Job Description

Main area

CYP Family Therapist - Integrated Eating Disorder Service

Grade

Band 7

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Part time - 22.5 hours per week

Job ref

373-CYP1506

Site

Ancora House

Town

Chester

Salary

47,810 - 54,710 Per annum pro rata

Salary period

Yearly

Closing

27/11/2025 23:59

Interview date

18/12/2025

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Family Therapist to work in a dedicated and specialist multi-disciplinary eating disorders service for young people and their families.


The Post will be part of the Ancora House, CHEDS integrated eating disorder service. CHEDS is a regional outpatient service offering evidenced based treatment approaches to 13 - 18 year olds who present with an eating disorder and their families / carers. CHEDS also offers a day service provision and inpatient services.



We are seeking to appoint a skilled and experienced family therapist with a genuine interest in working with young people with eating disorders and their families and a commitment to delivering specialist assessments and evidence-based interventions. We are keen to hear from individuals with relevant training and experience.



This is an excellent opportunity to develop family and systemic work within a specialist setting. The post-holder will be offered the opportunity for continued professional development within a well-established multi-disciplinary service. Our service has a strong commitment to professional development through individual supervision, training, appraisal and an ethos of close multi-disciplinary working.


The post is permanent with part-time hours (22.5 hours/0.6 WTE).



Planned Shortlisting Date: 01/12/2025, planned Interview Date: 18/12/2025

Main duties of the job

The Family and Systemic Psychotherapist will be a key member of the Ancora House Eating Disorder Service. Their role will be across the inpatient and day service provision, providing systemic assessment, therapy and interventions within a multi-disciplinary team. They will be part of the development of systemic assessment and intervention skills through training, supervision, co-working and consultation within the Team. They will be a specialist resource and contribute their systemic knowledge to the thinking and discussing of cases in reviews and clinical meetings.

Working for our organisation

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.



We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.



Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.



As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.



All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.



Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see 'documents to download' section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.



At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.



CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust's Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.



Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust's Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust's Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.



An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.



If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the 'essential' criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer 'YES' to the question: 'Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?'



Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.



The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.



Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of 16 per year applies.



New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.



Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.



Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person specification

#

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Post-graduate/ doctoral level qualification in family and systemic psychotherapy recognised by DOH and AFT. #

Knowledge and Expertise

Essential criteria

High-level knowledge of the theory and practice of family and systemic psychotherapy. Knowledge and Skills of a range of models in the assessment and treatment of child mental health including specific family and systemic theories and evidence base. Knowledge and skills in effective communication, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Knowledge of the relevant clinical research literature and ability to apply it to field of child mental health. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health, education and the children Act and Child protection.

Desirable criteria

Know about different models of family work and evidence base for family therapy. Working knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one other specialist psychological therapy. Have an interest in academic links and research. #

Experience

Essential criteria

Generic and discipline specific mental health assessments and treatments of children and families across a range of ages. Formulating and devising treatment plans for a range of presentations. Including both short and long-term treatment approaches. Working autonomously with families providing an assessment and treatment service. Contributing to multidisciplinary team meetings and co-working assessments and treatment within clinic-based settings. Case managing families requiring longer term family and systemic psychotherapy.

Desirable criteria

>2 years experience in CAMH. Experience of providing a culturally sensitive service. Experience of working with young people with eating disorders. Working autonomously within community settings. Experience of teaching and training. Experience of the delivering of groups. Experience of delivering consultations to staff working in non CAMHS settings who may not have child mental health backgrounds.
Applicant requirements


This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Heather Lee

Job title

Highly Specialist Family Systemic Psychotherapist

Email address

heather.lee10@nhs.net

Additional information

If you consider yourself Neurodivergent and need help to complete your application form, please contact

cwp.recruitment@nhs.net

or telephone 01244 393100