Job summary
Psychological Therapist/Parent-Infant Therapist
Little Minds Matter: Bradfords Infant Mental Health Service
Secondment opportunity, until 31st March 2026. (Applicants must have authorisation from their line manager before applying).
Part time - 30 hours per week
This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the ongoing development and delivery of a specialist team supporting families experiencing difficulties with the parent-infant relationship.
'Little Minds Matter' is Bradford's Infant Mental Health Service. The service is currently jointly commissioned through the Integrated Care Board, the Start for Life programme and the Children and Families Trust.
This post will be funded through the Start for Life funding.
We would love to hear from you if you have a passion for early intervention, prevention and an enthusiasm for infant mental health. In this role, you will play a key part in working alongside a highly motivated team delivering innovative attachment-based services to families and practitioners alike. The service is committed to raising awareness of and addressing the wider social determinants of mental health and is aligned with a social justice approach.
Closing- 11th June 2025
Shortlisting- 12th June 2025
Interview- 24th June 2025
Main duties of the job
To work within a multi-disciplinary pathway delivering effective mental health care to carers and their infants from conception until a baby's second birthday.
o To support a caseload of individuals and families experiencing attachment, bonding, or parent-infant relationship issues across Bradford City and district, making autonomous clinical decisions about own professional practice.
o To provide consultation, support and advice on best practice and recognised clinical practice supporting parents and families in pregnancy and with children 0-2 years.
o To support the adherence to relevant national guidance and best practice on parent-infant relationships and infant mental health.
o To contribute to the service's on-going development, including evaluation, research, development activities and development of links with other key early years agencies.
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen - We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partnersWe will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
The Trust reserves the right to close this position early if a significant number of applications are received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Overview Continued-
This post would suit a relevantly qualified and registered clinician who is interested in working with infants and their families. The post holder will have experience assessing and offering interventions around relationship difficulties, managing risk and working in a community setting. An interest in working in the area of infant mental health is required, however, previous experience in family and / or adult mental health settings will have provided the post holder with transferrable skills. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be a team player with good organisational skills who is able to manage a varied workload of clinical work and consultation.
This is a unique opportunity for you to join a highly committed team to:
-Work with families during pregnancy and up to a childs second birthday, supporting parent-infant relationships
-Work collaboratively with colleagues across maternity, family, mental health and voluntary services
-Develop skills in consultation and leadership
-Improve professional and public recognition of infant mental health
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Overview Continued-
This post would suit a relevantly qualified and registered clinician who is interested in working with infants and their families. The post holder will have experience assessing and offering interventions around relationship difficulties, managing risk and working in a community setting. An interest in working in the area of infant mental health is required, however, previous experience in family and / or adult mental health settings will have provided the post holder with transferrable skills. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be a team player with good organisational skills who is able to manage a varied workload of clinical work and consultation.
This is a unique opportunity for you to join a highly committed team to:
-Work with families during pregnancy and up to a childs second birthday, supporting parent-infant relationships
-Work collaboratively with colleagues across maternity, family, mental health and voluntary services
-Develop skills in consultation and leadership
-Improve professional and public recognition of infant mental health
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology, as accredited by the British Psychological Society and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
- Relevant honours degree, or recognised equivalent with other related pre-training professional qualifications or equivalent. With Doctorate Level 6 year ACP accredited training in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy which includes a minimum of 4 years' full time clinical training and one's own intensive analysis, and full member of Association of Child Psychotherapists(ACP).
- Completed a Masters qualifying level Family and Systemic Psychotherapy training course accredited by AFT and be registered or eligible to register with UKCP.
- Specialist post graduate training to masters level or equivalent in a psychotherapeutic modality - including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Systemic Therapy, Art Psychotherapy- AND: Accreditation (or working towards) from a recognised Psychological Therapy body e.g. BABCP, BACP, UKCP, HCPC via: (a) Professional route; requiring previous mental health qualification e.g. Clin. Psych., RMN, Dip. SW, or Psychology degree/similar followed by Post Graduate Diploma in Children and Young People's IAPT Therapy - Under 5's. or (b) where applicable, the KSA (knowledge, skills and attitude) route (e.g. with the BABCP
Training
Desirable
- Leadership training and development
- Relevant specialist clinical courses/training
- Further post graduate training and evidence of continued professional development
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with parents/families
- Experience of working collaboratively with other professionals within the health economy and from other organisations.
- Experience of working to address health inequalities.
- Experience and understanding of working within safeguarding procedures, guidelines and processes.
Desirable
- Experience of working with parent-infant relationships.
- Previous experience of working with perinatal difficulties.
Knowledge
Essential
- Research awareness in the field of infant mental health.
- Understanding of the determinants of health and health inequalities.
- Knowledge and experience of child development.
- Leadership and management awareness.
Desirable
- Interventions to support parent - infant relationships.
- Involvement in clinical research programmes.
Skills
Essential
- Able to contain explore and formulate an understanding of high levels of distress both directly with clients and families and indirectly via supervision, consultation or case reviews with other staff.
- Ability to work in a baby centred way.
- Case prioritisation and workload management or self and others.
- Risk assessment and risk management.
- Able to make autonomous decisions using judgement and to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable
Attitude/Approach
Essential
- Passion for infant mental health and working preventatively to promote long term health and mental health outcomes.
- Aware of inequalities and discrimination, and the importance of working with a culturally responsive approach.
- Enthusiasm and ability to work as part of a team and maintain positive working relationships.
- Willing to develop skills and aptitudes through professional development and appraisal.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology, as accredited by the British Psychological Society and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
- Relevant honours degree, or recognised equivalent with other related pre-training professional qualifications or equivalent. With Doctorate Level 6 year ACP accredited training in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy which includes a minimum of 4 years' full time clinical training and one's own intensive analysis, and full member of Association of Child Psychotherapists(ACP).
- Completed a Masters qualifying level Family and Systemic Psychotherapy training course accredited by AFT and be registered or eligible to register with UKCP.
- Specialist post graduate training to masters level or equivalent in a psychotherapeutic modality - including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Systemic Therapy, Art Psychotherapy- AND: Accreditation (or working towards) from a recognised Psychological Therapy body e.g. BABCP, BACP, UKCP, HCPC via: (a) Professional route; requiring previous mental health qualification e.g. Clin. Psych., RMN, Dip. SW, or Psychology degree/similar followed by Post Graduate Diploma in Children and Young People's IAPT Therapy - Under 5's. or (b) where applicable, the KSA (knowledge, skills and attitude) route (e.g. with the BABCP
Training
Desirable
- Leadership training and development
- Relevant specialist clinical courses/training
- Further post graduate training and evidence of continued professional development
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with parents/families
- Experience of working collaboratively with other professionals within the health economy and from other organisations.
- Experience of working to address health inequalities.
- Experience and understanding of working within safeguarding procedures, guidelines and processes.
Desirable
- Experience of working with parent-infant relationships.
- Previous experience of working with perinatal difficulties.
Knowledge
Essential
- Research awareness in the field of infant mental health.
- Understanding of the determinants of health and health inequalities.
- Knowledge and experience of child development.
- Leadership and management awareness.
Desirable
- Interventions to support parent - infant relationships.
- Involvement in clinical research programmes.
Skills
Essential
- Able to contain explore and formulate an understanding of high levels of distress both directly with clients and families and indirectly via supervision, consultation or case reviews with other staff.
- Ability to work in a baby centred way.
- Case prioritisation and workload management or self and others.
- Risk assessment and risk management.
- Able to make autonomous decisions using judgement and to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable
Attitude/Approach
Essential
- Passion for infant mental health and working preventatively to promote long term health and mental health outcomes.
- Aware of inequalities and discrimination, and the importance of working with a culturally responsive approach.
- Enthusiasm and ability to work as part of a team and maintain positive working relationships.
- Willing to develop skills and aptitudes through professional development and appraisal.
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).
