About this role
Job summary
Highly Specialist Family and Systemic Psychotherapist - Forensic Service
Join our well established West London Forensic Service and make a meaningful difference to the lives of adults with complex mental health needs and offending histories.
Based in Ealing, our experienced Systemic Family Work Team provides specialist systemic psychotherapy to patients across medium and low secure services and those living in the community. Working collaboratively with patients, families and multidisciplinary teams, we use a Reflecting Team approach to promote recovery, strengthen relationships and improve outcomes.
This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified Family and Systemic Psychotherapist who is passionate about forensic mental health. You will join a supportive, experienced team committed to high quality, evidence based practice, with excellent opportunities for continuing professional development, research, teaching, consultation and clinical supervision through our Psychological Therapies Department.
We welcome applications for full time, part time and job share opportunities. The post is available at Band 7 or Band 8a, depending on experience. Candidates appointed at Band 7 will benefit from a structured preceptorship programme to support progression to Band 8a.
If you are looking for a rewarding role where you can develop your specialist skills, work creatively with families and contribute to innovative forensic psychological services, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Working within a secure forensic environment offers a unique opportunity to build meaningful therapeutic relationships with adults and their families over time. The service enables creative, sustained systemic work, supporting people to rebuild relationships, strengthen support networks and reconnect with aspects of their identity beyond that of being a patient.
Our service works with people who have experienced significant trauma, marginalisation and social disadvantage, alongside enduring mental illness and complex emotional needs. As a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist, you will play a key role in supporting recovery, resilience and lasting positive change.
You will work closely with colleagues in our Reflecting Team, using a collaborative and compassionate approach to support families through complex and emotionally demanding situations. The role provides excellent opportunities to develop specialist systemic practice, with regular supervision, peer support and reflective practice.
You will also work in partnership with multidisciplinary teams across the forensic service, providing expert consultation, formulation and systemic interventions at individual, family and team levels. By building strong collaborative relationships, you will help deliver psychologically informed, family inclusive care and make a meaningful difference to the lives of patients and those closest to them.
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 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby 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.
Job description 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
Recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions (eg. Nursing, Psychologist, Occupational Therapy, Social Work,) Masters level qualification in Systemic and Family Psychotherapy. Registration with UKCP as a Systemic and Family Psychotherapist.
Desirable
Other related academic qualifications Advanced Diploma in Supervision of Systemic and Family Psychotherapy
Experience Essential
Experience of working in adult mental health and/or forensic settings Extensive experience of conducting assessments with individuals, their families and social networks, particularly those with complex and severe difficulties, taking account of a range of theoretical models and with the ability to develop clinical formulation and make recommendations for intervention. Experience of working systemically across different cultural contexts and of recognising the operation of power and privilege, for example in relation to racism, gender, class and sexual identities. Extensive experience of working as an autonomous and independent practitioner. Experience of working with a wide variety of service user groups, presenting with a range of clinical issues and degrees of severity, with the capacity to maintain professionalism while being presented with highly demanding and distressing situations. Experience of teaching and/or supervising individuals or groups of staff at different levels of training and experience. Experience of offering systemic consultation to individuals, multidisciplinary staff teams and other professional groups. Experience of planning and delivering training in systemic principles and practices. Experience of research and audit
Desirable
Experience of working in inpatient or other institutional settings. Experience of other clinical approaches (for example MBT, EMDR, DBT). Experience of working with people with diagnoses of severe mental health problems and/ or trauma. Experience in undertaking investigations (including serious untoward incidents, disciplinary incidents and complaints). Publications in academic or professional journals and /or books. Experience of facilitating Reflective Practice groups
Knowledge Essential
Comprehensive knowledge of systemic theories, methods and techniques and their appropriate application in different contexts, with individuals, families, organisations and social networks. Comprehensive knowledge of the evidence base for family and systemic interventions. Knowledge of other clinical and psychotherapeutic models and modalities sufficient to engage with multidisciplinary team colleagues in deciding on and coordinating between different interventions. Knowledge of psychiatric diagnosis and treatments An understanding of the role of systemic psychotherapy in the modern NHS. Good knowledge of different pathways of care in terms of mental health provision in statutory and voluntary sectors. Knowledge of legislation regarding mental health and the criminal justice system; and regarding the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Knowledge of NHS Policies and their implications for clinical practice, professional management and service development. Understanding of confidentiality, data protection, legislation and Caldicott principles. Awareness and appreciation of equality and diversity issues
Desirable
Knowledge of research methodologies
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name West London NHS Trust
Address St Bernard's Hospital
London
UB1 3EU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)