The closing date is 19th Aug 2026
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Job summary
We're excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and compassionate Band 8a Family Therapist to join our Children's Eating Disorder Service (CEDS), part of Somerset CAMHS - rated "Outstanding" by the CQC.
About Us
CEDS delivers specialist care to children, young people, and families affected by eating disorders. We are a dynamic, supportive team committed to innovation, systemic thinking, and holistic care.
About the Role
We're seeking a skilled family therapist, passionate about supporting recovery through relational, family-focused approaches. You will:
Deliver assessments and collaboratively formulate treatment plans as part of a multidisciplinary team, both in clinic and at home.
Work systemically across CAMHS, paediatrics, and inpatient services to support integrated care.
Contribute to service development and pathway design.
Promote systemic thinking and psychological perspectives across the service.
Offer systemic supervision and consultation on complex cases.
Support and empower parents and carers as key partners in recovery.
This is an exciting time to join a forward-thinking team where your ideas and expertise will shape future practice. We are also able to offer a fully funded place on a systemic supervisors course to the successful candidate.
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Main duties, tasks & skills required
This role is perfect for a dedicated and skilled family therapist who is passionate about supporting children and families affected by eating difficulties. As a key member of the team, you will:
Offer assessments, consider hypotheses relating to case formulation, create treatment plans as part of an MDT for children and young people both in clinic and at home.
Engage in systemic collaboration with multidisciplinary professionals across CAMHS, community teams, paediatric units, and inpatient services to ensure comprehensive care.
Play an integral role in developing clinical pathways and enhancing the specialist Eating Disorder Service.
Advocate for the use of systemic and psychological approaches in treatment, promoting a psychological and family-oriented perspective within the service.
Offer systemic supervision and provide consultation on complex cases using systemic expertise to guide interventions.
Support family-focused interventions that empower parents and carers to be part of the therapeutic process, recognising their importance in recovery.
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About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
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Job description
This is an exceptional opportunity to use your advanced systemic psychotherapy skills to make a lasting impact on children, young people and families affected by eating disorders.
Working across community and specialist settings throughout Somerset, you will provide highly specialised family therapy interventions, drawing on a range of systemic approaches and evidence-based treatments. You will assess complex presentations, develop formulations, and deliver therapeutic interventions that support recovery while considering the wider family, social and professional systems around each young person.
You will work closely with psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, dietitians, social care professionals, education colleagues and other partner agencies to ensure young people receive holistic, coordinated care. Your expertise will help guide treatment decisions, support risk management and enhance the quality of care delivered across the service.
Beyond clinical work, you will be encouraged to contribute to service development and continuous improvement. We value innovation and learning, and you will have opportunities to become involved in research, audit, training and the development of new ways of working. Whether supporting colleagues through consultation and supervision, contributing to service redesign, or helping expand specialist treatment pathways, your voice and expertise will be valued.
We are looking for an experienced and qualified Systemic Family Psychotherapist with a strong commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care. Experience working with children and young people and an understanding of eating disorders will help you thrive in this role, alongside excellent communication skills, professional autonomy and the ability to work confidently with complex and emotionally challenging situations.
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Person specification
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Qualifications
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Essential
Relevant qualification and registration in Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or other relevant mental health profession
Postgraduate qualification in family/systemic psychotherapy.
Registration as a Systemic Psychotherapist with UKCP or equivalent body.
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Desirable
Professional postgraduate qualification in a mental health or social welfare discipline or agreed Association of Family Therapy (AFT) equivalent
Specialist training in supervision that has led to 'approved' clinical supervisor status.
Specialist Training in teaching Systemic Psychotherapy.
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Experience
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Essential
Skills in the use of methods of Systemic Psychotherapy/Family based assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
Experience of working in CAMHS or similar services with children and young people.
Experience of working therapeutically with eating disorders and/or eating difficulties.
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Desirable
Knowledge and application of standardised assessments and outcome measures.
Knowledge of the theory and practice of Systemic Psychotherapy/Family therapy in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, eating disorders, dual diagnosis etc).
Skills in providing advanced level systemic/ Family Therapy training and supervision to other professionals.
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Additional Criteria
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Essential
Own transport available for work purposes
Full UK driving licence
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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.
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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.
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.
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UK Professional Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
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For help with your application, contact:
Tara Davies
[email protected]
07554075647
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Pay scheme
Agenda for Change
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Band
Band 8a
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Salary
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£53755.00 to £60504.00 Yearly
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Contract
Permanent
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Working pattern
Full-Time
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Reference number
184-OL-GR-5330
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Job locations
Foundation House
Wellsprings Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 7PQ
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