Multi-Systemic Therapy Practitioner

Join our innovative Multi-Systemic Therapy team and make a lasting difference to children, young people and families across Cheshire East. 

What is Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST)?

Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive, evidence-based intervention for children and young people aged 10-17 who are at risk of entering care, custody or other out-of-home placements. MST works with the whole system around a young person, including their family, school, peer group and wider community, to understand and address the factors contributing to difficulties.

MST is based on many years of research into what works with families and uses evidence-based approaches including behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and structured family therapy.

MST takes an ecological approach, recognising that a young person's behaviour is influenced by interconnected systems including their family, peers, school and wider community. Therapists work intensively with families in their homes and communities, empowering parents and carers to become the primary agents of change and helping families build the skills, confidence and support networks needed to achieve lasting positive outcomes.

Previous MST qualifications are not required.

Successful candidates will receive comprehensive training in the licensed MST model, together with ongoing coaching, supervision, consultation and fidelity support from an MST consultant.

This role provides a unique opportunity to develop therapeutic and systemic practice skills within internationally recognised, evidence-based interventions. 

About us

At Cheshire East Council we are resident, and partner focused with a vision to enable prosperity and wellbeing for all. People really are at the heart of everything we do and that starts with our incredible workforce. We promote a culture of high performance where people can aspire, thrive and flourish, where we strive to deliver best value in everything we do.

For us, success isn’t just about what we achieve, but how we achieve it together. We promote curiosity, excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.

We are values led and committed to wellbeing and inclusion for all, where our employees co-created our values of drive, integrity, respect and collaboration which inform all that we do.

We are proud to work for Cheshire East Council and believe you would be too!

Join us on a meaningful journey in Children’s Social Care at Cheshire East Council

We’re on a meaningful journey in Children’s Social Care and we’d love for you to be part of it. Joining us means becoming part of a supportive, forward-thinking team that’s passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and young people. Everything we do is about putting them first, helping them grow, thrive and reach their full potential so they can build brighter futures.

If this sounds like the kind of impact you want to make, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Come and join us in shaping positive change for our young people.

About the role:

As part of delivering the MST model, the post holder will be expected to participate in a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week on-call arrangement to support children, young people and families receiving MST intervention. This may include providing telephone advice, crisis support and, where required, responding flexibly to families outside normal working hours. The frequency and operation of the on-call rota will be determined by team arrangements and Council policies. MST practitioners are expected to work collaboratively as part of a team-based approach to ensure continuity of support for families.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering intensive, home-based interventions to children, young people and their families.
• Completing assessments and developing tailored plans that promote positive change.
• Strengthening parenting skills, family relationships and emotional wellbeing.
• Working closely with schools, partner agencies and wider support networks.
• Managing a caseload of families and maintaining accurate case records.
• Participating in regular clinical supervision and training to maintain high-quality practice.
• Contributing to a 24/7 on-call rota to support families during periods of crisis.

This is just a snapshot of some of the exciting things you’ll be doing in the role, to find out more about the other key responsibilities of the role please view the attached job description.

About you:

We are looking for a passionate and resilient practitioner who can build strong relationships, work confidently with complex family situations and deliver positive outcomes for children and young people.

You will bring:

• Degree qualified with relevant professional experience.
• Experienced in working with children, young people and families.
• Knowledgeable in child development, trauma and safeguarding.
• Skilled in delivering evidence-based interventions and managing risk.
• Strong communicator with excellent relationship-building skills.
• Able to work independently, flexibly and as part of a team.
• Willing to undertake training, participate in the on-call rota and travel across the borough.

To find out more about the essential and desirable criteria for the role please view the attached job description specification document.

Please note: Shortlisting and interviews will take place throughout the advertising period, therefore early application is encouraged.

What we offer in return:

• A competitive salary- Between £41,771 per annum - £48,072 per annum(CEC NJC – Grade 10) with guaranteed yearly pay increases!
• Enhanced annual leave- Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave(including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service
• Purchase of annual leave – Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra daysof annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro-rata for part-time staff)
• Flexible working pattern - Enjoy a 37-hour standard full-time work weekwith the added perks of flexitime and hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible. Your work-life balance just got a whole lot better!
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme- Drive green and save green! Lease a brand-new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme. There’re no credit checks, no deposits, just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three-year lease
• White goods salary sacrifice scheme - Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big-ticket purchases like appliances, computers, and tech gadgets directly from your salary
• Enhanced public pension- Secure your future with our career average pension, where contributions are built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
• Cycle to work scheme - Save up to 25-39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment through Income Tax and National Insurance savings. Get fit and save money!
• Employee assistance programme- Access a completely free and confidential assistance service to help manage, reduce, and overcome life’s challenges, both at work and in your personal life
• Discounted gym membership -Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure, including:
• Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities
• Off-Peak Racket Sports
• Athletics Tracks
• Sauna/Steam/Spa

Organisation

Cheshire East Council

Location

Macclesfield, Crewe

Job Category

Children and Young People Services

Grade

CEC NJC - Grade 10

Salary Min

£41,771 per annum

Salary Max

£48,072 per annum

Hours per week

37

Weeks per year

52.143

Employment Type

Fixed Term

Contract Duration

12 months

Closing Date

29/09/2026

Ref No

E3805

Documents

• Multi-Systemic Therapy Practitioner Job Description and Specification.pdf
  (PDF, 1398.25kb)

How to apply

We’re delighted that you’re considering applying for this role!

As an equal opportunities’ employer, we warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better reflect and serve our local communities, and together, we can build something truly special.

To join our team, simply click ‘Apply for this job’at the bottom of the page. If you’d prefer an informal chat first or have any questions about the role, feel free to reach out to Mandy Williams at: Show email, they will be happy to hear from you! Please remember to include the job reference so we know which role you are interested in.

Once you’ve applied for the position, please keep an eye on your email inbox (including your junk and spam folders), as we’ll send any correspondence there to stay in touch with updates about your application.

If you haven’t heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, it likely means we weren’t able to move forward with your application at this time but please don’t let this discourage you as your interest means a lot to us, and we’d truly love to hear from you again in the future!

We wish you all the best in your application and if you run into any technical issues, our friendly team are here to help at: Show email.

Cheshire East Council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults across the Borough. As such, any cautions, convictions, reprimands or final warnings that are ‘not protected’ as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 (as amended in 2013) relating to the non-disclosure of spent convictions do not apply to this job. You must therefore, disclose whether you have any previous convictions where prompted to do so within the application process.