Job summary
We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic B8a Highly Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to cover Maternity Leave on a Secondment or Fixed Term contract in the Perinatal Mental Health Team in Milton Keynes. It is anticipated that this cover will be from mid February 2025 to mid February 2026. The team provide specialist care for women (and their babies) with moderate to severe mental illness, this includes offering pre-conceptual counselling alongside working with women during their pregnancy and up to 2 years postpartum where there is a perinatal need.
The role includes working across our Perinatal Mental Health Team and Maternity-Trauma, Loss and Care Service (M-TLC) in Milton Keynes. This post is for 22.5 hours per week. The M-TLC Service provides consultation, advice, signposting and targeted interventions to women with moderate-severe/complex mental health difficulties associated with loss and trauma occurring in the maternity/perinatal/neonatal context including the parent infant relationship. This may include PTSD following birth trauma, perinatal loss and severe fear of childbirth (tokophobia).
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will join the Principal Psychologist in the M-TLC alongside a Clinical Psychologist and Psychological Therapist in the Perinatal Service both delivering and supporting the delivery of psychological interventions as part of a multi-disciplinary team. The team includes a Psychiatrist, Specialist Doctor, Specialist CPN's, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Peer Support Worker and a Nursery Nurse with administrators supporting the team.
The successful applicant will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team delivering care to women in a range of community settings including the woman's home; children's centre's; GP surgeries, maternity wards and the use of virtual technology. The ability to work flexibly in multidisciplinary teams and in a range of settings is therefore essential. As a specialist psychologist you will provide specialist assessment and treatment for women in the perinatal period which will also involve close liaison with the wider MDT such as Midwives; Health Visitors; Safeguarding and Children's Centres.
Please note this post is based at Milton Keynes Headquarters which is currently situated on the hospital site. However a consultation is currently underway with staff regarding moving the Headquarters to the Open University within Milton Keynes in the new year. If this moves goes ahead as proposed the successful candidate would be based at the Open University site.
About us
We are passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patients own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. Were always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee were hoping to find our future leaders and well support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career. With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You must have experience of working in mental health services at secondary care level with complex presentations with women who may also be in crisis and who express suicidality. Experience of working in the Perinatal Mental Health field is desirable, and/or a keen interest in this specialist area alongside experience of facilitating group treatments. Experience of trauma focussed care and working with bereaved families is desirable.
The team is part of the wider Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) specialist perinatal mental health provision and there will be opportunities for networking with perinatal psychologists in this new and developing area of specialism across BLMK, the East of England Region and within CNWL.
Both regionally and locally we are committed to further training all disciplines within the team and there will be provision for training in line with a regional training programme.
For further information about this post please see attached job description
Job description
Job responsibilities
You must have experience of working in mental health services at secondary care level with complex presentations with women who may also be in crisis and who express suicidality. Experience of working in the Perinatal Mental Health field is desirable, and/or a keen interest in this specialist area alongside experience of facilitating group treatments. Experience of trauma focussed care and working with bereaved families is desirable.
The team is part of the wider Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) specialist perinatal mental health provision and there will be opportunities for networking with perinatal psychologists in this new and developing area of specialism across BLMK, the East of England Region and within CNWL.
Both regionally and locally we are committed to further training all disciplines within the team and there will be provision for training in line with a regional training programme.
For further information about this post please see attached job description
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
Desirable
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working as a qualified psychologist
- Significant experience in working with Psychological Trauma.
- Training in additional approved modalities such EMDR, IPT, Cfd, Couples Counselling, systemic training, DIT, Mindfulness
- An interest in Perinatal Mental Health with a focus on Birth Trauma
Desirable
- Experience in working with Birth Trauma and Perinatal Loss
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
- Knowledge of the relevant theoretical approaches for working with this client group.
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
Desirable
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working as a qualified psychologist
- Significant experience in working with Psychological Trauma.
- Training in additional approved modalities such EMDR, IPT, Cfd, Couples Counselling, systemic training, DIT, Mindfulness
- An interest in Perinatal Mental Health with a focus on Birth Trauma
Desirable
- Experience in working with Birth Trauma and Perinatal Loss
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
- Knowledge of the relevant theoretical approaches for working with this client group.
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).
