Job title: MST Therapist

Salary: £40,221 to 43,421

Hours: Full Time 37 hours a week

Contract: We have two opportunities available: a permanent post & a 12 month fixed term post to cover a secondment.

Location: Technorth Family Learning Centre 

As an MST Therapist you’ll be committed to doing whatever it takes to support families to continue living together. You will thrive on challenge and work closely and intensively with a small number of young people and families with complex needs (caseloads are limited to an average of 4-6 families per therapist). 

You will have strong interpersonal and communication skills, remain calm under pressure and be confident in defusing difficult and sometimes volatile situations. You will enjoy working independently and manage your diary flexibly around the needs of the families this will involve evenings and weekends where required.   

You will be passionate, innovative, and committed to evidence-based practice and professional development. 

About you

As an MST therapist, you will bring to the role:

• The ability to think of the family and their ecology as the client and work restoratively across all arenas. 
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups within a professional role in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse. 
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of safeguarding vulnerable children including contextual safeguarding. 
• The ability to work autonomously to enable safe and effective caseload management. 
• A professionally registered qualification in Social Work, Youth Offending, Mental Health, Psychology, Nursing, OT or an equivalent accredited qualification. Those with at least a bachelor level degree in a relevant subject accompanied by significant experience in community family support work or with previous MST experience will also be considered.

About the role 

This is an exciting opportunity to gain experience in an internationally recognised evidence-based model within one of the most established MST services in the country. 

You will undertake high level training and ongoing professional development as part of the role.

The successful candidate will work as part of a small team of therapists. The role is full-time, 37 hours a week, worked flexibly to meet the needs of families. The successful candidate must be able to participate in the 24-hours a day, 7 days per week on-call rota (with additional payment allowance).

As our next MST therapist you’ll be a key member of a supportive team. This role is crucial to the work of MST. MST is a community-based ecological model directed at children, young people and their families/carers where the child or young person is either at risk of entering care or custody or is working to transition home from care. 

The service houses a suite of MST teams including -MST Standard , MST CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect) and MST FIT (Family Integrated Transition). It is usual for inexperienced therapists to be inducted to an MST standard team by way of effective orientation to the MST model, but all therapists within the MST service can work flexibly across teams depending on service need and individual development. Additional information about MST can be found at www.mstuk.org

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Lydia Burfield MST Supervisor. Call 07891270361 or email Lydia.burfield@leeds.gov.uk. 

Interview dates TBC.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
 
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description 

Job Purpose: To work as part of a small team to deliver comprehensive Multisystemic Therapy (MST) interventions as per MST requirements. Each team has specific Goals and Guidelines that define individual service remit.   Therapists are expected to deliver intensive evidence based mental health treatment to children, young people and families and be responsive and flexible across a 24-hour period (including contributing to an on-call rota).  

MST works to address and reduce risk factors associated with entrance to care or custody and can work to return specific identified young people home from care.   Therapists can work in any of the MST teams subject to training and are expected to work flexibly across the service.  MST promotes a working ethos of doing ‘whatever it takes’ to support children and families and therapists are required to be aligned to this approach.  MST is committed to enabling autonomous, flexible, and responsive operations across the work force to maintain energy and focus on family’s needs.  More information about what it is like to work in MST, the MST approach and adaptations, is available here  Multisystemic Therapy (MST) | MST (mstuk.org) 

MST Therapists are required to work full time (37 hrs) in line with the evidence base and to support small team operations. 

Responsibilities: 

Clinical:  

• Individually manage a small case load and working as part of a team support overall case management when required.  
• As part of a team, work intensively and flexibly under the supervision of the MST Supervisor and expert across 24 hours a day over the full year including equitable contribution to an on-call rota, and evenings and weekends (when required), using the MST model and analytical process.  
• To engage in quality assurance measures and work to an acceptable adherence score as per MST model.   
• To develop and deliver individualised packages of intervention to children, young people and families within your caseload based upon an accurate formulation driven conceptual framework of the client’s problems and employing methods of proven efficacy.  
• To evaluate and make decisions about all treatment options in line with MST principles, taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and the historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual family, carers or group.  
• To fully engage in weekly case supervision and consultation and implement MST under guidance of the MST Supervisor and MST Expert.  
• To communicate, in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, to clients, family carers and others as appropriate, highly complex information that may be contentious or highly distressing concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care.  
• To provide expertise, advice and support to facilitate the safe, effective and appropriate provision of therapeutic care by all members of the team around the child and family. 
• To actively establish and take the lead worker role whilst working alongside professional partners and other disciplines to maintain links with statutory and non-statutory and primary care agencies as appropriate.   
• To actively work within communities and families own ecologies to enable the best and most sustainable treatment outcomes.  
• To take responsibility for planning own workload including home visits, always prioritising the needs of families.   
• To actively participate in own continuing professional development as per MST model and to gain additional skills and training relevant to the MST service as agreed with MST supervisor and expert. 

Teaching training and supervision  

• To actively participate in all MST training, booster sessions and supervision and consultation activities.  
• To contribute to MST promotional events to colleagues and other disciplines.  
• To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual and family work for the presenting problems.    
• To ensure the development and promotion of best practice in MST within the service area and contribute across the service, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal   
• To contribute to discussions on service evaluation and MST policy generally. 

General  

• To ensure the development and promotion of best practice in MST within the service area and contribute across the service, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal.    
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies in relation to children and families’ services.  
• To work with colleagues to help improve work organisation, safety and effectiveness.  
• Attend and participate in all relevant meetings as required.  
• To undertake any other duties that are commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.    
• To participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills  
• To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and CPD programmes.  
• To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.  
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service and those expected in MST by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.  
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.  
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.   
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures and making sure the individual/s involved understand it is unacceptable. 
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.   The job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and emerging learning and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder. 

 Qualifications  

• Professional qualification and registered with relevant professional body in social work, youth justice, mental health, psychology, nursing or allied professions and/or are a trained MST therapist. 

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION  

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities:  Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements 

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate 

Skills Required 

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, psychological formulation, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.  This requires the use of highly developed analytical and judgement skills, where there are a range of options. 
• Ability to work within the rigour and expectations of an evidenced based treatment programme. 
• Ability to work autonomously to enable safe and effective caseload management. 
• Skills in self-management, including time management. 
• Ability to communicate effectively, highly technical and clinically sensitive information, including contentious and highly distressing information to client, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the Local Authority. 
• Ability to identify and employ as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms, including regular supervision for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour. 
• Ability to take the lead role in multidisciplinary and multiagency case working and associated meetings and events. 
• Interpersonal and communication skills, enabling formation of networks with professionals within the Local Authority and from other agencies to promote effective team working with clients. 
• Ability to work full time flexible hours across a 24-hr period including evenings and weekends when required. 
• Able to contain and work with high levels of distress from clients. 
• Able to contain and work with organisational stress. 
• Interpersonally calm and able to defuse difficult, volatile situations. 
• Identify and assess risk and develop strategies and plans to effectively manage and mitigate risk.      
• Able to tolerate ambiguity and to take decisions in situations of incomplete information. 
• Ability to exercise appropriate levels of self-care and to monitor own state, recognising when it is necessary to take active steps to maintain fitness to practice. 
• Motivated towards personal and professional development. 
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings. 
• Ability to think of the family and their ecology as the client and work restoratively across all arenas. 

Knowledge Required 

• Understanding of other professionals’ theoretical perspectives of this client group. 
• Of legislation in relation to the client group and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group. 
• Of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health. 
• Of the theory and practice of safeguarding vulnerable children including contextual safeguarding. 
• Evidence of continuing professional development. 
• Knowledge of the needs of disadvantaged groups. 
• Professional qualification in social work, youth justice, psychology, nursing or allied professions or be a trained and experienced MST therapist. 

Experience Required  

• Of working with a wide variety of client groups within a professional role in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.  
• Of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ therapeutic care.   
• Of the application of psychology or psychological therapy in different contexts. 
• Evidence of continuing professional development.  
• Of working with people from diverse cultures.  
• Of working with a range of IT packages and hardware.  

Behavioural & Other Characteristics Required 

• Committed to continuous improvement. 
• Positive and strength focussed.  
• Ability to flex to the needs of the client group in ways that are persistent ,client centred and developmentally appropriate.  
• Ability to understand and observe the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy. 
• To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under the Council’s Health & Safety Policies. 
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development. 
• Able to work as part of a team.  
• Ability to appropriately respond to and manage unpredictable and highly emotive situations/families presenting in crisis during unsocial hours. 

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities:  Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates. 

Skills Desired 

• Ability to adopt a systemic perspective. 
• Ability to reflect on cases and develop formulations.
• Ability to operate as lone worker. 
• Ability to engage with client and families in their own homes. 
• Ability to plan and achieve specific goals. 
• Ability to work with a specific model of intervention. 
• Ability to undergo scrutiny and receive direct feedback. 

Knowledge Desired 

• Of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc). 
• Of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies.  
• Of the Leeds Practice Model, including restorative practice and the Leeds practice context.   

Experience Desired 

• Of assessing and treating clients across the full range of care settings.  
• Of working with a range of therapeutic modalities.  
• Of working intensively using a behavioural approach.  
• Of working in an evidence-based programme. 
• Of working within a specific treatment model. 

Behavioural & Other Characteristics Desired 

• Ability to work effectively within an evidenced programme and set of practice principles that may not be familiar.