Job summary
Perinatal Mental Health Teams (PMHTs) are secondary care mental health teams that specialise in supporting women in the perinatal period (pregnancy through until 12 months postnatal) who have severe and complex mental health difficulties. We assess and treat a range of difficulties including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychosis, personality disorders and eating disorders.
Some of these difficulties may be longstanding or emerge in the context of pregnancy or birth. The service is designed to provide timely input to women and their families to mitigate the impact of mental health disorder on the child. We are a multi-disciplinary team including psychiatry, psychology, psychotherapy, nursing, occupational therapy, and nursery nursing. The service works closely with maternity/obstetric services as well as other agencies (e.g., health visiting and social services).
We have close links with the Mother-Baby Unit (MBU) inpatient unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital. The service has a growing team of perinatal psychological therapists who are committed to providing evidence-based interventions to women and their families that are accessible and acceptable to the diverse population that we serve in South London.
Main duties of the job
There has been a long-standing SLaM Perinatal Psychotherapy Service and as part of this a highly specialised Parent-Infant Mental Health provision has also been developed.
In order to meet the ambitions set out in the NHS Long-Term Plan for Mental Health we are expanding our psychological workforce to include greater access to parent infant interventions including parent infant psychotherapy.
This post-holder will be responsible for the delivery of parent infant clinical interventions using a psycho-dynamically informed parent infant psychotherapy model. Working with Parent-Infant Service Lead they will enable provision and supervision of parent-infant psychotherapy. The post holder may also be involved in the delivery of Circle of Security parenting groups and other psycho-educational groups and interventions for parents as needed, delivered by community practitioners.
About us
Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). We also provide services and operate across other locations, such as London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; and substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Lambeth, Greenwich and Wandsworth.
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. It's important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer
- Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
- Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
- Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
- Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
- Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
- NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide a highly specialist parent-infant psychotherapy service to the Perinatal Community Mental Health Service including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- To be responsible for the integration of parent-infant interventions across modalities and across the service as part of the overall Care Plan.
- To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
- To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in the Perinatal Community Mental Health Service.
- To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
- To work as an autonomous professional within HCPC/ BPC/ UKCP/ ACP guidelines and codes of conduct and be guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
- To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.
For further information please see the full job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide a highly specialist parent-infant psychotherapy service to the Perinatal Community Mental Health Service including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
- To be responsible for the integration of parent-infant interventions across modalities and across the service as part of the overall Care Plan.
- To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
- To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in the Perinatal Community Mental Health Service.
- To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
- To work as an autonomous professional within HCPC/ BPC/ UKCP/ ACP guidelines and codes of conduct and be guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
- To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.
For further information please see the full job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Entry-level qualification in Adult or Child Psychotherapy/ Clinical or Counselling Psychology / Systemic Therapy that has been accepted by the HCPC/ BPC/ UKCP/ ACP for purposes of professional registration.
- Additional training beyond entry-level qualification in a specialised area of practice (Parent-Infant Psychotherapy) through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses and/or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice based learning
- Registered with the HCPC/ BPC/ UKCP/ ACP as a Psychological Therapist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the ACP
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in PIP
- Experience of specialist psychotherapy assessment and treatment of patients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in PIP
- Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities
- Experience of carrying out audit or service evaluation projects
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised assessments and interventions for PIP
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment options in PIP
- Advanced knowledge of relevant clinical assessment tools and psychometrics
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the patient group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care
Desirable
- Training in VIG (Video Interaction Guidance), Circle of Security, Watch, Wait and Wonder or other relevant Parent-Infant interventions
Skills
Essential
- To deliver psychological therapies across cultural and other differences
- To select and administer specialist psychological therapy assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with patients, carers and colleagues
- To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual patients, groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews
- To plan allocation of tasks to honoraries or those under your supervision
- Well-developed IT skills including analysis of research data for teaching purposes
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
- Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Entry-level qualification in Adult or Child Psychotherapy/ Clinical or Counselling Psychology / Systemic Therapy that has been accepted by the HCPC/ BPC/ UKCP/ ACP for purposes of professional registration.
- Additional training beyond entry-level qualification in a specialised area of practice (Parent-Infant Psychotherapy) through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses and/or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice based learning
- Registered with the HCPC/ BPC/ UKCP/ ACP as a Psychological Therapist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the ACP
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in PIP
- Experience of specialist psychotherapy assessment and treatment of patients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in PIP
- Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities
- Experience of carrying out audit or service evaluation projects
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised assessments and interventions for PIP
- Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment options in PIP
- Advanced knowledge of relevant clinical assessment tools and psychometrics
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the patient group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities
- Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care
Desirable
- Training in VIG (Video Interaction Guidance), Circle of Security, Watch, Wait and Wonder or other relevant Parent-Infant interventions
Skills
Essential
- To deliver psychological therapies across cultural and other differences
- To select and administer specialist psychological therapy assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison
- To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with patients, carers and colleagues
- To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual patients, groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews
- To plan allocation of tasks to honoraries or those under your supervision
- Well-developed IT skills including analysis of research data for teaching purposes
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups
Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
- Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
- Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour
- Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
