About this role
Job summary
The Brockington Parent and Baby Unit (PBU) provides specialist inpatient care for expectant and new mothers experiencing moderate to severe and complex perinatal mental health difficulties. The service is part of MPFT Perinatal Services and works closely with the South Staffordshire Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Team and the Shropshire Perinatal Community Mental Health Team.
We are seeking an experienced Clinical Psychologist to lead and develop psychological provision within the PBU. We are looking for a motivated, creative and skilled professional with strong leadership abilities and a passion for supporting families during the perinatal period.
The successful candidate will lead psychology provision on the Unit, coordinate psychological interventions, work closely with the multidisciplinary team and contribute to service development. They will join a supportive psychology team and receive regular supervision, CPD and peer support.
The role sits within a strong psychological structure across MPFT Perinatal Services, with opportunities for research, teaching and trainee supervision. The PBU is an eight-bed unit accepting national referrals. Travel may be required to meet service needs, and flexible and hybrid working options are available.
You can also view the recruitment video that gives further information about the role and service.Psychologist roles within Brockington Parent and Baby Unit
Main duties of the job
As the Principal Clinical Psychologist, you will be responsible for the systemic provision of high quality highly specialist perinatal clinical psychology service to women, babies and families of the service teams, within the Brockington Parent and Baby Unit. You will clinically lead psychological provision and contribute to the further development of the clinical psychology service. You will provide specialist assessment, treatment and consultancy services for individuals and their families with moderate to severe mental health difficulties during the perinatal period.
A key part of your role will be to supervise and support the psychological assessment and therapy provided by other psychologists and other clinical members of the team who provide psychologically based care and treatment. You will work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systemic governance of psychological practice within the service/team.
Clinical Psychologists play an integrative role in the MDT and are valued and well supported by colleagues. While this post will be primarily focused on the leadership of the psychological care within the service and the direct delivery of psychological support to individual families (both directly and by supervising and supporting MDT colleagues), there will also be scope for delivering training and consultation to partner agencies and being involved with service development.
About us
Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.
We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.
We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.
We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.
Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications
Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.
Job description Job responsibilities
Whilst an inpatient unit, the leadership team are aware of the importance of flexible working and support this wherever possible. If this is something you would like to discuss prior to application please reach out to discuss this further.
This post may be considered as a developmental opportunity for someone to progress from an 8a to an 8b through an individualized development plan, which would be anticipated to take up to 2-years.Please make it clear on the application if you wish to be considered for a preceptorship role.
A 2-year secondment will be considered for candidates who obtain approval from their current line managers. Please indicate in your supporting statement if you would like to be considered for these opportunities.
For full details please see the Full Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training Essential
Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology (or its equivalent), as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology. Post-doctoral training in one or more additional areas of specialised psychological practice directly relevant to perinatal mental health. Post-doctoral training in one or more additional areas of specialised psychological treatment approaches for Parent-Infant Mental Health and attachment. Post qualification training for role of clinical supervisor to Doctorate trainees in clinical/counselling psychology. Eligible for chartered status with the British Psychological Society. Currently registered with HCPC.
Desirable
Membership of a relevant professional body Additional post graduate level training in one or more therapeutic treatment approaches e.g. cognitive therapy, systemic/family therapy, EMDR
Experience Essential
Experience of working as a qualified clinical/counselling psychologist with people with perinatal mental health problems. Experiencing of working with mothers, infants, partners and families. Experience of working in both inpatient and community settings. Experience of adapting psychological therapy to the perinatal period. Experience of delivering psychological therapies working with mothers and infants together to support bonding and attachment Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for client's psychological care and treatment within the context of multidisciplinary care plans. Experience of teaching, training and providing professional/clinical supervision to others (including qualified psychologists and other professionals).
Desirable
Experience of providing clinical consultation to other professional staff. Experience of working in the NHS. Experience of planning and/or implementing perinatal MH service developments in accordance with local and national policy objectives. Training in EMDR or Trauma Focused CBT. Training in Video Interactive Guidance. Experience of delivering attachment based interventions to support the promotion of Infant Mental Health. Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
Skills, knowledge and abilities Essential
Skilled in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management and their application within inpatient/community settings. Knowledge of maternal mental health, infant mental health and parent infant relationships. Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in the perinatal period addressing both perinatal and infant mental health difficulties. High level skills in the assessment and management of risk to both the mother and baby. Well-developed skills to communicate effectively, both written and orally, complex highly technical and sensitive information to clients, families, carers, and lay and professional people both within and outside the NHS. Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology and its application to service evaluation. Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and HCPC.
Desirable
Demonstrated skills in providing liaison consultation and clinical supervision to professional and non-professional groups. Knowledge of legislation relevant to the client group and mental health.
Personal Attributes Essential
The ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism when dealing with highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical assault. Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and hold the stress of others. Ability to develop productive therapeutic relationships with a range of clients. Proven ability to develop and sustain positive working relationships with colleagues from all disciplines and agencies. Enthusiasm and interest in developing psychologically-informed services in the Perinatal period. Ability to provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly challenging situations and severely challenging behaviours.
Desirable
Ability to demonstrate leadership and management skills.
Other Essential
Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
Desirable
Personal experience of mental health problems.
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.
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 Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address Brockington Parent and Baby Unit, St Georges Hospital
Corporation Street
Stafford
ST16 3AG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.mpft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)