Job requirements
Essential
20 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Skills
Highly specialist skills in the selection and use of complex assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources, on which opinion may differ. (A/I/R)
- Skills
To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, families, carers, and colleagues, overcoming sensory, emotional and cultural barriers to communication. (A/I/R)
- Skills
Advanced consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups. (A/I/R)
- Skills
Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups. (A/I/R)
- Skills
Advanced knowledge of and skill in using a wide variety of systemic theories and interventions and the ability to use these appropriately in relation to client need and work setting. (A/I/R)
- Knowledge
Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised systemic and psychological therapies for complex adult mental health presentations, including psychosis. (A/I/R)
- Knowledge
Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment complex adult mental health presentations, including psychosis. (A/I/R)
- Knowledge
Advanced knowledge of assessment techniques for working with adults with complex mental health presentations. (A/I/R)
- Knowledge
Advanced knowledge of a wide range of systemic and family models and interventions. (A/I/R)
- Knowledge
Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues and child protection. (A/I/R)
- Experience
Evidence of having worked as a qualified systemic family psychotherapist under supervision in adult community multi-disciplinary services. (A/I/R)
- Experience
Experience of specialist systemic assessment, formulation and intervention with individuals and families with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature, including psychosis and complex trauma. (A/I)
- Experience
Experience of supervising trainee family and systemic psychotherapists, having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
- Experience
Experience of providing teaching and training to family and systemic psychotherapists or other professional groups. (A/I)
- Experience
Experience of working with, and addressing issues of, diversity, including experience of working within a multicultural framework. (A/I)
- Qualifications
Post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field (A/I)
- Qualifications
Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP (A/I)
- Qualifications
Additional training in a specialised area of systemic practice through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, OR an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice–based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. (A/I/R)
- Qualifications
Registered with the UKCP as Systemic Psychotherapist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the UKCP. (A/I)
- Qualifications
Accredited by AFT to supervise qualified Systemic and Family Psychotherapists (A/I)
Desirable
4 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Experience
Experience of supervising and managing qualified professionals. (A/I)
- Experience
Experience of developing and leading community mental health teams/services. (A/I)
- Experience
Record of publications in either peer reviewed, academic or professional journals/books (A/I/R)
- Qualifications
Completion of post-graduate certificate Family Intervention in Psychosis training. (A/I)
Job overview
This Principal Family and Systemic Psychotherapist role will develop and lead our family and carer offer across our five Community Neighbourhood Teams in Lewisham.
It will focus on delivering a range of high quality evidence-based therapies to clients, families and carers, including Open Dialogue, Carer Support, Family Intervention for psychosis, and Systemic Family Therapy.
It will also support our wider community development work alongside our local familes, carers and partner organisations.
Main duties of the job
- To provide, develop and ensure the systematic provision of a highly specialist family and systemic psychotherapy service (including Family Intervention for psychosis) across adult community services in Lewisham, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate. To contribute to service evaluation, audit, research and policy development.
- To ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support of all other family and systemic psychotherapists, trainees and honorary staff within the service area as appropriate (or responsibility for a specific area of clinical expertise).
- To work as an autonomous professional within AFT, UKCP, and HCPC guidelines and guided by principles and policies or procedures, taking full responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
KR 1 Clinical and Client Care
- To liaise with other agencies and service providers in relation to the provision of systemic psychotherapy, family intervention, family work and systems/family-oriented services as appropriate to the role.
KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning
- To co-ordinate and chair, service and directorate meetings related to families and carers, to ensure effective functioning and review outcomes and progress, as appropriate.
KR 3 Policy and service development
- To implement policies and service changes related to families and carers.
- To identify aspects of the service which could be improved and initiate and implement service development projects, that affect a range of professions or services.
KR 4 Care or management of resources
- To take care of, and use carefully, the Trust’s equipment and physical resources.
- To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
KR 5 Management and supervision
- To provide professional leadership to more junior family and systemic psychotherapists and other professionals, as appropriate.
- To be responsible for the day-to-day supervision or co-ordination of an agreed workload of more junior family and systemic psychotherapists.
KR 6 Teaching and Training
- To plan and undertake teaching and training of pre and post-qualification family and systemic psychotherapists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.
KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance
- To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
- To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Family and Systemic Psychotherapist with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in Beckenham, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is Negotiable. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 27 Oct 2026.
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