Band 8a Lead Systemic Family Therapist - Bristol

Bristol South CAMHS is seeking an experienced and dynamic Lead Systemic Family Therapist to help shape and strengthen our systemic practice across the service. This is a senior clinical leadership role for someone who is passionate about relational approaches, committed to high-quality care, and excited by the opportunity to influence service culture and development.

You’ll join a warm, skilled, and forward-thinking multidisciplinary team working with children, young people, and families experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties. Your systemic expertise will be central to supporting families, guiding colleagues, and embedding systemic thinking throughout the service.

The post holder will also work closely with the wider AWP CAMHS Community Eating Disorder Service, including the Eating Disorder Home Treatment team, community NG feeding and Eating Disorder ‘Hub’. They will actively contribute to the wider service aims of: supporting young people to remain at home as far as is practically possible; reducing rates of admission and length of stay to acute hospitals; and reducing the need for admissions to CAMHS General Adolescent Units (GAUs) and Specialist Eating Disorder Units (SEDUs).

To take the lead and supervise specific systemic interventions within a CAMHS team.

To lead on a local provision for Eating Disorders in order to meet the needs of those referred and to work alongside all ED teams across BNSSG. This includes working closely with adolescent in-patient units, the acute wards, the eating disorder ‘HUB’ and ED Home Treatment Team.

To take the lead in offering systemic interventions in accordance with the CCHP care pathways and according to NICE guidance.

To ensure that appropriate levels of clinical supervision are maintained and that clinical governance is of an excellent standard.

To participate fully in the work of CAMHS, as well as participating in the referral and assessment process (Choice & Partnership Approach/i-thrive approach).

To train others & offer supervised clinics for example, Systemic Msc and Systemic Family Practice

To work within all latest relevant clinical frameworks and guidelines including (but not limited to) NICE, Future in Mind, Eating Disorders Commissioning Guide etc.

To apply a sound knowledge of safeguarding issues and child development to work with young people and families referred to CAMHS and identify when to refer to other agencies.

To use professional skills in on-going clinical evaluation, which will include the use of appropriate routine outcome measures and through responding effectively to feedback from members of the client and professional system.

To hold an appropriate caseload.

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

The post holder will lead on the assessment and treatment for young people presenting with a range of mental health presentations, including Eating Disorders for which we have a specific pathway of care.

This includes including interpreting referral data and ensuring robust clinical management. They will ensure that families receive interventions according to evidence-based NICE guidance and local pathways of care, both through direct work and by delivering caseload management and supervision to other staff.

This role involves significant multi-disciplinary working and liaison within the CAMHS team and with our partnership agencies, including acute hospital trusts, social care and schools, plus voluntary sector organisations. They will offer systemic consultation and training to other professionals (within and beyond CAMHS) as appropriate. They will also liaise effectively with referrers, stakeholders, local CAMHS and Adult Services and to work alongside teams to offer seamless service delivery across different teams and interfaces, such as acute hospital settings.

The post holder will also work closely with the wider AWP CAMHS Community Eating Disorder Service, including the Eating Disorder Home Treatment team, community NG feeding and Eating Disorder ‘Hub’. They will actively contribute to the wider service aims of: supporting young people to remain at home as far as is practically possible; reducing rates of admission and length of stay to acute hospitals; and reducing the need for admissions to CAMHS General Adolescent Units (GAUs) and Specialist Eating Disorder Units (SEDUs).

The post holder will be a senior member of the team offering consultation and clinical supervision to other team members. They will also be part of the team leadership group, working alongside the senior management team to support excellent leadership and governance within CAMHS, and have an active role in developing the service to become more effective and inclusive.

Please see Job Description for full details