Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist (Perinatal)

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced Practitioner Psychologist with a passion for perinatal care to join our specialist community perinatal mental health service in a part time (0.5 WTE) capacity.

We are dedicated to high quality, evidence-based practice. The post holder will have a proven interest in working with parents and their infants and knowledge of infant and adult mental health. Appropriate specialist clinical and professional supervision and opportunities for training and development will be made available.

They will join an experienced and friendly team of psychological therapists who provide a range of highly specialist psychological interventions for service users under the care of the Perinatal Mental Health Team. A key aspect of this role is to provide highly specialist psychological care to parents (and their infants) experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties. An ability to assess and manage risk in this context is crucial and a sound understanding of working with clients presenting with complex emotional needs, the challenges presented during the perinatal period and the interventions available for that.

Main duties of the job

This post offers an opportunity to join the Perinatal Mental Health Service and be involved in service developments in line with the NHS Long Term Plan. The opening is for a Band 8a (0.5 WTE) Highly Specialist Team Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.

If appointed, you will join a passionate and experienced MDT and support the provision of our community based specialist psychology and psychotherapy services for women who are pregnant, or postnatal and are presenting with a wide range of complex and severe mental health problems, as well as systemic support for their partners/significant others. The role involves providing specialist psychological assessment and treatment as well as attending ward and community MDT meetings, triaging referrals, assessing and signposting to other services, and liaising with midwifes, obstetricians, and primary, secondary and third sector care providers.

There will be opportunities for attending specialist training and forums, providing supervision and consultation as well as developing an area of specialist interest and one's own style of working.

There will be a strong focus on supporting the continued development of a psychologically informed trauma focus of care within the service including working alongside our lead psychologist for complex needs to develop a care pathway for this client group within the perinatal service, as well as utilising research skills for audits, service evaluation, and service development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care.

To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client’s problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy in the treatment of mental health conditions as recommended by NICE guidelines.

To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining several provisional hypotheses.

To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options considering both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based care plans.

To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals, as appropriate, to assist in the formulation, diagnosis and treatment of clients presenting with mental health needs related to the perinatal period.

To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies.

To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to monitor progress during both uni- and multi-disciplinary care, integrating the contribution of other professionals on the basis of client need.

To work jointly with psychological therapists based in community teams, to plan and hand over the psychological assessment and treatment of patients that may continue after discharge from the Maternal Mental Health Service.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.