Senior Clinical Psychologist - Maternal Mental Health Service

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Maternal Mental Health Service:

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to be involved in the development and delivery of a specialist birth trauma and perinatal loss service; the 'Maternal Mental Health Service' (MMHS). As detailed within the NHS Long Term Plan (January 2019), the newly commissioned, integrated NHS Maternal Mental Health Service, known locally in Kent and Medway as 'Thrive - Psychological Support for Birth Trauma and Perinatal Loss' offers evidence-based assessment and psychological therapy to women and birthing people with moderate-severe or complex mental health difficulties, specifically psychological trauma, directly resulting from or associated with the maternity experience.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a senior psychological therapist (Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/CBT Therapist/Psychotherapist) who is highly experienced at working with people with complex or single event trauma and/or loss to join our supportive and passionate team. The role will require highly specialist psychological treatment skills, and if necessary, you will be supported to specifically develop EMDR and TF-CBT therapeutic skills. Post-graduate training and experience in its application is essential and the post holder will receive further relevant training.

Thrive is a 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, community service. Thrive is not a crisis or emergency service, and does not care co-ordinate.

Being a part-time role, the actual days are to be advised / negotiable but will be 30 hours per week / 4 days per week. The locality for this role is North Kent (Dartford), however the post holder must be willing (and have the ability) to travel across the county (Kent and Medway-wide) as required.

About us

Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.

We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people across the county.

The Trust (rated Good overall by the CQC and Outstanding for care) has 3,283 staff working in 66 buildings across 33 locations, covering an area of 1,450 square miles.

You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.

The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.

Date posted

13 January 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£48,526 to £54,619 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

380-FR0159-D

Job locations

Tarentfort Centre, Dartford

Dartford

DA2 6PB


Job description

Job responsibilities

CORE CLINICAL FUNCTION:

  • For all clinical and non-clinical, direct and indirect practice to be trauma-informed to the benefit of all women and birthing people of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group.
  • To provide psychological trauma formulations and interventions as recommended by NICE guidelines and current literature (i.e. TF-CBT and EMDR).
  • Proactively and successfully work with partner agencies, women and birthing people, families, partners and community staff to ensure access/signposting to the most appropriate care.
  • Draw upon and conduct specialist and complex assessments using a variety of data in order to develop psychological formulations that inform evidence-base clinical interventions for individuals, families, groups and other professionals presenting with highly complex problems.
  • To effectively communicate, both written and verbally, outcomes of specialist and complex assessments, formulations and interventions to women and people, family / carers and others in a skilled, reflexive and sensitive manner.
  • Provide psycho-social intervention, education and support to develop individuals understanding of mental illness with aim to prevent relapse and admission.
  • To monitor and evaluate progress during the course of their care.
  • Develop recovery plans in line with Perinatal Mental Health Service Standards and National Guidance.
  • Liaise with staff in a variety of settings, ensuring that teams are able to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of people with mental health problems in their care.
  • Attend MDT meetings to provide guidance / advice / consulting / referring / allocation / input / learn about women and people / agree care plans.
  • Ensure the maintenance of accurate and timely documentation / records on all women and people in line with relevant professional codes and Trust policy
  • To undertake psychologically based risk assessment and risk management for women and people, and provide advice on the psychological aspects of risk to the multi-disciplinary team
  • Identify, assess and manage clinical and non-clinical risks / hazards in their area through the completion of the relevant risk assessments and the implementation of risk treatment plans for inclusion in the local and Trusts risk registers through the Risk Management department.
  • Document and report incidents as required i.e. risk and health and safety.

CORE NON-CLINICAL FUNCTION (INCLUDING TEACHING, TRAINING, SUPERVISION AND CONSULTATION):

  • To support and lead the team in developing a robust psychology service which adheres to strong clinical governance and offers high quality care in line with current guidance and evidence.
  • Ensure junior staff are appropriately inducted, receive appropriate clinical supervision, have an annual appraisal and are compliant with mandatory training requirements. Where appropriate this may also include the requirement for the post holder to manage these staff in line with agreed Trust HR processes.
  • Jointly and individually ensure the service meets the agreed key performance indictors/ contractual targets identified by the Trust and adhere to local and government initiatives.
  • To lead on quality improvement for psychological therapies delivered within the locality patch.
  • Lead in the continuing development of a high-quality service that is underpinned by evidence-based practice, care pathways and NICE and DH guidance.
  • To build and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders and providers in the locality patch.
  • Provide highly specialised clinical expertise, supervision, and training to the team and, where appropriate, other professionals.
  • Key contributor in service development reviews.
  • Manage and coordinate local multi-disciplinary meetings i.e. referral / review / business.
  • Participate in SI investigations, disciplinary and grievance procedures plus any relevant investigations in line with Trust policies when appropriate.
  • Responsible for the coordination and management of the team in providing a safe, effective and therapeutic clinical service, ensuring the delivery of high-quality community mental health care packages.
  • To support clinical training placements for Trainee Clinical Psychologists from appropriate courses, undertaking clinical supervision, teaching on placement, organising and monitoring workload and assessing clinical competence as and when required.

Job description

Job responsibilities

CORE CLINICAL FUNCTION:

  • For all clinical and non-clinical, direct and indirect practice to be trauma-informed to the benefit of all women and birthing people of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group.
  • To provide psychological trauma formulations and interventions as recommended by NICE guidelines and current literature (i.e. TF-CBT and EMDR).
  • Proactively and successfully work with partner agencies, women and birthing people, families, partners and community staff to ensure access/signposting to the most appropriate care.
  • Draw upon and conduct specialist and complex assessments using a variety of data in order to develop psychological formulations that inform evidence-base clinical interventions for individuals, families, groups and other professionals presenting with highly complex problems.
  • To effectively communicate, both written and verbally, outcomes of specialist and complex assessments, formulations and interventions to women and people, family / carers and others in a skilled, reflexive and sensitive manner.
  • Provide psycho-social intervention, education and support to develop individuals understanding of mental illness with aim to prevent relapse and admission.
  • To monitor and evaluate progress during the course of their care.
  • Develop recovery plans in line with Perinatal Mental Health Service Standards and National Guidance.
  • Liaise with staff in a variety of settings, ensuring that teams are able to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of people with mental health problems in their care.
  • Attend MDT meetings to provide guidance / advice / consulting / referring / allocation / input / learn about women and people / agree care plans.
  • Ensure the maintenance of accurate and timely documentation / records on all women and people in line with relevant professional codes and Trust policy
  • To undertake psychologically based risk assessment and risk management for women and people, and provide advice on the psychological aspects of risk to the multi-disciplinary team
  • Identify, assess and manage clinical and non-clinical risks / hazards in their area through the completion of the relevant risk assessments and the implementation of risk treatment plans for inclusion in the local and Trusts risk registers through the Risk Management department.
  • Document and report incidents as required i.e. risk and health and safety.

CORE NON-CLINICAL FUNCTION (INCLUDING TEACHING, TRAINING, SUPERVISION AND CONSULTATION):

  • To support and lead the team in developing a robust psychology service which adheres to strong clinical governance and offers high quality care in line with current guidance and evidence.
  • Ensure junior staff are appropriately inducted, receive appropriate clinical supervision, have an annual appraisal and are compliant with mandatory training requirements. Where appropriate this may also include the requirement for the post holder to manage these staff in line with agreed Trust HR processes.
  • Jointly and individually ensure the service meets the agreed key performance indictors/ contractual targets identified by the Trust and adhere to local and government initiatives.
  • To lead on quality improvement for psychological therapies delivered within the locality patch.
  • Lead in the continuing development of a high-quality service that is underpinned by evidence-based practice, care pathways and NICE and DH guidance.
  • To build and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders and providers in the locality patch.
  • Provide highly specialised clinical expertise, supervision, and training to the team and, where appropriate, other professionals.
  • Key contributor in service development reviews.
  • Manage and coordinate local multi-disciplinary meetings i.e. referral / review / business.
  • Participate in SI investigations, disciplinary and grievance procedures plus any relevant investigations in line with Trust policies when appropriate.
  • Responsible for the coordination and management of the team in providing a safe, effective and therapeutic clinical service, ensuring the delivery of high-quality community mental health care packages.
  • To support clinical training placements for Trainee Clinical Psychologists from appropriate courses, undertaking clinical supervision, teaching on placement, organising and monitoring workload and assessing clinical competence as and when required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology as accredited by the BPS, and HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist under the relevant domain OR Formal training in CBT such as a Post graduate Diploma/Masters in CBT OR Formal postgraduate level training in psychological theory and practice, including specifically models of psychopathology, models of psychological therapy and lifespan development.
  • Professional accreditation/registration with HPC or BABCP or UKCP or BACP, or eligible for Chartered membership of British Psychological Society as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist

Desirable

  • EMDR training
  • Perinatal CPD Training

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in Perinatal or Adult mental health
  • Experience in delivering therapeutic interventions
  • Experience of minimum of 15 hours specialist clinical supervision in Mental Health
  • Experience of supervising others

Desirable

  • Experience of working as a qualified senior psychological practitioner for a minimum 2yrs
  • Experience of working with women during the perinatal period.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Knowledge of Perinatal Mental Health
  • Knowledge of attachment theory
  • Work in a variety of settings managing distress and risk
  • Knowledge of legislation and policies and Trauma Informed Care

Desirable

  • Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology as accredited by the BPS, and HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist under the relevant domain OR Formal training in CBT such as a Post graduate Diploma/Masters in CBT OR Formal postgraduate level training in psychological theory and practice, including specifically models of psychopathology, models of psychological therapy and lifespan development.
  • Professional accreditation/registration with HPC or BABCP or UKCP or BACP, or eligible for Chartered membership of British Psychological Society as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist

Desirable

  • EMDR training
  • Perinatal CPD Training

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in Perinatal or Adult mental health
  • Experience in delivering therapeutic interventions
  • Experience of minimum of 15 hours specialist clinical supervision in Mental Health
  • Experience of supervising others

Desirable

  • Experience of working as a qualified senior psychological practitioner for a minimum 2yrs
  • Experience of working with women during the perinatal period.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Knowledge of Perinatal Mental Health
  • Knowledge of attachment theory
  • Work in a variety of settings managing distress and risk
  • Knowledge of legislation and policies and Trauma Informed Care

Desirable

  • Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

Address

Tarentfort Centre, Dartford

Dartford

DA2 6PB


Employer's website

https://www.kmpt.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust

Address

Tarentfort Centre, Dartford

Dartford

DA2 6PB


Employer's website

https://www.kmpt.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Athena Duffy

athena.duffy@nhs.net

07809383054

Date posted

13 January 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£48,526 to £54,619 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

380-FR0159-D

Job locations

Tarentfort Centre, Dartford

Dartford

DA2 6PB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)