Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Band 8a Senior Family and Systemic Family Therapist
The closing date is 15 June 2026
Family and Systemic Psychotherapist - Band 8a
Children in Care & Care Leavers Team
Are you a passionate Family and Systemic Psychotherapist looking to make a meaningful difference for children and young people in care?
We are excited to offer a Band 8a (1.0 WTE) opportunity within our Children in Care and Care Leavers Team, working collaboratively across complex systems to support some of our most vulnerable young people.
This is a unique and rewarding role where you will bring a systemic lens to understanding and supporting the networks around children and young people in care. Much of the work involves supporting professionals, including social workers, Personal Advisors, Residential and Foster carers, nurses, and wider Multi‑agency and Division MDT colleagues, to develop thoughtful trauma‑informed formulations, care plans, and safety strategies.
Main duties of the job
* Provide consultation across complex multi‑agency systems and contribute to MDT and network meetings
* Deliver trauma‑informed training to staff
* Deliver Non‑Violent Resistance (NVR) training to carers and residential homes; support and shape care planning with a strong relational and systemic focus
* There will also be opportunities to contribute to direct work with children and young people, alongside experienced colleagues
About You
We are looking for someone who:
* Is a qualified Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
* Is confident working with complexity, risk, and multi‑agency dynamics
* Has a strong interest in trauma and its long‑term impact
* Enjoys working collaboratively and influencing systems
* Ideally has experience in NVR (or willingness to develop this)
Why Join Us?
* Work in a supportive, collaborative team focused on systemic thinking
* Shape practice across services and influence whole systems
* Opportunities to develop specialist skills in trauma and care‑experienced populations
* Flexible working arrangements considered, including split roles with other posts
If you are looking for a role where you can apply systemic thinking at scale and make a real impact, we would love to hear from you.
About us
Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.
Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community.
Job responsibilities
See attached Job Description and Person Specification for outline of the role and responsibilities within the CiC and Care Leavers Team.
Qualifications
* Masters/Diploma level qualification in Systemic Psychotherapy or AFT accredited equivalent.
* Post‑graduate qualification in a relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice over a minimum of four years.
* Eligible for UKCP Registration.
* Training in other relevant therapeutic modalities.
Knowledge and Nature of Experience
* Minimum four years practice in relevant first profession.
* Experience working with children and young people with complex needs.
* Experience of multi‑agency working and MDT collaboration.
Knowledge and Nature of Experience
* Experience working with risk and complexity in safeguarding contexts.
* Ability to provide systemic consultation and develop formulations.
* Knowledge of and skill in using a wide variety of systemic theories and evidence‑based interventions and the ability to use these appropriately in relation to client need and work setting.
* Knowledge of trauma and its developmental impact.
* Experience working with Children in Care and/or Care Leavers.
* Experience delivering training to professional groups and carers.
Analytical and Judgement Skills
* Skills in the use of complex methods of systemic assessment and treatment of individuals, couples, family systems, groups and organisations, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration in the face of emotional intensity, and potential verbal and physical intimidation.
* Ability to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
Professional / Management / Specialist Knowldege
* Ability to work with a racially and culturally diverse community in a wide variety of contexts including highly specialist skills for working therapeutically in the community.
* Up‑to‑date knowledge of relevant legislation, ethical issues and strategic frameworks, and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management.
* Knowledge of child and adult safeguarding processes and procedures.
* Knowledge and ability to contribute to research, audit, teaching and training.
Personal Skills / Abilities and Attributes
* Ability to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy using excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
* Ability to work autonomously, setting appropriate goals, in accordance with professional ethics guidelines and Trust policies.
* Skills in using complex methods of specialist systemic assessment, intervention and clinical management in a range of contexts frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration and maintaining a restricted position for long periods.
* Ability to maintain high standards of record keeping including electronic patient record system and reports.
* Able to use supervision effectively.
* Ability to contribute to the development and evaluation of the team's operational policies and services.
Other Requirements
* Flexibility regarding working hours, including the ability to work some evenings if necessary.
* The candidate must have access to a reliable means of transportation to fulfil the role's duties effectively.
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.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Depending on experience per annum, pro rata
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