The Mother and Baby Unit is a 13-bed ward, providing evidence-based mental health treatment for both pregnant women and women with babies under one year old.

Our service is for women who present with an acute or relapsing mental illness e.g. schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, affective disorders. Additionally, and unique to the perinatal specialism, is the presentation of postpartum psychosis which is considered a psychiatric emergency.

Our aim in promoting recovery is twofold: a) for women to develop confidence in their vital role as mothers and to have a lasting return to their community and b) for babies to grow up to be physically healthy, emotionally capable and securely attached so that they can lead happy lives.

We are looking to recruit a band 7 or band 8a psychologist or psychotherapist to cover maternity leave on the Mother and Baby Unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital. The post holder will join a small team of psychologists offering individual, couple and mother-infant focussed intervene. We accept applications from pre-registration psychologists who have completed training.

Main duties of the job

he post holder will work alongside a team of psychologists including a consultant clinical psychologist, and a highly specialist clinical developmental psychologist in providing input to women admitted to the MBU, their babies and families.

A key focus of assessment and treatment is the mother-infant relationship, to ensure that the social, emotional and cognitive needs of the infant are being met. The MBU has pioneered the input of developmental psychology in supporting this work, through the use of video feedback and formal developmental assessment of infants.

The post holder will be supported to develop further competencies in these areas and take joint lead for this aspect of the clinical work.

About us

Benefits:

We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family.

• Generous pay, pensions and leave,we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
• Work life balance,flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
• Career development,There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
• Car lease,our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
• Accommodation,our staff benefits fromkeyworker housing available which is available on selected sites
• NHS discounts,with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.

Other benefits include:

• Counselling services
• Wellbeing events
• Long service awards
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Childcare vouchers
• Staff restaurants

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Personal Specification for full details on the main responsibilities.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• For psychologists: Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. (A/I)Counselling psychologist: MSc and PG Diploma in Counselling Psychology;
• Clinical psychologist: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent; Counselling psychologist: MSc and PG Diploma in Counselling Psychology; ? Additional training in infant development and in assessing the quality of parent-infant interactions and providing interventions such as videofeedback through formal postqualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist
• For psychotherapists:Post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field
• Masters level qualification in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP.
• Registered with the BPC/ UKCP or equivalent as Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the UKCP.

Desirable

• Qualification in understanding and assessing parent-infant interactions (e.g. CARE Index)

Experience Essential

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in perinatal mental health or infant mental health within the NHS
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in perinatal mental health or infant mental health
• Experience of providing interventions designed to enhance the mother-infant relationship such as video feedback
• Experience of conducting assessments of infant development and communication

Desirable

• Experience of working with couples or families
• Experience of conducting research in parent-infant interactions
• Experience of providing interventions for patients experiencing complex mental health issues, such as DBT or schema therapy

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
• To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews
• To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

334-PMOA-5142967-BT