Job responsibilities
The post
of Family Therapist within the Eating Disorder Pathway (EDP) will be an
integral role within the specialist CAMHS Eating Disorder Pathway. The Team offers
a dedicated service for Children, Young People and Families (CYP) referred with
an Eating Disorder in line with the Maudsley Model FT-AN, FT-BN and NICE
Guidelines.
The post
holder will ensure that:
Children, young people, and
their families/carers receive specialist family & systemic assessment and
interventions with the post holder acting as an autonomous practitioner and collaborating
with other professionals within the EDP and wider CAMHS.
The
post holder will care coordinate cases, formulate care plans collaboratively
with young people and families and use resources creatively to provide therapy
for children, young people and families; uniquely tailoring therapeutic
interventions to meet their needs, underpinned by evidence-based models of family
and systemic interventions and theory. They will ensure families receive
interventions according to NICE guidance and local pathways of care.
Risk
assessments on children and young people in their care will be initially conducted
and routinely reviewed and any changes or new risks identified and recorded in
their file.
The post holder will contribute to the CAMHS EDP and will be accountable
to the Clinical Pathway Manager
& Eating Disorders and Family Therapy Lead
The
post holder will work in accordance with the code of practice and code of
ethics relevant to holding a professional qualification with AFT and UKCP,
keeping up to date with research and theory and attending training as required
by their registration.
To
provide specialist family and systemic psychotherapy consultation, liaison and
specialist advice to other colleagues, agencies, and services.
The
post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines, the overall
framework of the team while observing Livewell Southwest and National policies
and procedures.
The
post holder will be required to work flexibly in hours of clinical
availability.
1.
CLINICAL
Children,
young people, and families to receive high quality family and systemic
assessments and interventions based on specialist knowledge and relevant
theoretical models.
To
work within all latest relevant clinical frameworks and guidelines including
(but not limited to) NICE, Future in Mind, Child Protection, Eating Disorders and
Commissioning Guide.
Provide
support to CAMHS colleagues who have roles within the eating disorders pathway
and wider service provision. Understand the Maudsley Model of intervention
FT-AN, FT-BN and other theories that address the complexities of eating
disorders.
To
ensure that appropriate levels of supervision are maintained, and that clinical
governance is of an excellent standard.
To
apply a sound knowledge of safeguarding issues and child development to work
with children, young people and families referred to CAMHS and identify when to
refer to other agencies.
To
observe the professional Code of Ethics and Practice as laid down by the
Association of Family Therapy and UKCP.
To
maintain adequate records and case notes with Livewell Southwest policy and
professional guidelines.
To
monitor and evaluate progress through responding effectively to feedback from
families and professional system.
To
hold an appropriate case load 15 hourly contacts per week.
Key Activities:
Providing
a specialist Family and Systemic Psychotherapy service working within
professional guidelines, personal and service objectives within the remit of
the Eating Disorders Pathway in CAMHS.
To
provide assessment and treatment options for people experiencing moderate,
severe and complex eating disorders and co-morbidities.
To
exercise expert clinical judgment based on the highest standards of evidence-based
practice.
To
utilize theory, evidence-based literature and research to support
evidence-based practice of self and others.
To
receive regular professional supervision from the eating disorders and
Family Therapy Lead
and other senior clinicians where appropriate.
To
take part in eating disorders assessment and treatment interventions as
appropriate, which are delivered collaboratively with colleagues within CAMHS EDP,
or other agencies as deemed appropriate.
To
communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the
assessment, formulation, and treatment plans of ED young people in your care
and to effectively evaluate progress.
To
maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic
data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of
professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice
and Livewell Southwest policies and procedures.
To be able to cope with frequent exposure to highly
distressing or emotional circumstances and to work with those who may have
suffered physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
To
sustain a genuine level of empathic engagement to work with ambivalent, resistant,
and sometimes emotionally dysregulated children and young people.
To
follow appropriate Child Protection guidelines within all aspects of clinical
work, reporting any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children,
young people and families in accordance with Livewell Southwest Policy and
National guidelines.
PROFESSIONAL
To
work within the agreed philosophy of the service, respecting and valuing the
different therapeutic approaches available within the multidisciplinary ED pathway.
To
work closely with children, young people, and families, ensuring they play an
integral role in the development of services and individualised care.
To
contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in family and
systemic psychotherapy across the service, by continuing to develop the skills
of reflective practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and
appraisal, and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in
the field and related disciplines.
To
be responsible for ensuring effective integrated working and communication with
colleagues, partnership agencies and the Third Sector.
To
maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and
issues in relation to the children, young people and families the service
serves.
To
contribute to the development of parents groups, multi-family therapy groups
and other groups within the eating disorders pathway using creative and
imaginative concepts and theories.
Maintain
confidentiality, in line with Livewell Southwest Confidentiality Policy and
Code of Conduct.
To
understand your professional responsibilities with regards to data quality for
any information which you create, use or process in accordance with the data
Protection Act 1998 and Livewell Data Protection Policy.
To
undertake continuing professional development in keeping with the nature of the
post and its responsibilities, and in line with AFT and UKCP registration
requirements.
To
receive regular supervision, in line with Livewell Southwest Supervision Policy
and an annual appraisal in line with Livewell Southwest Appraisal Policy,
during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be
identified and agreed.
The
post holder will be responsible for evaluation and review of their own practice
and to make improvements and developments therein.
The
post holder will recognize, respect, and support the equality and diversity of
staff, colleagues, service users, families and carers and the public.
Contribute to a working environment, which promotes and responds positively to
difference and diversity.
The
post holder will comply with all Health and Safety requirements ensuring they
fulfill the legal requirements of not endangering self, fellow employees or
others by action or omission.
To
participate in the development of the service, including the setting, auditing,
monitoring and reviewing of quality standards.
To
maintain professional registration and provide a copy annually of registration
document with UKCP.
3.
ORGANISATIONAL
Service
provision and development will be informed through specialist family, systemic skills,
and relevant theoretical knowledge.
Post
holder fully engaged with activities relating to Policy, Service Development
and Clinical Governance.
