Job summary
The Perinatal Mental Health Team supports birthing people in Bedfordshire and Luton with moderate to severe mental health difficulties antenatally and up to two years postnatally. It is a dedicated multi-disciplinary team involving psychiatry, psychology, nursery nurse, occupational therapy and nursing interventions.
We are currently seeking an enthusiastic, highly motivated, reflective and experienced Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to provide specialist psychological assessment and evidence-based interventions for individuals, couples and families, and supporting delivery of group interventions. For newly qualified psychologists we can offer this as a development post.
The post holder will work closely with OCEAN, the Maternal Mental Health Service who support those affected by birth loss or birth trauma as well as actively working and collaborating with mother and baby units, community mental health teams, parent-infant psychotherapy in CAMHS and local talking therapy services.
We are looking to recruit someone with experience of working within secondary mental health settings who can work proactively and collaboratively with other professionals and demonstrate compassion and sensitivity to the challenges facing birthing people with mental health difficulties during the perinatal period. An understanding of the impact of trauma in the perinatal period, and experience of delivering trauma-focused therapy, is desirable. A car owner/driver is essential.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is responsible for providing high-quality comprehensive specialist psychological services to the users of the Perinatal Mental Health Service across Bedfordshire and Luton, which offers care to women who are pregnant or have a child under 24 months old and who are presenting with moderate to severe mental health problems as a result of their perinatal experience.
The post holder will directly provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and therapies, to individual patients of the perinatal mental health service, some of which may be delivered in service user's homes. The post holder will also contribute to the planning, running and evaluation of psychologically-based group interventions. In addition, the post holder will provide specialist risk assessments and advice on risk management. The post holder may also supervise and support other qualified, trainee and assistant psychologists and psychological therapists. Some of the post holder's time will be shared across Perinatal and OCEAN services, as agreed with the Principal Psychologist.
The post holder will also provide highly specialist consultation and support to teams, wards, other agencies in the development of care plans for service users, and will also contribute to service development initiatives and audit. The post holder will liaise closely with psychological therapists working across the wider services to develop and maintain a high standard of professional practice.
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for providing high-quality comprehensive specialist psychological services to the users of the Perinatal Mental Health Service across Bedfordshire and Luton, which offers care to women who are pregnant or have a child under 24 months old and who are presenting with moderate to severe mental health problems as a result of their perinatal experience.
The post holder will directly provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and therapies, to individual patients of the perinatal mental health service, some of which may be delivered in service users homes. The post holder will also contribute to the planning, running and evaluation of psychologically-based group interventions. In addition, the post holder will provide specialist risk assessments and advice on risk management. The post holder may also supervise and support other qualified, trainee and assistant psychologists and psychological therapists. Some of the post holders time will be shared across Perinatal and OCEAN services, as agreed with the Principal Psychologist.
The post holder will also provide highly specialist consultation and support to teams, wards, other agencies in the development of care plans for service users, and will also contribute to service development initiatives and audit. The post holder will liaise closely with psychological therapists working across the wider services to develop and maintain a high standard of professional practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for providing high-quality comprehensive specialist psychological services to the users of the Perinatal Mental Health Service across Bedfordshire and Luton, which offers care to women who are pregnant or have a child under 24 months old and who are presenting with moderate to severe mental health problems as a result of their perinatal experience.
The post holder will directly provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and therapies, to individual patients of the perinatal mental health service, some of which may be delivered in service users homes. The post holder will also contribute to the planning, running and evaluation of psychologically-based group interventions. In addition, the post holder will provide specialist risk assessments and advice on risk management. The post holder may also supervise and support other qualified, trainee and assistant psychologists and psychological therapists. Some of the post holders time will be shared across Perinatal and OCEAN services, as agreed with the Principal Psychologist.
The post holder will also provide highly specialist consultation and support to teams, wards, other agencies in the development of care plans for service users, and will also contribute to service development initiatives and audit. The post holder will liaise closely with psychological therapists working across the wider services to develop and maintain a high standard of professional practice.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). OR have an NHS Core Profession (Nurse, Allied Health Profession, Medical Doctor, Social Worker) or demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills and attitudes AND Have completed a minimum of one year of recognised full-time (or equivalent part-time) psychological therapy or counselling training leading to a qualification, certification or accreditation recognised by a relevant professional or regulatory body plus relevant specialist short courses.
Desirable
- Post Qualification Training in DBT, CFT, EMDR, CBT for trauma.
- Supervisor training.
Experience
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified Clinical or Counselling psychologist at a specialist level or assessed experience of working as a qualified psychotherapist, including post qualification experience as an adult or parent-infant psychotherapist, preferably in the NHS or similar public health provider.
- Good understanding of other professionals' theoretical perspectives of this client group.
- Experience of providing specialist psychological assessment, including cognitive and neurological assessment, and treatment of service users utilising at least two main models as appropriate across the full range of care settings and clinical severity including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient.
- Experience of providing teaching, training and clinical supervision to junior psychologists and other professions.
Desirable
- The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.
- Experience with facilitating groups.
Knowledge
Essential
- The theory and practice of psychological assessment and therapies in relation to treatment of a range of mental health disorders including CBT, CFT, and trauma informed therapies.
- Risk assessment practice and procedures.
- The value of service user participation in the delivery and development of services.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the presentation of complex mental health problems and range of disorders in the perinatal period.
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills with service users, carers and staff.
- Ability to work independently to maintain agreed caseload and activity levels.
Desirable
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). OR have an NHS Core Profession (Nurse, Allied Health Profession, Medical Doctor, Social Worker) or demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills and attitudes AND Have completed a minimum of one year of recognised full-time (or equivalent part-time) psychological therapy or counselling training leading to a qualification, certification or accreditation recognised by a relevant professional or regulatory body plus relevant specialist short courses.
Desirable
- Post Qualification Training in DBT, CFT, EMDR, CBT for trauma.
- Supervisor training.
Experience
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified Clinical or Counselling psychologist at a specialist level or assessed experience of working as a qualified psychotherapist, including post qualification experience as an adult or parent-infant psychotherapist, preferably in the NHS or similar public health provider.
- Good understanding of other professionals' theoretical perspectives of this client group.
- Experience of providing specialist psychological assessment, including cognitive and neurological assessment, and treatment of service users utilising at least two main models as appropriate across the full range of care settings and clinical severity including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient.
- Experience of providing teaching, training and clinical supervision to junior psychologists and other professions.
Desirable
- The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.
- Experience with facilitating groups.
Knowledge
Essential
- The theory and practice of psychological assessment and therapies in relation to treatment of a range of mental health disorders including CBT, CFT, and trauma informed therapies.
- Risk assessment practice and procedures.
- The value of service user participation in the delivery and development of services.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the presentation of complex mental health problems and range of disorders in the perinatal period.
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills with service users, carers and staff.
- Ability to work independently to maintain agreed caseload and activity levels.
Desirable
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
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).
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).
