Job summary
We are seeing a keen and enthusiastic Specialty Doctor to join our Specialist Mother and Baby Mental Health Service (SMABS) - 10 PAs.
SMABS is a community perinatal mental health service commissioned service with the Bradford District Care Foundation Trust. Across the catchment of Bradford, Airedale and Craven there are approximately 8,000 live births per year. The main maternity hospital sites being Bradford (6,000 births) and Airedale (2,000 births).
SMABS accepts referrals from any sector of the health service, midwives, health visitors, GPs, CPNs, Obstetricians, Psychologists and Psychiatrists. It also accepts referrals from social workers and workers in the voluntary sector (after discussion with GP). It is not possible for all patients referred to be assessed face-to-face, but if this is not offered, the team will, if indicated, provide the referrer with specialist advice via e-mail as well as detailed information leaflets.
Come and create the future with us!
Closing date: 2nd November 2025
Shortlisting W/C 3rd November 2025
Interviews: TBC
Main duties of the job
o To contribute to the provision of a community perinatal psychiatric service within the defined catchment area to women with serious perinatal mental health problems, who are pregnant or up to 1 year postpartum, or referred for preconception advice.
o To provide expertise in the bio-psycho-social assessment, formulation, diagnosis, and management with complex mental health needs in the perinatal period. To carry out these assessments and clinical contacts in a variety of settings. To carry out comprehensive risk assessment, risk formulation and management plans. To work collaboratively and compassionately with women and their families.
o To contribute to and work as part of the multidisciplinary team to ensure a comprehensive approach to patient care.
o To work in close liaison with the regional inpatient Mother and Baby Unit especially with regard to care planning and discharge planning.
o To work collaboratively with other parts of the General Adult Psychiatry Service and with other specialist services (including CAMHS) and partner services.
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 partners
We 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
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
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 & Eligibility
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
- Fully registered with the GMC with a license to practice at the time of appointment
- Experience in General Adult Psychiatry or Perinatal, having completed at least four years full time post-graduate training (or equivalent)
- Approved clinician status and under S12 OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
Desirable
- Additional post-graduate qualification MD/PhD/MSc in relevant fields eg. psychological interventions
- Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists or equivalent qualification (in accordance with Royal College of Psychiatrists guidelines)
- In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
Clinical Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience and good knowledge in general adult psychiatry including working in community setting and other multi-disciplinary settings.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to communicate effectively and empathically with patients, carers and relatives.
- Able to communicate effectively and clearly with patients and team members
- Able to demonstrate a compassionate, holistic approach to the care of the mother, infant and family in a patient focused approach
- Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty
- Able to make decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others
- Able to take full responsibility for independent management of patient
- High standard of oral and written communication skills in English.
- Good IT skills to record, retrieve and review electronic records
Desirable
- Experience in perinatal community service, MBU or relevant area eg infant mental health
- Experience working in a range of psychiatric specialities and sub-specialities including working in community setting and other relevant to post, multi-disciplinary settings within NHS or comparable services.
- Evidence of complex case management
- Evidence of risk assessment and management
- Evidence of knowledge and experience of use of the Mental Health Act
- Evidence of knowledge and experience of the Mental Capacity Act
- Proficiency in another language
Academic Skills & Learning
Essential
- Ability to work well in a team and across teams
- Treats colleagues, patients and relatives with dignity and respect. Ability to inspire hope, support recovery and make a difference
- Ability to teach clinical skills
- Evidence of commitment to Continuing professional development and Clinical audits
- Able to use and appraise clinical evidence
- Ability to develop a service in collaboration with senior colleagues, responding to feedback, learning and achieving targets relevant to the service.
Desirable
- Good liaison and negotiation skills.
- Experience planning and delivering teaching to medical students, trainees and other clinical staff groups.
- Experience designing audit
- Completed audit leading to change in practice
- Reflective practice, supervision or experience in Balint groups. That the doctor has awareness of the emotional nature of the work and how this can affect care and compassion.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Eligibility
Essential
- MB BS or equivalent medical qualification
- Fully registered with the GMC with a license to practice at the time of appointment
- Experience in General Adult Psychiatry or Perinatal, having completed at least four years full time post-graduate training (or equivalent)
- Approved clinician status and under S12 OR able to achieve within 3 months of appointment
Desirable
- Additional post-graduate qualification MD/PhD/MSc in relevant fields eg. psychological interventions
- Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists or equivalent qualification (in accordance with Royal College of Psychiatrists guidelines)
- In good standing with GMC with respect to warning and conditions on practice
Clinical Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience and good knowledge in general adult psychiatry including working in community setting and other multi-disciplinary settings.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to communicate effectively and empathically with patients, carers and relatives.
- Able to communicate effectively and clearly with patients and team members
- Able to demonstrate a compassionate, holistic approach to the care of the mother, infant and family in a patient focused approach
- Able to manage clinical complexity and uncertainty
- Able to make decisions based on evidence and experience including the contribution of others
- Able to take full responsibility for independent management of patient
- High standard of oral and written communication skills in English.
- Good IT skills to record, retrieve and review electronic records
Desirable
- Experience in perinatal community service, MBU or relevant area eg infant mental health
- Experience working in a range of psychiatric specialities and sub-specialities including working in community setting and other relevant to post, multi-disciplinary settings within NHS or comparable services.
- Evidence of complex case management
- Evidence of risk assessment and management
- Evidence of knowledge and experience of use of the Mental Health Act
- Evidence of knowledge and experience of the Mental Capacity Act
- Proficiency in another language
Academic Skills & Learning
Essential
- Ability to work well in a team and across teams
- Treats colleagues, patients and relatives with dignity and respect. Ability to inspire hope, support recovery and make a difference
- Ability to teach clinical skills
- Evidence of commitment to Continuing professional development and Clinical audits
- Able to use and appraise clinical evidence
- Ability to develop a service in collaboration with senior colleagues, responding to feedback, learning and achieving targets relevant to the service.
Desirable
- Good liaison and negotiation skills.
- Experience planning and delivering teaching to medical students, trainees and other clinical staff groups.
- Experience designing audit
- Completed audit leading to change in practice
- Reflective practice, supervision or experience in Balint groups. That the doctor has awareness of the emotional nature of the work and how this can affect care and compassion.
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).
