Course Director - Family Therapy

Job description 

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior Systemic Psychotherapist Course with significant teaching, research and organisational experience to take a leadership role as Course Director in the training and education of Family Therapists and Systemic Practitioners at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN). 

The postholder will lead and oversee the MSc and Graduate Certificate programmes in Family Therapy and contribute to the development of systemic teachings across the IoPPN.  These include collaboration with colleagues on the systemic pathway of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and the delivery of the Systemic Family Practice  module of the NHS England commissioned Children and Young Persons Mental Health Therapy programme (CYP-MH). They will be expected to innovate the academic content and course structure of the programmes whilst maintaining accreditation with the professional body, and develop new collaborations.  

Family therapy programmes at the IoPPN are well established and maintain  excellent student satisfaction rates.   Key to these programmes is the provision of high quality clinical placements with our partners in South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and other NHS Trusts across London and  the postholder will be expected to maintain and further develop these links.  

www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/family-therapy-msc

www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/cyp-iapt-therapy-pg-dip  

The successful candidate will manage and lead a dedicated and experienced teaching team in the Section of Family Therapy, within the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The Department is world- renowned for its progressive research in the field of child and adolescent mental health. 

Upcoming in 2024, the Department will be moving to the Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People. The Centre has been developed by the King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People – a partnership between King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Maudsley Charity. The Centre will bring together clinical and academic excellence to ensure that research is translated into practical treatments to benefit young people.  

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/pears-maudsley-centre

https://slam.nhs.uk/pearsmaudsleycentre 

The postholder will be registered with UKCP as a Systemic & Family Psychotherapist, have AFT Approved Supervisor status and have a doctoral level qualification (PhD/ professional / clinical doctorate). 

King’s College London is deeply committed to embedding good culture, equality and diversity practice into all  activities so that the university is an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work and study. We welcome applications from those with characteristics who are under-represented at senior levels within the University.  

This post will be offered on a part-time (50%FTE), indeifnite contract.

Key responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for family therapy trainings in the Section of Family Therapy, including the MSc and the Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy and contributions to family therapy teaching across programmes at IoPPN (eg Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, CYP-MH programme)
• Lead on innovations to the academic content and course structure for MSc and Grad Cert. This includes:

-          Course modifications to remain up-to-date with current clinical practice, research  and academic knowledge

-          Extension and development of novel teaching methods including IT

-          Developing new links with providers of clinical placements

• Programme lead the MSc in Family Therapy
• Organise and participate in assessments across programmes
• Oversee the selection and admission of prospective students
• As appropriate act as personal tutor, academic tutor, clinical supervisor and lecturer across the courses
• Collaborate with other Programme Leads across the School on educational issues and attend working groups and other meetings as needed to develop and maintain the programmes
• Maintain accreditation of programmes with professional bodies (ie Association of Family Therapy)
• Provide leadership and management to course staff including module and programme leads
• Work in partnership with relevant clinical colleagues in South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and other NHS/Social Services organisations to ensure provision of high standard student clinical placements

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria

1.       Doctoral level qualification (PhD / Professional / Clinical Doctorate) 

2.       MSc in Systemic & Family Psychotherapy or equivalent 

3.       UKCP registration as a Systemic & Family Psychotherapist /  Registration with appropriate professional body (e.g. as Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council; HCPC).

4.       AFT Approved Systemic Supervisor  

5.       Extensive experience of clinical roles in NHS/Social Care 

6.       In depth and up to date knowledge of systemic family therapy  

7.       Extensive experience of the planning, delivery and evaluation of high-quality clinical trainings at postgraduate level 

8.       Knowledge of research methods and supervising MSc student research dissertations 

9.       Familiarity of course module design / curriculum development  

10.   Ability to work effectively with clinical and academic colleagues and develop professional relationships  

11.   Strong commitment to equality and inclusivity  

12.   Skills and experience  in leadership 

Desirable criteria

1.       Qualification in education and/or teaching  

2.       Higher Education Academy (HEA) professional recognition (Fellow/ Senior Fellow) 

3.       Familiarity with remote/ e-learning methods  

4.       Publications in  relevant peer-reviewed journals. 

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance.