Job summary
The new Orchids Team, working in collaboration with the Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Intensive Intervention Team (AID-IIT) are seeking a Highly Specialist Family and Systemic psychotherapist. The Orchids Team is a new and innovative multi-disciplinary team covering the whole of London and working in partnership with the AID-IIT. The team offer specialist multi-disciplinary outpatient support to children and young people up to the age of 13 years old with neurodevelopmental disorders or intellectual disabilities who are at high risk of inpatient admission or already admitted to one of the CAMHS under 13s inpatient units. The Orchids Team co-work with inpatient and local CAMHS teams across London to improve care and support for young people with a diagnosis of autism or intellectual disability and high-risk presentations. Staff working in the Orchids Team benefit from excellent team support and development opportunities. The Orchids Team work in close partnership with the AID-IIT and have links with the rest of the Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAAND) and with other N&S CAMHS teams. As a new N&S CAMHS team we are at the forefront of the development of support, practice and interventions for children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders or intellectual disabilities with high-risk presentations.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will work as a Highly Specialist Family and Systemic psychotherapist in the Orchids Team to provide clinical input into MDT assessments, formulations and interventions to young people and parents/carers and contribute to consultation, training and support to multi-agency local networks (jointly with senior Orchids colleagues). The postholder will also provide supervision and support to other junior staff within the service where appropriate. The role includes work across a range of settings - offering work in community settings, inpatient settings, working from home, and working from the clinic base, depending on the needs of the young person, family and network. The role will also involve contributing to service developments and service evaluation within the Orchids Team where appropriate.
About us
Maudsley Hospital (headquarters)Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill, 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2) and is within walking distance from the beautiful green spaces of Ruskin Park and the vibrant high-street that offers great shopping opportunities and with a wide range of restaurants.The Michael Rutter Centre is located on the Maudsley hospital sit and is located in Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). The Orchids Team are based at the Michael Rutter Centre (and will be based in the new Pears Maudsley Centre in the near future) with other staff from N&S CAMHS, facilitating close working, academic/learning opportunities and good support for the postholder.
Flexible working:As one of the few Trusts in London we are proud to offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working, and we are happy to talk flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 9am to 5pm, giving you the very best of good work life balance. (This may include working early mornings, later evenings or Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post)
Details
Date posted
11 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum incl. of inner HCAs pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
334-CLI
Job locations
Michael Rutter Centre
DeCrespigny Park
London
SE5 8AZ
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will work within the Orchids Team and in close partnership with AID-IIT to provide assessment, intervention and support as part of a multi-disciplinary team including:
To provide specialist interventions to children under the age of 13 who are at high risk of a CAMHS inpatient admission in the context of a diagnosis of (or suspected diagnosis of) autism or intellectual disability, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment. To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate. To contribute to care planning of young people by attending CETRs, CPAs and other professional/network meetings. To use routine outcome measures and promote service evaluation, audit and research. To work as an autonomous professional within registration body guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor To be active in the provision of staff support within their area, including but not limited to Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate. To work flexibly as needed across settings offering outreach work when needed for example seeing young people in inpatient settings, family homes, community settings across London as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will work within the Orchids Team and in close partnership with AID-IIT to provide assessment, intervention and support as part of a multi-disciplinary team including:
To provide specialist interventions to children under the age of 13 who are at high risk of a CAMHS inpatient admission in the context of a diagnosis of (or suspected diagnosis of) autism or intellectual disability, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes. To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment. To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate. To contribute to care planning of young people by attending CETRs, CPAs and other professional/network meetings. To use routine outcome measures and promote service evaluation, audit and research. To work as an autonomous professional within registration body guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor To be active in the provision of staff support within their area, including but not limited to Critical Incident Staff Support and Reflect-Support-Resolve. To participate, as a recipient, in staff support work when appropriate. To work flexibly as needed across settings offering outreach work when needed for example seeing young people in inpatient settings, family homes, community settings across London as required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field (A/I)
* Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP. (A/I)
* Registered with the UKCP as Systemic Psychotherapist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the UKCP. (A/I)
Desirable
* Management qualification, management training course completion or line management experience
Experience
Essential
* Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in CAMHS with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental needs and intellectual disabilities. (A/I)
* Experience of providing specialist systemic assessment, formulation and intervention with clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in the context of neurodevelopmental needs and intellectual disabilities (A/I/)
* Experience of supervising and line managing others. (A/I)
Desirable
* Experience of providing consultation to a range of staff groups and networks (A/I)
Knowlege and Skills
Essential
* High level knowledge of the theory and practice of family and systemic psychotherapy relevant to the service area (A/I/R)
* Ability to manage highly complex situations involving multiple difficulties, and competing/conflicting views about those difficulties; and to help create contexts that develop systemic engagement, and harness the strengths and abilities of those involved in order to work towards solutions (A/I/R)
Desirable
* Highly specialist skills in providing consultation to the multi-professional team or other professional groups within own service. (A/I/R)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field (A/I)
* Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP. (A/I)
* Registered with the UKCP as Systemic Psychotherapist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the UKCP. (A/I)
Desirable
* Management qualification, management training course completion or line management experience
Experience
Essential
* Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in CAMHS with children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental needs and intellectual disabilities. (A/I)
* Experience of providing specialist systemic assessment, formulation and intervention with clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in the context of neurodevelopmental needs and intellectual disabilities (A/I/)
* Experience of supervising and line managing others. (A/I)
Desirable
* Experience of providing consultation to a range of staff groups and networks (A/I)
Knowlege and Skills
Essential
* High level knowledge of the theory and practice of family and systemic psychotherapy relevant to the service area (A/I/R)
* Ability to manage highly complex situations involving multiple difficulties, and competing/conflicting views about those difficulties; and to help create contexts that develop systemic engagement, and harness the strengths and abilities of those involved in order to work towards solutions (A/I/R)
Desirable
* Highly specialist skills in providing consultation to the multi-professional team or other professional groups within own service. (A/I/R)
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Michael Rutter Centre
DeCrespigny Park
London
SE5 8AZ
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Michael Rutter Centre
DeCrespigny Park
London
SE5 8AZ
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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