NHFT have an exciting vacancy available in the perinatal psychology team of the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS) for a new Psychological Therapist or Family Therapist. This is an established award-winning team, which has expanded in line with the Long-Term Plan for Mental Health.

The SPMHS supports women/birthing people who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties in the perinatal period (from 12 weeks of pregnancy until 2 years postpartum). The psychology team provides evidence based psychological therapies and comprises of Clinical Psychologists, Applied Psychologists, and Psychological Therapists. The therapies provided may include EMDR, Trauma focused CBT, CBT for anxiety-based disorders (including OCD), Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Compassion focussed Therapy, Parent Infant Psychotherapy, and Family Therapy. Psychological interventions are provided on both a group and one-to-one basis and both remote and face-to-face interventions are available.

We are looking for a Psychological Therapist or Family Therapist who has an interest in working with women/birthing people experiencing perinatal mental health conditions including post-natal depression, post-partum psychosis, perinatal anxiety disorders, PTSD, and maternal OCD. This is a multi-disciplinary service with lots of opportunities for joint working and service development.

Main duties of the job

Following a period of induction and training, the post holder will provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention for women/birthing people and their families who are under the care of the SPMHS. The post-holder will receive supervision from a senior psychologist / psychological therapist (dependent on applicant) within the team and will support the development of psychologically informed care across the multidisciplinary team and wider perinatal mental health local pathway. Advice and consultation on psychological care and treatment for the women/birthing people we support will be offered to colleagues and carers and the post holder will be involved in multi-disciplinary team discussions to inform psychological thinking throughout the service. The post holder will be expected to work closely with all members of the SPMHS and network of Psychologists and Psychological Therapists in NHFT and contribute to service, practice, and clinical governance developments, both within the team and the wider network. They will utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development, and research within the area served by the service. The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.

About us

NHFT is an Outstanding rated integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire

NHFT welcomes applications from people, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy or maternity status.

We would encourage applications from groups who are currently underrepresented in the organisation. In particular, applications from disabled people (with both visible and non-visible disabilities), people from black and minority ethnic communities and lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT) people.

NHFT is committed to building a diverse workforce, ensuring staff are treated fairly at work and ensuring all staff have the learning and development they need on equality in order to undertake their job role.

We aim to use monitoring information provided by our staff and by job applicants to ensure that we do not discriminate in employment and to use this information to plan any Positive Action to address inequality.

Job description

Job responsibilities

There are a significant number of psychologists employed within the Trust working across different specialties and there are excellent opportunities for professional development through regular monthly psychology meetings and active peer supervision networks. The Trust enjoys good links with both Oxford and Leicester Doctoral training courses.

We are proud of the Psychology provision within the Trust, and feedback has consistently been that we have a well-developed Psychology network in the Trust which offers a strong sense of professional identity, support and strategic influence. Psychology and psychological approaches are highly valued in the Trust, and Psychologists have the opportunity to shape clinical and organisational strategy as well as provide clinical services. We believe that supporting and involving our staff means that they enjoy their work more, and that our clinical services are better as a result.

Training and experience of working with individuals with a broad range of psychological and psychiatric problems within a core professional role, alongside a strong interest in working in perinatal services is essential. Experience of working in the Perinatal Mental Health field is desirable but not required. We would expect the applicant to have developed their knowledge of Perinatal Mental Health Conditions, prevalence rates, treatment interventions, and Safeguarding Policies and Procedures, although formal training in these areas is not required. Although perinatal experience is not essential, we do expect that the applicant has an interest in this area, can demonstrate knowledge of perinatal services, and can evidence transferable skills. They must also be able to work effectively with a range of professionals from other services (e.g. health visiting, Maternity, Childrens Services and the Third Sector services).

There will be opportunities for further training via local and regionally delivered training programmes. We have strong links with the East Midlands Regional Perinatal Network. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to the development of a locally agreed programme that delivers training to health and social care professionals in Northamptonshire.

All the clinical psychologists within the team have completed or are undertaking specialist Perinatal Clinical Psychology Training provided by NHSE. This opportunity may be available in future to clinical psychologists joining the services.Our psychological therapists can access additional training in psychological interventions for perinatal women to develop their individual skill sets.

The SPMHS also offers pre-conception advice for woman with a known mental illness wishing to conceive and provide training and education to professionals alongside experts by experience.

If you want to work as part of our expanding specialised multi-professional team, we want to hear from you.

We have developed an exciting induction programme to meet the Perinatal Competency Framework and provide regular supervision and training for all our staff.

The service offers a hybrid model of face to face and online working.

Please ensure you read the job description and person specification attached and that your supporting information reflects the relevant skills and experience you have, as your application will be shortlisted against these criteria.

The post holder will help with assisting with service improvement and developing pathways of care to meet the service needs in line with National and Local strategies and evidence-based best practice.

The post holder will assist with service improvement and developing pathways of care to meet the service needs in line with National and Local strategies and evidence-based best practice. The service is particularly focusing on the development of parent-infant pathways and family therapy interventions at this time.

The post holder will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and may be called upon to work in various community settings (including womens homes and other community venues).

NHFT supports three staff equality networks to help us to develop our equality practice, as well as providing peer support for staff. These are:

NHFT Staff Disability & Allies Network / NHFT BME Staff Development Network / NHFT LGBT & Allies Network

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

• British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) Level 2 accredited Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or a recorded/registered doctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology
• A recorded registered qualification in one of the following - nursing, social work, occupational therapy, arts therapy or a psychological therapy - plus further post graduate qualification training in a psychological therapy which may be as Family Therapy, EMDR, Trauma focused CBT, CBT for anxiety and OCD, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Compassion focused Therapy and Parent Infant Psychotherapy
• Current professional registration with professional body such as NMC, HCPC or similar

Desirable

• Training in other methods of psychological therapy
• Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Training

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of working in a community setting with people experiencing complex presenting difficulties.
• Experience of working with a broad range of psychological and psychiatric problems within a core professional role.
• Advanced knowledge of psychological models of complex mental health presentations, and up-to-date techniques and treatment protocols relevant to psychological therapy with these groups.
• Knowledge and experience of evidence-based practice and clinical governance in relation to perinatal mental health.

Desirable

• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
• Experience of working therapeutically with groups
• Experience of working with severe and complex mental health difficulties during the perinatal period

Employer details

Employer name

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Campbell House Northampton or Rectory Road Rushden

Campbell Square Northampton or Rectory Road Rushden

Northampton or Rushden

NN1 3EB

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

270-TF337-MH