Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Clinical Psychologist

The closing date is 23 November 2025

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled, experienced and enthusiastic Senior Clinical Psychologist/CBT Therapist/Psychotherapist to join EPUT's perinatal psychological services for mothers, birthing people and their infants. The Perinatal Mental Health Service (PMHS) provides high quality maternal mental health and wellbeing support and intervention to mothers, birthing people and their infants across Essex.

PMHS are pleased to offer a 12 month Fixed Term contract for a 0.7wte 8a Senior Clinical Psychologist/CBT Therapist/Psychotherapist post. PMHS consists of five perinatal hubs across Essex, with a staff mix comprising of Nursing, Psychiatry, Psychology and specialist roles such as nursery nursing, social work and OT. PMHS works with a range of services to support a mother's emotional wellbeing including maternity and health visiting, primary and secondary care mental health services. PMHS aims to provide streamlined, timely and effective care for mothers and birthing people in the perinatal period. This post will be in our North West Locality (Epping Forest, Harlow, Uttlesford), based at The Derwent Centre. There are opportunities to shape a role to meet part time and flexible working arrangements.

Main duties of the job

There will significant opportunities to develop your supervision, teaching and consultation skills and to further develop the psychology service to meet the needs of mothers and their infants. We are looking for candidates with experience of supervision and management of more junior Psychological therapy colleagues, as the post involves management of a small and highly competent team within a team. Integration of psychological thinking and supporting staff wellbeing is highly valued, and we are looking for candidates with experience of close MDT working to support the PMHS staff as they manage highly challenging caseloads with complex risk and safeguarding issues.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

  • Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  • Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  • If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
  • We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
  • Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  • Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  • £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
  • Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

  • Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed

Details

Date posted

07 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year per annum pro rata incl. 5% Fringe High Cost Allowance

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

364-A-9506

Job locations

Derwent Centre

1 Hamstel Road, Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

CM201BU


Job description

Job responsibilities

This role will provide highly specialist assessment and intervention to mothers and their infants. The role with the Perinatal Mental Health Service (PMHS) will be to provide evidence based perinatally informed psychological therapies to mothers through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period up to the infant age of 2 years.

The role also requires the delivery of supervision and consultation to the PMHS as well as supporting the ongoing service development of both perinatal psychology and the perinatal service.There will be an expectation for the postholder to lead on pathway and interface development with local stakeholders and partner agencies.

The postholder will provide clinical leadership and support to the PMHS and support the development of junior psychologists and non-psychology staff. There is also an expectation to support the PMHS with staff wellbeing initiatives through the use of reflective groups and teaching and upskilling of work stress resilience approaches

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role will provide highly specialist assessment and intervention to mothers and their infants. The role with the Perinatal Mental Health Service (PMHS) will be to provide evidence based perinatally informed psychological therapies to mothers through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period up to the infant age of 2 years.

The role also requires the delivery of supervision and consultation to the PMHS as well as supporting the ongoing service development of both perinatal psychology and the perinatal service.There will be an expectation for the postholder to lead on pathway and interface development with local stakeholders and partner agencies.

The postholder will provide clinical leadership and support to the PMHS and support the development of junior psychologists and non-psychology staff. There is also an expectation to support the PMHS with staff wellbeing initiatives through the use of reflective groups and teaching and upskilling of work stress resilience approaches

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional and doctoral training in Clinical/Counselling psychology as accredited by the British Psychological Society. HCPC registered
  • Practising Psychotherapist who is fully qualified registered member of the BACBP

Desirable

  • Qualifications in trauma therapies such as trauma focused CBT or EMDR

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in NHS therapy or mental health services

Desirable

  • Experience of working in MDT

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of supervising junior therapy staff

Desirable

  • Experience of service development and interface working

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of working with complex mental health presentations

Desirable

  • Experience of working with perinatal mental health presentations
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional and doctoral training in Clinical/Counselling psychology as accredited by the British Psychological Society. HCPC registered
  • Practising Psychotherapist who is fully qualified registered member of the BACBP

Desirable

  • Qualifications in trauma therapies such as trauma focused CBT or EMDR

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in NHS therapy or mental health services

Desirable

  • Experience of working in MDT

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of supervising junior therapy staff

Desirable

  • Experience of service development and interface working

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of working with complex mental health presentations

Desirable

  • Experience of working with perinatal mental health presentations

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Derwent Centre

1 Hamstel Road, Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

CM201BU


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Derwent Centre

1 Hamstel Road, Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

CM201BU


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Practitioner Psychologist

Dr Alex Westcott

alexandra.westcott1@nhs.net

07467140114

Details

Date posted

07 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year per annum pro rata incl. 5% Fringe High Cost Allowance

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

364-A-9506

Job locations

Derwent Centre

1 Hamstel Road, Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

CM201BU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)