About this role
Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a substantive band 6 Counsellor post working in the new Maternal Mental Health Service within the Paediatric and Women's Health Psychology service at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Trust. The post is available on a 0.7 wte basis.The paediatric and women's health psychology service is a thriving department, which is committed to child and family centred care. There are opportunities for professional development through regular CPD, involvement in service improvement projects, and supervision. The paediatric and women's health psychology service is part of the wider department of Psychology in Healthcare, enabling collaboration and support with colleagues.
Interview Date Wednesday 25 November 2026 26 Hours 15 Minutes/Week You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a compassionate, creative and skilled individual to provide sessions around anticipatory grief and to those bereaved families following the loss of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth. The post holder will work independently but also be part of the bereavement team that provide care within a busy tertiary unit. The pregnancy loss might be unexpected or expected following confirmation of foetal anomalies. The post would suit someone who has some counselling experience following pregnancy loss. Counselling may be offered on a face-to-face/virtual meeting or over the telephone depending on the wishes of the family.
The successful applicant will become an integral member of the team. We offer flexible working arrangements, in return we ask for your flexibility in meeting service need. This role which will further enhance the bereavement care we provide to families. The post holder will have responsibility for maintaining accurate and relevant client records.
About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Freeman Hospital Newcastle Dental Hospital Cramlington Manor Walks Urgent treatment centres Newcastle Fertility Centre Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria Northern Genetics Service These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description Job responsibilities
The post holder will provide counselling for women during or following pregnancy who have self-referred as part of a bereavement pathway or have been referred by healthcare professionals to the Maternal Mental Health Service. You will act as a mental health resource to women, birthing people and their families through difficult and emotional times. You will be part of the new NUTH Maternal Mental Health Service and work into the bereavement pathway. You will be working in a supportive team environment where you can benefit from flexible working whilst supporting families by providing specialist bereavement counselling support.
To be successful in this role you will be registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). You will need to hold current registration to practice as a qualified counsellor. Experience of providing a counselling service within a healthcare setting and managing your own caseload is essential. Working with people experiencing trauma and anxiety is also essential. Experience of working in a maternity setting with couples and families would be desirable. The post holder requires well developed communication and relationship skills.
Appropriate IT skills to enable smooth working within modern NHS environment including the use of electronic patient records is essential to the role. Knowledge of the Clinical Governance agenda this role requires will help strengthen the bereavement care pathway the families find themselves engaged with. The bereavement counsellor will a have a unique role in providing psychological and emotional support for women, birthing people and their families.
Whilst Newcastle Hospitals are a forward thinking and highly innovative organisation, the use of Third-Party Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a risk to the integrity of our Recruitment & Selection processes. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual application or to the recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education Essential
oDiploma level qualification in counselling on a BACP/BICA accredited course oEligible for membership of the BACP and/or BICA oCurrent professional registration to practice as a qualified counsellor (BACP/UKCP/BICA)
Desirable
oPost graduate qualification in Counselling oBICA accreditation
Knowledge & Experience Essential
oExperience of providing a counselling service within a healthcare setting oExperience of dealing with clients presenting multiple and complex issues oExperience of prioritising and managing own caseload oExperience of maintaining clear and up to date client records oEvidence of recent/relevant CPD oExperience of providing in house training oEvidence of contribution to service development oAwareness of and commitment to Clinical Governance agenda
Desirable
oExperience or working in a Maternity setting oAudit and/or change management/service development oExperience of working with groups oLocal healthcare/ mental health system, social and community networks oAcute hospital structures oSupervisor/mentor training relevant to professional practice
Skills & Abilities Essential
oWell-developed communication and relationship skills oAppropriate IT skills to enable smooth working within modern NHS environment including email and excel and patient information system oAbility to meet the travel requirements
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship 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).
Employer details Employer name The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Trustwide
317 Trustwide
NE1 4LP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)