Recommended standards for the employment of Family and ...

AFT is the UK’s leading organisation for professionals working therapeutically with families. ww.aft.org.uk

Recommended standards for the

employment of Family and

Systemic Psychotherapists Revised September 2020 www.aft.org.uk

Introduction

These Terms and Conditions of Service are intended to assist employers in developing job descriptions and pay

bands for family and systemic psychotherapist posts and also to give information about the needs of systemic

psychotherapists in post. To this end some background information is also given about systemic

psychotherapy and the qualifying training.

Posts can carry a number of titles such as family therapist, systemic psychotherapist and family and systemic

psychotherapist depending on the setting. For the purpose of this document we will use the encompassing

title ‘family and systemic psychotherapist’.

Please note that UKCP registered family and systemic psychotherapists are fully qualified and should not be

confused with those trained to intermediate level, who can use the working reference “Systemic Practitioner

at intermediate level”. Systemic practitioners generally use their intermediate level training to extend their

skills within their existing profession. Those trained to this level are not eligible for professional registration

with UKCP (please see the ‘Levels of Systemic Training & Competence for Practice’ document) nor are they

eligible for employment in family and systemic psychotherapist posts.

What is family and systemic psychotherapy?

Family and systemic psychotherapy developed in response to a growing awareness that individual difficulties

do not develop in isolation but within contexts and patterns of relationships. This highlights the importance of

families and relational networks in enabling and facilitating change. Research into effective treatments for

anorexia nervosa, asthma, childhood diabetes, schizophrenia, depression and drug abuse, amongst others;

provide an evidence-base for this method of treatment. A systemic approach to work with individuals,

couples, families and networks is valuable in the full range of health, social care and voluntary settings.

Systemic training

The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice in the UK (AFT) accredits training courses. Family

and Systemic psychotherapy is currently a dual qualification profession. Entrants to post graduate qualifying

courses i.e. those which lead to the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) registration are


required to have a previous professional qualification in a relevant field (this is usually in social work,

psychology, mental health nursing, counselling or psychiatry) but other relevant professions and previous

experience may also be considered according to the “equivalence” criteria as detailed in AFT’s APEL

(Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning) process. In drawing up person specifications employers may

specify which previous professional background might best support the job description and setting of the

post.

Qualified and UKCP registered Family and systemic psychotherapists have the required qualifications and

experience necessary to work within the private sector, the NHS or other public or voluntary sector agencies.

1. Grading structure

1.1 Posts above trainee level can only be filled by qualified family and systemic psychotherapists who have

successfully completed an AFT-accredited qualifying level course in family and systemic psychotherapy and

who are registered or soon due to be registered with UKCP.

1.2 For all appointments and posts, employers are advised to obtain appropriate professional advice from

AFT, and their National Assessors. The following factors should be taken into account when considering the

grading of posts:

the size, complexity, range and level of the service managed or individually provided.

the level of any specialist experience required.

the extent to which the post carries additional duties which may include wider management within

the service or professional advisory roles.

the extent of responsibility for staff across a geographical area beyond the post holder's base site.

the extent to which the post carries responsibility for research, evaluation and development, or

direction of those functions

the extent to which the post carries responsibility for teaching, training, clinical supervision (of

trainees and/or qualified systemic staff) or direction of those functions.

the extent to which the post carries responsibility for providing clinical advice or supervision for

staff in other disciplines

the extent to which particular local factors impact on service development and provision e.g.

geographical peculiarities, ethnic mix of the population and areas of deprivation.

1.3 Job descriptions and person specifications must be used to determine the banding of each post. They

should be agreed with staff in post before posts are re-banded. In each band it is for the employing

authority to decide the appropriate points on the pay band.

2. Trainee family and systemic psychotherapists, bands 6 and 7

2.1 A trainee family and systemic psychotherapist is one who is participating in an AFT-approved course

and who is working under the supervision of a qualified systemic psychotherapist with a minimum of two

years post qualification experience.


2.2 In considering the precise banding of a trainee, consideration can be given to the trainee’s previous

experience and qualifications. (Some trainees may have substantial experience in a previous profession

relevant to the work)

2.3 In some circumstances a trainee may have a particular area of expertise e.g. a specific competence in

understanding a culture or language or other exceptional skills, which would be valuable experience and

relevant professional background towards employment and career progression. This reflects the high value

family and systemic psychotherapy places on equal opportunities, increasing the diversity in the field in

order to reach clients in all communities.

2.4 Clinical responsibility is held by the trainee’s supervisor.

2.5 Trainees will be expected to attend an AFT accredited training course and to fulfil course

requirements and will need agreed time out of the workplace to do this. It is recommended that the

contract of employment includes details of this time out along with arrangements for the payment of

course fees and learning opportunities within the post.

3. Specialist family and systemic psychotherapists, band 7

3.1 A specialist family and systemic psychotherapist is one who has completed a qualifying level training

course accredited by AFT, and who is registered or is in the process of registering with the UKCP. It is an

introductory band to the main career structure and is designed to provide a range of clinical experience in

preparation for work at a higher level.

3.2 Band 7 systemic staff are expected to be responsible for their own caseload and contribute a systemic

perspective within their service.

3.3 After two years at this level they are eligible to supervise trainee family and systemic psychotherapists and

eligible to be considered for band 8 posts.

3.4 The post holder must have available the support and guidance of a family and systemic psychotherapist at

Band 8a or above who has been qualified for two years or more.

4. Highly specialist family and systemic psychotherapists, Bands 8a and 8b

Bands 8a and 8b are the main career grades for systemic psychotherapists

Band 8a

Family and systemic psychotherapists at band 8a are experienced professionals who can work

autonomously with their own highly specialist caseload of clients, though it is expected that an 8a

systemic psychotherapist will be continuing to develop wider experience. In exceptional circumstances a

newly qualified systemic psychotherapist may be appointed at band 8a. This would be when the post

holder has significant and extensive experience in his or her first profession prior to training and where

this experience is directly relevant to the post.

Family and systemic psychotherapists at band 8a can be expected to:

• provide a highly specialist clinical service • offer systemic teaching and training within trusts or teams • consult to colleagues through live supervision of clinical sessions with families. • consult to teams working with families using one-way screens or working “in room”


Band 8b

In addition to having the highly specialist skills required at band 8a family and systemic psychotherapists

at this level may take responsibility for work in a particular area of the service. It may include:

• taking clinical responsibility for a section of the service or department delegated to them

• taking responsibility for developing a new area of service provision, identifying service priorities

and initiating developments within the section

• providing particular training programmes across the service or trust

• participating in the organisation of the agency or trust, contributing to relevant decision taking and

making recommendations

• managing and/or providing distance supervision of staff who may be based in another agency. This

may include liaison with managers in the partner agency.

5 Consultant Family and Systemic Psychotherapist Band 8c and 8d

Family and Systemic Psychotherapists at this level will have a senior professional and/or managerial role

within a multidisciplinary service or manage a stand-alone systemic service within a Trust or agency. They are

likely to be professional leads or heads of service for their discipline with experience of professional

supervision of staff. Band 8c post holders would generally be expected to have an AFT approved supervisor's

qualification and be on AFT's list of approved supervisors.

Band 8c family and systemic psychotherapists may hold management responsibility for:

• ensuring the clinical supervision of staff. This may include systemic supervision and consultation for

staff of other disciplines in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency teams.

• systemic training within a service

• recruitment

• professional development of staff

• planning and development of the family and systemic psychotherapy service e.g. drawing up bids for

future development and implementation of successful bids

• line management of those below band 8c

• participation in the overall management of a multi-disciplinary or multi-agency service

• audit and research.

5.2 Consultant family and Systemic Psychotherapists are responsible for service development which may

include responsibility for a budget.

5.3 In some services, the major responsibility of the post may be to run an AFT-accredited qualifying course in

family therapy.

6. Consultant Systemic Psychotherapists Band 8d and Band 9

Consultant family and systemic psychotherapists at Band 8d and 9 are expected to have overall responsibility

for psychotherapy services over a larger geographical area or across a range of services. They have

responsibility for strategic planning, implementation and review.


The most experienced group of senior clinicians who are able to undertake all of the above. They are expected

to:

• manage multi-specialist services and advise directors and senior managers on strategic and policy

development

• share responsibilities for the operational and strategic development of services at all levels throughout

the organisation as part of executive management

• functions as professional head and advisor for all clinical workers within the organisation

This band may also be used to recognise the exceptionally distinguished contribution a post-holder has made in

the field.

Continuing professional development

It is a requirement of continuing registration with UKCP that a registrant keep up-to-date with their professional

knowledge and skills. In common with other professions, this involves a variety of learning experiences over the

course of each year, principally, but not exclusively, by attendance at academic or clinical training events, ranging

from an hour to one or more days

The precise amount and nature of CPD to be achieved over a given period of time is set out by UKCP, and this is

monitored by organisational members of UKCP, such as AFT, supporting registration.

It is therefore advantageous that staff are enabled by their employers to gain the necessary CPD by the provision of

some or all of the following:

• direct provision of suitable training relevant to systemic training.

• funding support to attend training outside the employing organisation.

• paid time off to pursue relevant training and attend professional events, this is ultimately to the mutual

benefit of the employee, the employing body and service users.

Further training: Many family and systemic psychotherapists will wish to be supported in undertaking further

training as part of their CPD such as approved supervisor's training and management training.

Professional activities

Family and systemic psychotherapists are encouraged to participate in the activities of the professional association.

AFT approves and accredits professional training courses, provides advice and guidance with respect to professional

ethics, promotes and encourages research, organises conferences and training events and speaks on behalf of the

profession in many forums. It provides information, advice and assistance regarding professional matters not only

to its members but also to employers. As well as national activities, there are many active local branches which

family and systemic psychotherapists may become involved with as well as in the work of national committees. This

work and involvement with AFT committees counts toward some CPD activities.

Supervision


For the first three years post-qualification, family and systemic psychotherapists must receive a minimum of 1.5

hours per month. This would normally be face to face with an AFT approved supervisor or a family and systemic

psychotherapist who has been registered with UKCP and at least 3 years qualified. Please see AFT’s CPD policy for

full details of the requirements.

After three years of post-qualified practice, family and systemic psychotherapists are required to undertake a

minimum of 12 hours supervision per year. If there is no one in the organisation that can meet these requirements,

external supervision will need to be provided.

It is acknowledged that clinical supervision and management supervision may sometimes be provided by the same

person. This may bring challenges for the supervisor and supervisee that should be openly discussed and

negotiated. Supervisors and managers should reflect on personal and professional issues and their impact, both

positive and negative, on the supervision process.

If an identified conflict of interest occurs, a mediation process should be adopted. It may be necessary for

employers to provide alternative professional clinical supervision from within the organisation or external to the

organisation.

Annual UKCP re-registration:

Each year family and systemic psychotherapists are required to renew their UKCP registration with UKCP. To

remain on the register it is important that registrants provide evidence of their continuing professional

development at least once every five years. A review is conducted which requires members to detail the extent of

their practice, their current arrangements for supervision, their professional development and professional

indemnity insurance. We advise those practising as a family and systemic psychotherapist to ensure they have

evidence of a DBS check.

The Chair of the Professional Affairs Committee (PAC) welcomes general feedback and suggestions on

Information Sheets and can be contacted via the AFT office.

AFT is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England, No. 3018026. Registered Charity No. 1063639.

Registered office is the administrative office, as above.

AFT office:

The Association for Family Therapy and

Systemic Practice in the UK

7 Executive Suite,

St James Business Centre,

Warrington

Cheshire

WA4 6PS.

© AFT 2020. Extracts from AFT information sheets may be used without prior permission if clearly attributed and

referenced: AFT (2020): Information Sheet [title] Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice in the UK:

www.aft.org.uk

Tel: 01925 444414 Email : [email protected] Company No. 03018026, Registered Charity No. 1063639 Registered office is the administrative office as given.

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