The core purpose of this role is to lead, embed and work intensively with vulnerable Looked After Children/ Young People, Care Leavers and their families who struggle with complex and challenging emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties, ensuring placement stability where they live and promote and support all opportunities for reunification by using a systemic family therapy approach.
The role of the Systemic Family Therapist is a professionally qualified role and duel qualifications are not required (Qualified Social Worker and Therapist). The post holders will report directly to the Service Managers in the Looked After Children and Leaving Care service areas. In addition, they will receive clinical supervision from an externally sourced Clinical Supervisor.
Please refer to the Job Description for more information.
Lead on embedding a systemic family therapy approach within the Looked After Children and Leaving Care Service and align with the Signs of Safety Practice Model for Children Social Care.
Lead on providing expert clinical consultations to Social Workers and Team Managers will support to inform effective care planning for all children, young people and young adults.
To deliver individual and group clinical interventions to children, young people, young adults and their families/ carers/ support network.
To maintain up to date and accurate record keeping that could be shared with Social Workers and Team Managers in the event of any significant safeguarding worries.
To keep under review and develop the structures, procedures and working methods for which the post holder is responsible to ensure an integrated, effective and efficient approach to the delivery of services.
To ensure that working practices and processes are developed that will maximise the use of new working tools and approaches that are efficient and effective for service delivery and best outcomes for children, young people and young adults.
To present timely and relevant advice and information to Social Workers Managers, Senior Leaders and Members as and when required To respond promptly with all matters requiring the post holder’s personal attention. To be fully conversant with relevant statutory provisions and the Council’s constitution, processes and procedures; to develop the full range of managerial and professional skills and knowledge to satisfy the requirements of the post.
To establish and develop effective working relationships and productive partnerships with all the relevant partners, including those in e.g. education, health, Social Services, Independent and voluntary sectors and attend professional and network meetings along side Social Work Team where required.
Be a lead contact for CAMHS and other professionals in relation to children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health worries and advocating these worries to secure the most appropriate support.
For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role then please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description.
Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Bexley is well connected, there are good transport links to central London, the Kent countryside and the Coast! It is the best of both worlds. Our residents and workers can benefit from the new high-speed Elizabeth Line which goes from Abbey Wood, here in Bexley and all the way to Reading, Southeast England.
We are a diverse and growing borough. By 2030 our population will be over 260,000 and almost 300,000 by 2050. Almost 25% of our population is Black and Asian Multi-Ethnic. Bexley is one of London’s greenest boroughs and has recently been awarded Public Sector Campaign of the year by Sustainable City’s prestigious annual awards.
We believe that everyone in Bexley Children’s Social Care should have the opportunity to grow and develop, in every role and at every stage of their career and offer a wide variety of social work roles, both for qualified and unqualified practitioners. Bexley Children’s Social Care offers the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge in different areas of Children’s Services: we offer a comprehensive range of professional development opportunities and are committed to ensuring that Bexley is a welcoming and enjoyable place to work.
The children and families we work with, are always kept at the centre of our practice. We believe:
children should stay with their families whenever it’s in their best interests and safe to do so
where it’s not, we must act quickly through the courts to help children find a safe space
success depends on positive, respectful relationships with families and with each other
working with families is unpredictable, so we have to create a supportive environment for our teams
the most effective practice is based on ‘showing your working out’ – so that even when things don’t go to plan, the thinking behind decisions is clear and defensible
Working in social care in Bexley is endlessly rewarding. As well as helping some of the most vulnerable people in our borough, we invest in looking after you and your career.
We offer excellent benefits, from competitive salaries and generous leave to flexible working and a wealth of health and wellness programmes.
flexible working - including opportunities for hybrid working, job sharing, compressed hours, and career breaks
a comprehensive range of training and professional development opportunities including access to research, group and e-learning, coaching and group supervision for colleagues in all roles and at every stage of their career
clear career progression pathways, within a nurturing environment, which allows social work to flourish. From opportunities to undertake social work qualification; our dedicated ASYE Academy; to our Leadership Academy offering bespoke development for our aspiring and existing leaders. There are also opportunities for practitioners to be involved in university research & academic delivery with our partner universities and students.
family leave - includes maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave
mental health and physical wellbeing - including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, help to quit smoking, access to private healthcare, free eye tests and discounted leisure offers
financial wellbeing - excellent pension scheme, charitable giving options
generous annual leave - 25 to 33 days, with the option to purchase extra leave plus an extra bank holiday at Christmas
competitive pay - performance assessments with the opportunity for salary increments and transparent salary scales
transport offers - cycle to work scheme, carpooling, subsidised parking and interest-free season ticket loans
recognition - Thank you messaging to celebrate staff success and sharing of compliments received
professional and personal development - training and workshops to help you thrive and a discount on most Learning and Enterprise College Bexley courses
staff support networks - our networks support and encourage networking between staff with various events throughout the year
employee volunteering - get out of the office and help a local project blossom
MyChoice benefit scheme - your pick of perks from vouchers to car leasing
local authority discount scheme - attraction and theme park discounts and local offers in partnership with KAARP .
We work together in a modern, well-equipped, energising environment that supports team working and collaboration across the service and with partners