Research Systemic Family Practitioner (Band 7) in Bolton

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an internal secondment for a Band 7 Systemic Family Practitioner to join a research study in our trust. The role of the Systemic Family Practitioner is to ensure delivery and development of an assessment and intervention offer underpinned by a systemic framework as part of the SAFE Systemic Autism Family Enabling Research Trial. This is a randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of a therapist-led intervention (SAFE: Systemic Autism-related Family Enabling) plus treatment as usual versus treatment as usual on family functioning and mental health in three dimensions (strengths and adaptability, coping with difficulties and problem solving, communication and understanding) in families of autistic children: a multicentre assessor-blinded trial with parallel process evaluation and economic evaluation.

Main duties of the job:

• To liaise across all sectors of care involved with participants on their caseload.
• To provide Systemic Family Practice in the context of the clinical trial.
• To offer advice and consultation on patient’s psychological needs where appropriate.
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures.
• To utilise research skills for audit, policy and research within the area served by the teams/service.
• To contribute to the provision of research team services and fulfilment of research team priorities and objectives.

Working for our organisation:

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations. We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond. Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.

Person specification:

• Intermediate level qualification in Systemic Practice or CYP-IAPT qualification in Systemic Family Practice.
• Qualification in a core mental health profession e.g. Social Work, Nursing, Psychology.
• 2 years post qualifying experience.

Experience:

• Experience of specialist mental health assessment and treatment of families as a full member of a multidisciplinary team located in community, primary care, outpatient or inpatient setting.
• Experience of the application of systemic practice in different cultural contexts.
• Experience of research projects.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and adolescents including child protection procedures and policies.
• Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education Structures, National policies and frameworks.
• Knowledge of research methodology and outcome research design and ability to critically interpret research findings.

Skills & Abilities:

• Skills in the use of methods of systemic assessment, intervention and management.
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.

Other requirements:

There is a requirement to travel across the wider footprint of the Trust to attend meetings and events relevant to the role.