Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly skilled B7 Psychological Therapist to join our remarkable Community Perinatal Mental Health Team, where compassion, innovation, and inclusivity are at the heart of everything we do.
We are a dynamic and multidisciplinary team providing specialist perinatal mental health support to women, birthing people, partners, and families. Our work is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and holistic care. We are proud to serve a richly diverse community.
We strongly believe that diverse teams create stronger services, and we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. Your perspective matters, and we're committed to creating a team where every voice is valued.
In return, we offer flexible working arrangements, opportunities for personal and professional development, and a supportive, forward-thinking workplace where you can make a lasting impact.
The clinical team is made up of psychiatrists, mental health nurses, nursery nurses, clinical and assistant psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, mental health workers and parent infant specialists.
Main duties of the job
To provide a clinical psychology service to the Perinatal Mental Health Team.
To assess and treat a specialist workload of clients and maintain associated records.
Participate in CPD and other developmental activities.
Undertake R & D and clinical audit.
Clinically supervise Assistant Psychologists, CAP's, other professionals and trainee Clinical Psychologists as appropriate.
The Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team provides specialist advice, support and oversight of the perinatal mental health pathway in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, from preconception through to the infant's second birthday, working with and supporting health and social care professionals in primary care, maternity services, early years and adult mental health teams. This team carries a direct caseload of women who are experiencing moderate to severe perinatal difficulties, where the level of these difficulties exceeds the expertise of primary care or general mental health services. The Perinatal team also operate a Groups Pathway, where individuals can access the groups we offer without being under our direct caseload. We also work with those who are at high risk of relapse, and may be under Secondary Mental health care services.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
To provide a psychology service to the Perinatal Mental Health Team including assessment and therapy both for individuals and groups as appropriate.
To provide a specialist consultancy service to multidisciplinary teams and other agencies providing care for the client group.
To work jointly with colleagues within secondary services providing key working when appropriate.
To participate in Perinatal Therapies referral processes and business meetings
To participate in clinical and caseload supervision arrangements provided by the Psychology Service.
To maintain accurate records and to monitor clinical workload using agreed systems.
To ensure timely recording of all data required by the Trust.
Professional
To adhere to the policies and procedures of governing body (i.e. HCPC).
To fully observe the BPS (1996) Code of Conduct and the DCP Guidelines for the Professional Practice of Clinical Psychology (1995), or relevant alternatives.
To be aware of, adhere to, and where appropriate, contribute to the formulation and review of Trust, Area and Clinical Psychology Service policies and procedures.
To participate in local psychology meetings and Trust wide meetings as appropriate.
To maintain and develop high standards of psychology practice by engaging in continuing professional development and co-operative working/networking with counselling and clinical psychologist colleagues.
To participate in an annual performance appraisal.
Please see Job Description for full details
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
To provide a psychology service to the Perinatal Mental Health Team including assessment and therapy both for individuals and groups as appropriate.
To provide a specialist consultancy service to multidisciplinary teams and other agencies providing care for the client group.
To work jointly with colleagues within secondary services providing key working when appropriate.
To participate in Perinatal Therapies referral processes and business meetings
To participate in clinical and caseload supervision arrangements provided by the Psychology Service.
To maintain accurate records and to monitor clinical workload using agreed systems.
To ensure timely recording of all data required by the Trust.
Professional
To adhere to the policies and procedures of governing body (i.e. HCPC).
To fully observe the BPS (1996) Code of Conduct and the DCP Guidelines for the Professional Practice of Clinical Psychology (1995), or relevant alternatives.
To be aware of, adhere to, and where appropriate, contribute to the formulation and review of Trust, Area and Clinical Psychology Service policies and procedures.
To participate in local psychology meetings and Trust wide meetings as appropriate.
To maintain and develop high standards of psychology practice by engaging in continuing professional development and co-operative working/networking with counselling and clinical psychologist colleagues.
To participate in an annual performance appraisal.
Please see Job Description for full details
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral Clinical/Counselling Psychology qualification or qualification as a Psychotherapist or CBT Therapist
- HCPC Registration (or eligibility for registration) or professional registration with another suitable organisation (eg. BABCP, UKCP etc).
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide range of individuals with complex problems
- Experience of delivering therapeutic interventions
- In-depth knowledge of relevant therapeutic models
- Familiarity with NHS ways of working, NHS systems and statutory obligations.
- Experience of formulating a person's difficulties from a psychological perspective and communicating to service users and multidisciplinary staff
- Experience of offering clinical supervision and/ or facilitating reflective practice sessions for multidisciplinary staff
- Experience of supporting teams in managing risk, and in complex multiagency work
Desirable
- Experience of working within perinatal mental health
Skills
Essential
- Effective team player with good communication and liaison skills
- Empathy/engagement skills with perinatal mental health population group
- Ability to cope with workload pressure/prioritise workload
- Ability to work autonomously
- Confidence in working to support members of multidisciplinary teams
- Self-awareness and emotional resilience
- Well organised with good administration/ computer skills
Desirable
- Experience of running therapeutic groups e.g. DBT, ACT, CBT
- Experience in working with complex trauma
- Experience in working with psychosis
- Experience of leadership and/ or service development
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral Clinical/Counselling Psychology qualification or qualification as a Psychotherapist or CBT Therapist
- HCPC Registration (or eligibility for registration) or professional registration with another suitable organisation (eg. BABCP, UKCP etc).
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide range of individuals with complex problems
- Experience of delivering therapeutic interventions
- In-depth knowledge of relevant therapeutic models
- Familiarity with NHS ways of working, NHS systems and statutory obligations.
- Experience of formulating a person's difficulties from a psychological perspective and communicating to service users and multidisciplinary staff
- Experience of offering clinical supervision and/ or facilitating reflective practice sessions for multidisciplinary staff
- Experience of supporting teams in managing risk, and in complex multiagency work
Desirable
- Experience of working within perinatal mental health
Skills
Essential
- Effective team player with good communication and liaison skills
- Empathy/engagement skills with perinatal mental health population group
- Ability to cope with workload pressure/prioritise workload
- Ability to work autonomously
- Confidence in working to support members of multidisciplinary teams
- Self-awareness and emotional resilience
- Well organised with good administration/ computer skills
Desirable
- Experience of running therapeutic groups e.g. DBT, ACT, CBT
- Experience in working with complex trauma
- Experience in working with psychosis
- Experience of leadership and/ or service development
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).
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