Functional Family Therapy - Child Welfare Worker

Job responsibilities

The Functional Family Therapist role is to provide home-based family therapy sessions with young people and their families using the Functional Family Therapy intervention model. Referrals will be made by Norfolk Childrens Social Care and will largely be for families with young people between the ages of 8 and 16 at risk of care due to a combination of parental abuse and/or neglect and complex behavioural problems in children.

Therapists will be required to carry a caseload of 7 families, providing services in their home (or community, as required) for up to 26 weeks. Therapists will be trained, coached and supervised in accordance with the FFT CW model by the national FFT CW Consultant. FFT CW is a licenced intervention and adherence to the model is quality assured (www.FFTCWllc.com). This position requires out of hours and flexible working to meet families when they are available. Appreciation of the local demographic and culture will be valuable.

1. Duties and Responsibilities Clinical

1.1 To provide Functional Family Therapy interventions in accordance with the Functional Family Therapy C W model, developing interventions for children and families presenting with highly complex problems, under the direction of the FFT CW Supervisor and Consultant. To continue to evaluate risk and safeguarding throughout the intervention including at point of discharge. To undertake consultations with Childrens Social Care staff in order to assess the familys challenges and determine suitability for FFT-CW (alongside Supervisor).

1.2 To adhere to FFT CW principles and to the FFT CW analytic process. To participate in regular individual supervision and group supervision in support of achieving clinical competency in FFT CW. To understand developmental and clinical barriers to effective implementation of FFT CW therapy. To listen to and act upon structured feedback and coaching in FFT CW in service of achieving positive outcomes for children and young people.

1.3 To contribute to the quality assurance of the service and to adhere to the intervention principles. To collect data relevant to FFT CW outcome tracking. To comply with company and agency data protection standards.

1.4 To work in ways which are sensitive to and appropriate for the needs of families from a wide range of racial, cultural and religious backgrounds, alongside sensitivity to differences to sexual orientation. To take a proactive stance in challenging racism and discrimination and support the development of a culturally competent service.

1.5 To deliver interventions with the assistance of interpreters.

1.6 To deliver FFT CW to children and families with complex problems and within the context of multidisciplinary working, hold a caseload of up to 7 families.

1.7 Be accountable for the outcomes achieved using FFT CW. To deliver FFT CW interventions according to the methodology, taking a strength-based approach to working with young people and families within a multidisciplinary context.

1.8 To advocate for the service and for systemic interventions with young people and their families.

1.9 To participate in FFT CW audits and evaluations including regular quality assurance processes.

1.10 To participate in multidisciplinary meetings, child protection case conferences and reviews, etc., providing professional advice on clinical matters as necessary.

1.11 To work in partnership with other disciplines and to maintain links with statuary and non-statutory and primary care agencies as appropriate.

1.12 To receive training in FFT CW and to deliver the interventions in adherence to the model. To complete case documentation and data capture weekly on all cases, providing updates to the supervisor and consultant within agreed time periods.

1.13 Attend group supervision weekly and actively participate in discussion of current cases, facilitating skill enhancement

1.14 Incorporate feedback from supervision into the treatment process

1.15 Be available to other team members and engage in activities to support other team members outside group supervision

1.16 To prioritise own workload effectively and to support the workload of colleagues when cover is required, to ensure that skills and capacity are used to greatest effect.

1.17 To develop appropriate professional relationships with stakeholders and referrers in both statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure that casework is appropriate to the child and familys needs and that FFT CW can achieve desired outcomes.

1.18 To maintain the records of service in line with the agreed policies of the company and commissioner.

1.19 To manage exposure to distressing and emotionally charged circumstances for self and colleagues. To seek appropriate support when required to reduce risks to self and others. To be emotionally intelligent and resilient. To be risk aware and to share risk management and safety plans with colleagues. To acknowledge when change may not be possible.

1.20 To participate in professional development meetings within the company including discussion regarding in house policies and future service development.

2. Service specific and accountability

2.1 To be a member of Family Psychology Mutual CIC and to contribute to, participate in and adhere to the values, ethos and policies of the company.

2.2 To participate in the formulation and implementation of clinical and operational practices and procedures as appropriate so that FFT CW is successfully implemented and embedded across Norfolk.

2.3 To comply with clinical governance standards and to deliver a high-quality service based on agreed clinical standards. To deliver written reports as required for both the company and Norfolk.

2.4 To work according to FFT CW principles.

2.5 To cover for colleagues and to act up for the Supervisor when appropriate to do so.

2.6 To consider user voice in the refinement of the FFT CW intervention and in assuring the competence of the service delivery.

2.7 To ensure the high ethical delivery of casework.

2.8 To ensure that processes for child protection and safeguarding practices are followed.

2.9 To be ready to challenge poor practices as necessary.

2.10 To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies in relation to offending behaviour and mental health.

2.11To keep accurate client records and comply with requirements for confidentiality of client records and case work. To undertake administrative duties appropriate to the role, including use of IT and case management systems.

2.12 Take personal responsibility for adhering to lone working policies, ensuring diaries are kept up to date and calling in as required

3. Personal and professional development

3.1 To receive regular clinical supervision from the FFT CW Supervisor and FFT CW Consultant to ensure quality of professional practice.

3.2 Through the professional appraisal process, to engage in professional development that ensures that Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements are met and that professional registration requirements are maintained.

3.3 To meet the core competency requirements of the post as evaluated by the FFT CW Supervisor.

3.4 To have access to professional development following agreement with the FFT CW Supervisor and as part of the company training strategy.

3.5 To keep updated in safeguarding practice and to follow statutory guidance and best practice.

4. Research and Evaluation

a. To participate in, and share responsibility for, research & development and contribute to further evaluations of FFT CW as required, collecting data for the local evaluations as required.

b. To maintain continuous professional development as part of an agreed personal development plan in accordance with professional requirements.

5. Practical

The post holder will require an enhanced DBS check.

The post holder will be required to travel across Norfolk and work out of hours and flexible hours.

Qualifications

Essential

• A professional qualification in social work, occupational health or nursing
• OR
• Qualification as a systemic practitioner or a family therapist or psychotherapist at a post graduate level
• OR
• A masters or doctorate level degree in a relevant discipline e.g. forensic psychology, clinical or applied psychology and substantial demonstrable work experience of working with young people and families
• Professional registration with a national registrant body

Desirable

• Undertaken post-graduate training in systemic therapy at intermediate level

Experience

Essential

• Substantial (3 years+) experience of working as a qualified family therapist or as a clinical psychologist with experience of systemic work for the 8a band
• OR
• Substantial (3 years+) post qualifying experience (social work, occupational health and nursing) with young people and families in a relevant setting
• Experience of specialist systemic assessment, formulation and intervention with children, young people and families in either community, primary care, CAMH or inpatient settings. (8a)
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for the systemic care and treatment of children or young people. (7/8a)
• Experience of working with a high degree of professionalism in the face of emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse with a wide variety of client groups across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity. (7 and 8a)
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team (7 and 8a)
• Experience of working with a range of childhood disorders at the acute and chronic stage. (7 and 8a)
• Experience of self-harm assessment and intervention with both individuals and their families (7 and 8a)
• Experience of risk assessment, risk management and safety planning (7 and 8a).

Desirable

• Experience of assessing and treating clients across the full range of care settings.
• Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of working with a range of therapeutic modalities.
• Experience of working intensively using a systemic approach. Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision

Skills and ability

Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological or psychosocial assessment, psychological and or systemic formulation,
• intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. This requires the use of highly developed analytical and judgement skills, where there are a range of options. (8a)
• Ability to work in community and family settings, managing the highly complex emotional relationships within and between the component parts of the family and how it interacts with the professional system in ways which maximise the potential for therapeutic outcomes. (7/8a)
• Ability to work with families who are experiencing high levels of stress (7 and 8a)
• Ability to apply a clinical model of systemic theory and intervention and the ability to achieve adherence to a clinical model. (7 and 8a)
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing. (7 and 8a)
• Ability to act upon consultation and feedback. (7 and 8a)
• Ability to develop pragmatic and goal specific measurable steps that can be set out for young people and their families. (7 and 8a)
• Ability to multi-task and manage competing demands and pressures (7 and 8a).
• Planning and organising skills for caseload management.
• Skills in self-management, including time management.
• Good understanding of other professionals theoretical perspectives of this client group.
• Ability to identify and employ as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms, including regular supervision for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
• Advanced keyboard skills
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups (8a).

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non- professional groups

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group (adolescents with conduct disorder, and offending behaviour; social care) and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group (7/8a).
• Good understanding of other professionals theoretical perspectives of this client group
• Ability to think of the family as a client.
• Ability to adopt a systemic perspective.
• Knowledge of child and young peoples development (7 and 8a)
• Ability to reflect on cases and develop formulations and make use of supervision.
• Ability to operate as lone worker.
• Ability to engage with client and families in their own homes.
• Ability to work therapeutically with the use of interpreters
• Ability to plan and achieve specific goals.
• Ability to accept to work to a specific model of intervention.
• Ability to work with a racially and culturally diverse community in a wide variety of contexts including working therapeutically in family homes (7 and 8a)
• Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, ethical issues, safeguarding and strategic frameworks including The Children Act 1989, and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management of services for children and young people. (7 and 8a)
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS or equivalent.

Desirable

• Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups {e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc}.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies.
• Knowledge of working with diverse communities, including knowledge of relevant community languages (e.g. Bengali)

Other requirements

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enabling formation of networks with professionals from other agencies to promote effective team working with clients.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Able to contain and work with high levels of distress from clients.
• Able to contain and work with organisational stress.
• Ability to be coached and to receive and act upon critical feedback. (7 and 8a)
• Interpersonally calm and able to defuse difficult, volatile situations.
• Able to tolerate ambiguity and to take decisions in situations of incomplete information.
• Ability to exercise appropriate levels of self- care and to monitor own state, recognising when it is necessary to take active steps to maintain fitness to practice.
• Good organisational skills.
• Motivated towards personal and professional development with a strong CPD record.
• Ability to identify providers and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours.
• Ability to develop and use complex multi- media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
• Able to travel to family homes
• Recognise peoples right to privacy and dignity, treating every person with respect
• Willingness to embrace integrated model and new ways of working.
• Willingness to be flexible in approach and attitude

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).