, SENCOs, Pastoral Teams, and other school staff, providing advice and consultation.

Liaise effectively with other local statutory, voluntary, and third-sector providers to build effective relationships and support the development of pathways.

Present the service and its users in a professional manner and represent the service at inter-agency meetings.

Liaise with other staff and agencies to further meet the needs of children and young people.

Work with families involved with social care, liaising closely with Social Workers and other professionals.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

• Ability to work within a dynamic and developing service
• Demonstration of self-motivation and motivation of others
• Ability to work confidently and competently under pressure
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written and the ability to understand and respond to requirements of different audiences
• Shares information, skills and practice when required
• Excellent case recording, report writing and case presentation skills
• Experience in using database systems to record sessions and notes
• Demonstrates competency in using The Google suite and Microsoft Office

Experience

• Experience of working therapeutically with children and young people
• Experience of working within a childrens mental health service
• Therapeutic Practice
• Demonstrates and understanding of assessment and risk
• Demonstrates an understanding and ability to work with CBT approaches and willing to support the implementation of the service model and integrate within practice.
• Shows a willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of both service, children, young people and families and university requirements
• Ability to work with an agreed caseload and manage agreed targets and performance measures
• Demonstrates an understanding of childrens mental health
• Clinical Supervision and Case Management
• Demonstrates a willingness to undertake clinical supervision and case management
• Shows responsibility for continuous professional development
• Child Protection and Safeguarding
• A clear understanding of LSCB policies and procedures and commitment to the safeguarding of children and young people
• Case Management and Line Management
• Under supervision demonstrates a willingness to challenge assumptions and practice and with guidance can provide alternative and creative solutions.
• Demonstrates commitment to deliver high quality services.
• Partnership Working
• Demonstrates an ability to effectively build and manage relationships with referrers both within schools and community
• Strong working relationships with school leadership teams to support and maintain contracts
• Demonstrates a consistently positive attitude to working within The Link/InsideOut MHST
• Demonstrates a willingness to work collaboratively with children, young people and families
• Has the willingness to work under supervision to develop good therapeutic relationships with children, young people and families.
• Post qualification experience as a practicing SFP
• Demonstrates an understanding of the service, including referral pathways and criteria for access
• Experience of working within educational establishments

Qualifications

• Holds a recognised qualification through CYP IAPT (Diploma in SFP).
• Holds a Psychology or other Health/social care/youth related undergraduate degree.
• Holds a recognised membership of a relevant professional body (i.e. HCPC/BACP/BABCP/BAAT/UKCP/BPS/AFT).
• Holds a recognised psychological therapy qualification or other core profession.
• Is accredited with a relevant professional body (i.e. HCPC/BACP/BABCP/BAAT/UKCP/BPS).

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.

£31,000 to £37,000 a yearPro Rata to Hours Worked