Job summary
The Bedfordshire and Luton Ocean service have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and reflective Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, or EMDR therapist, to work with pregnant and postnatal women who have moderate to severe mental health needs. This position is a 12 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. For internal candidates the possibility of a secondment or job-share can be considered.
The Ocean service provides specialist, trauma-informed care for women or birthing people who have experienced loss and trauma during their fertility or maternity journey. The team consists of a principal clinical psychologist, who is the clinical lead, psychological therapist, two specialist midwives, an assistant psychologist, and an administrator. We are looking for someone who is able to engage positively and sensitively with people with mental health difficulties and their support networks, and demonstrate an awareness of the experiences and challenges that face those experiencing mental health difficulties in the perinatal period.
The team has its administrative base in John Bunyan House in Bedford. The post will involve a blend of face to face and remote working but some work may require the ability to travel between sites and offer home visits, so a car owner/driver is essential.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is responsible for the provision of highly specialist, co produced, psychological input to women who have experienced loss and trauma through their maternity experience, particularly those vulnerable to poor health outcomes through poverty and other social inequalities, disabilities and physical health conditions and will also manage other psychological therapists. Psychological input includes highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions delivered within acute hospital and community settings as required.
The characteristics of the core population receiving direct services are women who have lost a baby through recurrent miscarriage, termination for fetal abnormality, still birth, and neo natal death, In addition, the service will provide for women who have experienced birth trauma, whose needs can not be met by Talking Therapies services or perinatal mental health team. The core population will be women who are experiencing emotional distress that requires specialist support and psychological intervention, but do not require a multi-disciplinary service or have high levels of risk. Work with partners may also be included where indicated by the formulation.
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for the provision of highly specialist, co produced, psychological input to women who have experienced loss and trauma through their maternity experience, particularly those vulnerable to poor health outcomes through poverty and other social inequalities, disabilities and physical health conditions and will also manage other psychological therapists. Psychological input includes highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions delivered within acute hospital and community settings as required.
The characteristics of the core population receiving direct services are women who have lost a baby through recurrent miscarriage, termination for fetal abnormality, still birth, and neo natal death, In addition, the service will provide for women who have experienced birth trauma, whose needs can not be met by Talking Therapies services or perinatal mental health team. The core population will be women who are experiencing emotional distress that requires specialist support and psychological intervention, but do not require a multi-disciplinary service or have high levels of risk. Work with partners may also be included where indicated by the formulation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is responsible for the provision of highly specialist, co produced, psychological input to women who have experienced loss and trauma through their maternity experience, particularly those vulnerable to poor health outcomes through poverty and other social inequalities, disabilities and physical health conditions and will also manage other psychological therapists. Psychological input includes highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions delivered within acute hospital and community settings as required.
The characteristics of the core population receiving direct services are women who have lost a baby through recurrent miscarriage, termination for fetal abnormality, still birth, and neo natal death, In addition, the service will provide for women who have experienced birth trauma, whose needs can not be met by Talking Therapies services or perinatal mental health team. The core population will be women who are experiencing emotional distress that requires specialist support and psychological intervention, but do not require a multi-disciplinary service or have high levels of risk. Work with partners may also be included where indicated by the formulation.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). OR have an NHS Core Profession (Nurse, Allied Health Profession, Medical Doctor, Social Worker) or demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills and attitudes AND Have completed a minimum of one year of recognised full-time (or equivalent part-time) psychological therapy or counselling training leading to a qualification, certification or accreditation recognised by a relevant professional or regulatory body plus relevant specialist short courses.
Desirable
- Post Qualification Training in EMDR or CBT for trauma.
- Supervisor training.
Experience
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified Clinical or Counselling psychologist at a specialist level or assessed experience of working as a qualified psychotherapist, including post qualification experience as an adult psychotherapist, preferably in the NHS or similar public health provider.
- Good understanding of other professionals' theoretical perspectives of this client group.
- Experience of providing specialist psychological assessment, including cognitive and neurological assessment, and treatment of service users utilising at least two main models as appropriate (including EMDR or tfCBT) across the full range of care settings and clinical severity including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient.
- Experience of providing teaching, training and clinical supervision to junior psychologists and other professions.
Desirable
- The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.
- Experience with facilitating groups.
Knowledge
Essential
- The theory and practice of psychological assessment and therapies in relation to treatment of a range of mental health disorders including EMDR, (tf)CBT, CFT, and other trauma informed therapies.
- Risk assessment practice and procedures.
- The value of service user participation in the delivery and development of services.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the presentation of complex mental health problems arising from maternal trauma and loss.
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills with service users, carers and staff.
- Ability to work independently to maintain agreed caseload and activity levels.
Desirable
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). OR have an NHS Core Profession (Nurse, Allied Health Profession, Medical Doctor, Social Worker) or demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills and attitudes AND Have completed a minimum of one year of recognised full-time (or equivalent part-time) psychological therapy or counselling training leading to a qualification, certification or accreditation recognised by a relevant professional or regulatory body plus relevant specialist short courses.
Desirable
- Post Qualification Training in EMDR or CBT for trauma.
- Supervisor training.
Experience
Essential
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified Clinical or Counselling psychologist at a specialist level or assessed experience of working as a qualified psychotherapist, including post qualification experience as an adult psychotherapist, preferably in the NHS or similar public health provider.
- Good understanding of other professionals' theoretical perspectives of this client group.
- Experience of providing specialist psychological assessment, including cognitive and neurological assessment, and treatment of service users utilising at least two main models as appropriate (including EMDR or tfCBT) across the full range of care settings and clinical severity including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient.
- Experience of providing teaching, training and clinical supervision to junior psychologists and other professions.
Desirable
- The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.
- Experience with facilitating groups.
Knowledge
Essential
- The theory and practice of psychological assessment and therapies in relation to treatment of a range of mental health disorders including EMDR, (tf)CBT, CFT, and other trauma informed therapies.
- Risk assessment practice and procedures.
- The value of service user participation in the delivery and development of services.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the presentation of complex mental health problems arising from maternal trauma and loss.
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills with service users, carers and staff.
- Ability to work independently to maintain agreed caseload and activity levels.
Desirable
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
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).
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).
