Senior Clinical Psychologist

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled, experienced and enthusiastic Clinical Psychologist to join EPUT's expanding psychological services for parents and their infants.

The Essex Perinatal Mental Health Service are pleased to offer an 8a 0.6wte 1 year fixed term contract post in Mid Locality (Chelmsford, Braintree and Maldon). Following significant investment in the perinatal psychology workforce the service delivers high quality Mental Health support and intervention to mothers, their infants and their families. PMHS consists of five perinatal hubs with a staff mix comprising of Nursing, Psychiatry, Psychology and Nursery Nursing as well as OT and Social Workers. The investment has brought wider system working and strengthened relationships with maternity, health visiting, secondary care mental health services and primary care services to provide more streamlined, timely and effective care for mothers in the perinatal period.

This post provides an excellent opportunity to experience perinatal work, training will be provided and the role can be shaped to meet part time and flexible working arrangements.

Main duties of the job

The Perinatal Mental Health Service provides specialist assessment and intervention for mothers and their infants across Essex. Pregnancy and the transition to parenthood are recognised as a time when mental health difficulties and relationship stress can occur. Experience of preexisting trauma as well as trauma during the perinatal period can have a significant impact on the experience of becoming a mother. Psychological interventions which are specific, effective, and valued by women can support them with such difficulties; reducing distress and health care costs, whilst increasing physical and psychological wellbeing. The BPS Briefing Paper on Perinatal Psychology Service provision is a good source of information for those new to this area of work.

About us

Perinatal Psychology is a flourishing and exciting field to work in and there will be highly specialised trainings and supervisions available to the successful candidates. We would welcome candidates with prior perinatal experience but also welcome those who have an interest and are looking to develop their skills in perinatal approaches.

There will significant opportunities to develop your supervision, teaching and consultation skills and to further develop the psychology service to meet the needs of mothers and their infants. Staff wellbeing is also highly valued and we are looking for candidates with experience of wellbeing initiatives to support the PMHS staff as they manage highly challenging caseloads with complex risk and safeguarding issues.

You will join a Psychology Directorate that has had significant investment and is led by a Clinical Director of Psychological Services providing robust governance and support of EPUT psychologists. EPUT Psychological Services provide extensive community Adult Mental Health, In-Patient, and EIP, Secure & Forensic, Clinical Health, Asperger's and Learning Disabilities services across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex, so you will join