Job summary
We are pleased to be seeking a Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to join our Maternal Mental Health Service. The Healing Experiences of Loss and Trauma ('Helix') Service is a secondary care psychological therapies service, that sits alongside the community perinatal mental health teams in the Trust. We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, compassionate, and motivated psychological workforce with experience of working with those in the perinatal period and/or in a mental health service within maternity. We encourage applications from those who are committed to delivering an equitable service and working in partnership with those who have lived experience.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidates will deliver highly specialist Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other evidence based psychological therapies in the context of trauma and loss, as well as provide training, supervision and consultation to other professionals and the maternity workforce. Opportunities for supervision of assistant and trainee psychologists and peer support workers will also be available.
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
- We're Kind
- We're Fair
- We Listen
- We Care
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Clinical Tasks and Responsibilities
- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions to women and birthing people who experience moderate-severe mental health problems in the context of their maternity journey. This may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth, tokophobia, and mental health problems that develop following perinatal loss.
- To deliver highly specialist Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other evidence based psychological therapies in the context of trauma and loss.
- To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, intervention, and discharge of clients.
- To consider the impact of loss and trauma in maternity on partners and family members and include this in assessment and treatment planning as appropriate.
- To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with women/birthing people and families.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis, and treatment plan.
- To be prepared to work flexible hours to meet the needs of service users and the service itself.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Clinical Tasks and Responsibilities
- To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions to women and birthing people who experience moderate-severe mental health problems in the context of their maternity journey. This may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth, tokophobia, and mental health problems that develop following perinatal loss.
- To deliver highly specialist Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other evidence based psychological therapies in the context of trauma and loss.
- To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, intervention, and discharge of clients.
- To consider the impact of loss and trauma in maternity on partners and family members and include this in assessment and treatment planning as appropriate.
- To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with women/birthing people and families.
- To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
- To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis, and treatment plan.
- To be prepared to work flexible hours to meet the needs of service users and the service itself.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications - Band 8a
Essential
- Satisfactory completion of a British Psychological Society accredited Doctoral Level postgraduate professional training course in clinical or counselling psychology.
- Completed training course in clinical supervision.
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
Desirable
- Training in psychological interventions that may be applied in the context of trauma or loss (e.g., EMDR, PGDT).
- Training in or experience of providing couple interventions.
Experience - Band 8a
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in secondary care mental health services.
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and the delivery of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based interventions with service users who have a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in the perinatal period.
- Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
Desirable
- Pre or post qualification experience of working in a specialist perinatal mental health service or mental health service in maternity.
- Experience of the co-production of services and/or working alongside peer support workers.
Knowledge - Band 8a
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for women presenting with mental health difficulties in the perinatal period.
- Knowledge of the impact of maternal mental illness on the baby, including the impact on the mother-infant relationship.
Desirable
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications - Band 8a
Essential
- Satisfactory completion of a British Psychological Society accredited Doctoral Level postgraduate professional training course in clinical or counselling psychology.
- Completed training course in clinical supervision.
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
Desirable
- Training in psychological interventions that may be applied in the context of trauma or loss (e.g., EMDR, PGDT).
- Training in or experience of providing couple interventions.
Experience - Band 8a
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in secondary care mental health services.
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and the delivery of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based interventions with service users who have a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in the perinatal period.
- Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
Desirable
- Pre or post qualification experience of working in a specialist perinatal mental health service or mental health service in maternity.
- Experience of the co-production of services and/or working alongside peer support workers.
Knowledge - Band 8a
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for women presenting with mental health difficulties in the perinatal period.
- Knowledge of the impact of maternal mental illness on the baby, including the impact on the mother-infant relationship.
Desirable
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
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).
