Job Description

The closing date is 10th Aug 2025

Anticipated Interview date(s) 26th August 2025

Job summary

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We're excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and compassionate Band 8a Family Therapist to join our Children's Eating Disorder Service (CEDS), part of Somerset CAMHS - rated "Outstanding" by the CQC.


About Us


CEDS delivers specialist care to children, young people, and families affected by eating disorders. We are a dynamic, supportive team committed to innovation, systemic thinking, and holistic care.


About the Role


We're seeking a skilled family therapist, passionate about supporting recovery through relational, family-focused approaches. You will:

Deliver assessments and collaboratively formulate treatment plans as part of a multidisciplinary team, both in clinic and at home. Work systemically across CAMHS, paediatrics, and inpatient services to support integrated care. Contribute to service development and pathway design. Promote systemic thinking and psychological perspectives across the service. Offer systemic supervision and consultation on complex cases. Support and empower parents and carers as key partners in recovery.

This is an exciting time to join a forward-thinking team where your ideas and expertise will shape future practice. We are also able to offer a fully funded place on a systemic supervisors course to the successful candidate.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

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This role is perfect for a dedicated and skilled family therapist who is passionate about supporting children and families affected by eating difficulties. As a key member of the team, you will:

Offer assessments, consider hypotheses relating to case formulation, create treatment plans as part of an MDT for children and young people both in clinic and at home. Engage in systemic collaboration with multidisciplinary professionals across CAMHS, community teams, paediatric units, and inpatient services to ensure comprehensive care. Play an integral role in developing clinical pathways and enhancing the specialist Eating Disorder Service. Advocate for the use of systemic and psychological approaches in treatment, promoting a psychological and family-oriented perspective within the service. Offer systemic supervision and provide consultation on complex cases using systemic expertise to guide interventions. Support family-focused interventions that empower parents and carers to be part of the therapeutic process, recognising their importance in recovery.

About us

------------


At

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

Flexible working options

to help you balance work and life

NHS pension scheme

for long-term financial security

Generous annual leave allowance

to recharge and relax A strong focus on

career development

to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our

Blue Light Card

, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.


We are proud to foster a

diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce

, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset?

Somerset offers the perfect blend of

idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty

, and

breathtaking coastlines

, with vibrant cities like

Bristol

,

Bath

, and

Exeter

just a short drive away - and only two hours to

London

.


The region is home to excellent

educational facilities

, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all

- the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job description

-------------------

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please refer to the attached and Person Specification.

Person specification

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Qualifications

####

Essential

Relevant qualification and registration in Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or other relevant mental health profession


Postgraduate qualification in family/systemic psychotherapy.


Registration as a Systemic Psychotherapist with UKCP or equivalent body.




####

Desirable

Professional postgraduate qualification in a mental health or social welfare discipline or agreed Association of Family Therapy (AFT) equivalent


Specialist training in supervision that has led to 'approved' clinical supervisor status.


Specialist Training in teaching Systemic Psychotherapy.


###

Experience

####

Essential

Skills in the use of methods of Systemic Psychotherapy/Family based assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.


Experience of working in CAMHS or similar services with children and young people.


Experience of working therapeutically with eating disorders and/or eating difficulties.


High level of relationship and communication skills to work with clients, families, and/or professionals where the atmosphere might be highly emotive with clients and families expressing anger and hostility.


Well-developed skills in the ability to comprehend and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical, and/or clinically sensitive information in a manner appropriate to a range of settings and audiences, including complex highly emotive situations and those with significantly impaired communication capacities.


Ability to liaise with and utilise analytical skills to manage complex professional meetings, networks, and processes in relation to individuals and families


Knowledge of and skill in using the variety of approaches and methods within systemic practice (i.e. social constructionist, narrative, solution focused, etc.) as required to work with individuals, couples, family systems, groups, and organisations.


Skills in both live and indirect supervision of systemic psychotherapists and/or multidisciplinary colleagues.


Ability to provide ongoing treatment in complex, often unstable and frequently changing circumstances.


Skills in providing systemic/Family Therapy consultation, teaching, and training to other professional and non-professional groups.


Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.


Ability to learn to use and be responsible for the safety of expensive and complex video and DVD equipment.


Knowledge of other modalities (i.e. psychoanalytic, medical, behavioural, etc.) sufficient to engage appropriately with colleagues and their work with clients.


Knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to mental health and the full range of client groups.


Evidence of continuing Professional Development as required by UKCP/AFT guidelines


Knowledge and skills of risk management and ability to perform a clinical risk assessment.


Substantial practice in relevant first profession.




####

Desirable

Knowledge and application of standardised assessments and outcome measures.


Knowledge of the theory and practice of Systemic Psychotherapy/Family therapy in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, eating disorders, dual diagnosis etc).


Skills in providing advanced level systemic/ Family Therapy training and supervision to other professionals.




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Additional Criteria

####

Essential

Own transport available for work purposes


Full UK driving licence


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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 Professional Registration

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


###

For help with your application, contact:

Tamzin Coles


tamzin.coles@somersetft.nhs.uk


07920747219


###

Pay scheme

Agenda for Change


###

Band

Band 8a


###

Salary

53755.00 to 60504.00 Yearly
###

Contract

Permanent


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Working pattern

Full-Time


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Reference number

184-OL-GR-2980


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Job locations

Foundation House

Wellsprings Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 7PQ