# Systemic Family Therapist for Fostering, Adoption and Permanence > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/systemic-family-therapist-for-fostering-adoption-and-permanence/26145033-28b6-45a7-b2b3-89b4d6a45576 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/systemic-family-therapist-for-fostering-adoption-and-permanence/26145033-28b6-45a7-b2b3-89b4d6a45576.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Poole - **Region:** South West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Mental health professionals - **Grade:** Band 8 - **Salary:** £39,509 - £51,800 p.a. - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Part time, Flexible working, 30 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-07-01T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-06-17T13:42:24.601Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Dorset/Dorchester/Dorset_HealthCare_University_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Child_Adolescent_Mental_Health/Child_Adolescent_Mental_Health-v8061508 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8061508?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Systemic Family Therapist to join our Children in Care Health Team and Specialist CAMHS team for Fostering, Adoption and Permanence team covering the Dorset Council area. Consideration will be given to a newly qualified Family Therapist as a progression post. As a Systemic Family Therapist, you will provide assessments and interventions for children, young people, and their families/carers within the context of care, adoption, and kinship arrangements. You will work autonomously providing a highly specialist Family Therapy provision to young people and their families referred to the service, as well as being confident in consultation, supervision and training of colleagues. We are looking for someone  to join our friendly and supportive team who shares the same passion and enthusiasm as our team members that will  improve the outcome's of children in care and care experienced young people. As an integral member of the team, you will work both clinically with families, but also bring expertise in supporting the team to ensure that systemic thinking and understanding lies at the centre of the clinical service. This post is part time post of 30 hours per week,  flexible working would be considered providing the service needs are met. Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position. ### Main duties of the job To work as a member of the specialist Children In Care multi-disciplinary team to specifically provide systemic assessments and interventions across the fostering, adoption and kinship care services. To provide systemic assessments of need and systemic interventions for carers experiencing high levels of relational distress such that it is creating instability within the care arrangements for their young people. The role focuses on supporting complex family dynamics, promoting emotional wellbeing, and improving placement stability through evidence-based systemic practice. To provide systemic formulations for carers to support increased psychological understanding of the relational dynamics occurring within the family system. To be an integral part of the specialist MDT and ensure that systemic thinking is embedded within clinical thinking, and to participate in service wide clinical pathways for systemic interventions e.g., NVR To provide family therapy consultation and supervision to multi-agency colleagues with a specific focus on local authority staff. As a B8a Systemic Psychotherapist, to hold additional responsibilities for providing consultation, supervision and training across the CiC health service and system. To hold a caseload of families with the highest level of need and complexity. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification.  When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post. We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application.  However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidate’s individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience.  If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety.  If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application. As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact \[email protected\] ## Job Details An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Systemic Family Therapist to join our Children in Care Health Team and Specialist CAMHS team for Fostering, Adoption and Permanence team covering the Dorset Council area. Consideration will be given to a newly qualified Family Therapist as a progression post. As a Systemic Family Therapist, you will provide assessments and interventions for children, young people, and their families/carers within the context of care, adoption, and kinship arrangements. You will work autonomously providing a highly specialist Family Therapy provision to young people and their families referred to the service, as well as being confident in consultation, supervision and training of colleagues. We are looking for someone to join our friendly and supportive team who shares the same passion and enthusiasm as our team members that will improve the outcome's of children in care and care experienced young people. As an integral member of the team, you will work both clinically with families, but also bring expertise in supporting the team to ensure that systemic thinking and understanding lies at the centre of the clinical service. This post is part time post of 30 hours per week, flexible working would be considered providing the service needs are met. Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position. ## Job Description To work as a member of the specialist Children In Care multi-disciplinary team to specifically provide systemic assessments and interventions across the fostering, adoption and kinship care services. To provide systemic assessments of need and systemic interventions for carers experiencing high levels of relational distress such that it is creating instability within the care arrangements for their young people. The role focuses on supporting complex family dynamics, promoting emotional wellbeing, and improving placement stability through evidence-based systemic practice. To provide systemic formulations for carers to support increased psychological understanding of the relational dynamics occurring within the family system. To be an integral part of the specialist MDT and ensure that systemic thinking is embedded within clinical thinking, and to participate in service wide clinical pathways for systemic interventions e.g., NVR To provide family therapy consultation and supervision to multi-agency colleagues with a specific focus on local authority staff. As a B8a Systemic Psychotherapist, to hold additional responsibilities for providing consultation, supervision and training across the CiC health service and system. To hold a caseload of families with the highest level of need and complexity. ## Responsibilities For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post. We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidate’s individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application. As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact \[email protected\] ## Person Specification ### Additional Requirements **Essential** - Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business ### Skills/Experience/Knowledge **Essential** - Experience as a family therapist working within children’s services - Excellent assessment skills - Knowledge of legislation and national guidance relating to the client group - Knowledge of NICE guidance recommendations for client group - Knowledge of Safeguarding procedures **Desirable** - - Experience of working with Children in Care or Care Experienced Young People. ### Educational / Qualifications **Essential** - Post graduate qualification in appropriate mental health/social care profession - Masters or Doctoral level qualification in Systemic Psychotherapy - Eligibility for UKCP registration - Registration as clinical supervisor ### Personal Qualities / Aptitudes **Essential** - Excellent interpersonal skills. - Excellent communicator organised and able to develop a service. - The willingness to be flexible and work collaboratively with partner agencies to ensure the best therapeutic approach to children and families ## Documents - [dbs information (pdf, 22.9kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2340) - [staff benefits leaflet (pdf, 316.1kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=695) - [pay scales from 1 april 2025 (pdf, 44.6kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=1941) - [applications recruitment flowchart (pdf, 434.1kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=866) - [job description and person specification (pdf, 149.1kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10384843) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.