Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Family & Systemic Psychotherapist

The closing date is 19 February 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Children and Young People's Mental Health Service in Central Lancashire as we refresh our therapeutic offer across the locality. The post holder would be based in Skelmersdale but leading the development of systemic practice and family therapy within the Skelmersdale and Preston area. We would be delighted to hear from Family Therapists who have experienced in supervision and working in community CAMHs.

Providing highly specialist family therapy to an individual case load, offering specialist advice, systemic supervision, and consultation regarding formulations and intervention will be integral to the role. Our third team, in Chorley & South Ribble also has a Highly Specialist Family Therapist in post and we anticipate that working together will provide an opportunity to develop specialist clinics across the locality.

As a valued member of our team you will be supported in nurturing an area of specialist interest relevant to your role and the service and contributing to the clinical leadership of the service. There is opportunity for peer support, including a well-established peer support group for systemic and family therapists within the organisation. You will also have access to individual clinical supervision and CPD in-line with professional requirements.

Main duties of the job

We would be supportive of opportunities for you offering placements for trainee systemic and family therapists. All clinicians working in our service have an agreed job plan, which protects core clinical commitments and allocated time for agreed projects.

This post is advertised as an 8a, full-time post at 37.5hours per week.

The post is predominantly office/clinic based with some opportunity for remote working.

The role requires travel to different sites across the Central Lancashire footprint.

Accessing the area

The postholder would be based at Westgate House in Skelmersdale, which is easily accessible by car via the M58. Time would also spent in Ellen House in Preston, which is easily accessible by car via M6. Parking is available at both localities and travel between both localities would be essential.

Informal visits and discussions are encouraged.

Please contact: Dr Beverley Dayus, Consultant Clinical Psychologist - Beverley.Dayus@lscft.nhs.uk or Kylie McDonald Head of Clinical Service Kylie.McDonald@lscft.nhs.uk

About us

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

Date posted

05 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum (subject to confirmation)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

351-BAY903-MS

Job locations

Westgate House, Hillside Health Centre

Tanhouse Road

Skelmersdale

WN8 6DS

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Qualification (postgraduate or undergraduate) in a relevant mental health / social welfare profession and demonstrable practice over a minimum of 3 years within that profession
Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy, accredited with UKCP.
UKCP registration which is maintained through meeting relevant AFT CPD requirements.

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of and skill in using the variety of approaches and methods within systemic practice (i.e. social constructionist, narrative, solution focused, etc.) as required to work with individuals, couples, family systems, groups and organisations.
Knowledge of child development/ mental health issues including neurodevelopment, attachment.
Skills in the use of methods of Systemic Psychotherapy/ Family based assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
Skills in providing consultation/supervision to other systemic psychotherapists and/or multidisciplinary colleagues.
Knowledge and skills of risk management and ability to perform a clinical risk assessment.

Experience

Essential

Substantial practice in relevant first profession.
Minimum of 2 years as a family and systemic psychotherapist within Children and Young people's Mental Health Services, or similar specialist service, where practise has been supervised by a senior family/systemic psychotherapist.
Experience of delivering evidence-based approaches with children and young people.
Experience of working within a Multi-disciplinary Team/ Multi- Agency Working.
Experience of supervising staff in Systemic/ other psychological approaches.
Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Qualification (postgraduate or undergraduate) in a relevant mental health / social welfare profession and demonstrable practice over a minimum of 3 years within that profession
Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy, accredited with UKCP.
UKCP registration which is maintained through meeting relevant AFT CPD requirements.

Knowledge

Essential

Knowledge of and skill in using the variety of approaches and methods within systemic practice (i.e. social constructionist, narrative, solution focused, etc.) as required to work with individuals, couples, family systems, groups and organisations.
Knowledge of child development/ mental health issues including neurodevelopment, attachment.
Skills in the use of methods of Systemic Psychotherapy/ Family based assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
Skills in providing consultation/supervision to other systemic psychotherapists and/or multidisciplinary colleagues.
Knowledge and skills of risk management and ability to perform a clinical risk assessment.

Experience

Essential

Substantial practice in relevant first profession.
Minimum of 2 years as a family and systemic psychotherapist within Children and Young people's Mental Health Services, or similar specialist service, where practise has been supervised by a senior family/systemic psychotherapist.
Experience of delivering evidence-based approaches with children and young people.
Experience of working within a Multi-disciplinary Team/ Multi- Agency Working.
Experience of supervising staff in Systemic/ other psychological approaches.
Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

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.

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

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

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Westgate House, Hillside Health Centre

Tanhouse Road

Skelmersdale

WN8 6DS

Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Westgate House, Hillside Health Centre

Tanhouse Road

Skelmersdale

WN8 6DS

Employer's website

https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)