MST-CAN Therapist

To deliver comprehensive Multi systemic Therapy (MST) child abuse and neglect (CAN) interventions in North-East Wales, according to the specifications and requirements set out in the MST License. These will address the family safety, parenting skills and underlying difficulties in adults and children, such as substance misuse and past experience of trauma. Work will be undertaken in the family and community setting under the supervision of the MST-CAN supervisor and MST-CAN consultant. MST-CAN is a therapeutic approach requiring intensive work with families at their home for up to 9 months This work is undertaken with families with complex needs where there is a child, or children aged 6-17 who is subject to a child protection plan following an incident of child abuse and neglect and where there is a risk of them entering care.

Responsibilities:

1. To increase the numbers of children and young people aged 6-17 who can remain safely at home.

2. To ensure the delivery of MST-CAN interventions to between 3 or 4 families up to 9 months' time scale.

3. To ensure that the fidelity of the MST-CAN programme is maintained at all times.

4. To develop inter-agency partnerships that promote the inclusion of socially excluded young people on the edge of care and custody.

Flintshire County Council in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCU) and supported by MST UK & Ireland, are part of a funded pilot programme from the Youth Endowment Fund which is running from October 2024 to September 2026. This pilot will have an external evaluation led by Universities of Kent and Teesside.

Principal Accountabilities

• To provide a comprehensive MST-CAN service to both children and families plus the systems around them, across North-East Wales managing a caseload of 3-4 families at any one time for a period between 6-9 months approx.
• To demonstrate adherence to the MST-CAN Model and implement MST-CAN under the guidance of the MST-CAN Supervisor and external MST-CAN Consultant, actively participate in ongoing MST-CAN training and supervision.
• To be part of a rota offering a 24/7 on-call service directly to families during the evenings and weekends.
• To communicate, in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, complex information which may be contentious or distressing to families and young people and to ensure that information and advice is provided to other professionals, families and carers.
• To undertake assessments of needs of families and young people and deliver the appropriate support to meet the assessed needs, using evidence based therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural, behavioural and structural or strategic Family Therapy, in line with the MST-CAN model, to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Identify, assess and contribute to the reduction of risk in areas of responsibility.
• To regularly review, evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of the service delivered to families with the Supervisor and link with other providers/agencies where appropriate with the support of the family/young person.
• To participate in monitoring and research procedures designed to evaluate the impact of MST-CAN and respond appropriately to feedback. Including collaborating with the external evaluation team appointed by the Youth Endowment Fund.
• In the light of changing circumstances ensure service users continue to receive appropriate support to meet their needs through the development of informal and formal social supports.
• Establish links and maintain knowledge of services across North East Wales, and develop effective working relationships with other statutory and non-statutory Teams - e.g. CAMHS, Adult Mental Health, Children's Social Care and Education colleagues, and other relevant agencies active in the same area, so that work with service users makes use of all available resources
• Develop and promote MST-CAN to extend and improve the range of community support services available to local serve users from all sources and to have a good knowledge of what else is available to the target group and their families