Job summary An exciting opportunity has arisen for a compassionate Counselling/Clinical Psychologist or CBT Therapist to join the newly established and dedicated Hertfordshire Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS), Perinatal Trauma and Loss Care (Perinatal TLC). We don't want you to miss out so we'd like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date - Apply now. Band 7 to Band 8a development post will be considered. We welcome applications from candidates who are in the final stages of training and seeking their first qualified position. Main duties of the job This fixed-term position offers a great opportunity for clinicians looking to gain experience in perinatal mental health, whether they are exploring the field for the first time or considering a future career in this area. Perinatal TLC is a small, close-knit team, comprising of psychological therapists, a mental health midwife and consultant clinical psychiatrist. About us Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country. Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services. The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Our Trust values are: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional. These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be? Date posted 10 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £48,270 to £62,626 a year per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS) Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Part-time Reference number 367-SS-9300 Job locations Prospect House, Peace Drive, Watford, WD17 3XE Peace Drive Watford WD17 3XE Job description Job responsibilities To support the development the Perinatal TLC service, creating a responsive and cohesive team delivering exceptional clinical care to those who are experiencing severe to moderate mental health difficulties in the context of perinatal loss, birth trauma and/or are experiencing tokophobia, in line with national policy. To ensure that service development is driven by trauma-informed perspectives. To provide supervision and management to psychology staff within the Perinatal TLC and to offer training to key stakeholders. To ensure the provision of specialist high-quality and evidence-based psychological assessment and therapies to clients referred to Perinatal TLC. Experience across a range of therapeutic models is essential including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other models such as Compassion Focussed Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR, Systemic Therapy and Mindfulness. Funding for additional training may also be available, and applicants should be willing to participate in training for therapeutic interventions, such as EMDR and/or Prolonged Grief Disorder Treatment. To promote, monitor and prioritise equality of access and services offered to the local population. To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research. To propose and implement relevant policy within the area served by the MMHS. Job description Job responsibilities To support the development the Perinatal TLC service, creating a responsive and cohesive team delivering exceptional clinical care to those who are experiencing severe to moderate mental health difficulties in the context of perinatal loss, birth trauma and/or are experiencing tokophobia, in line with national policy. To ensure that service development is driven by trauma-informed perspectives. To provide supervision and management to psychology staff within the Perinatal TLC and to offer training to key stakeholders. To ensure the provision of specialist high-quality and evidence-based psychological assessment and therapies to clients referred to Perinatal TLC. Experience across a range of therapeutic models is essential including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other models such as Compassion Focussed Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR, Systemic Therapy and Mindfulness. Funding for additional training may also be available, and applicants should be willing to participate in training for therapeutic interventions, such as EMDR and/or Prolonged Grief Disorder Treatment. To promote, monitor and prioritise equality of access and services offered to the local population. To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research. To propose and implement relevant policy within the area served by the MMHS. Person Specification KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE Essential Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, or fully completed training as a Counselling Psychologist. Some experience working as a qualified practitioner with clients with severe mental illness within a mental health setting Experience of working within rehabilitation or adult community mental health services Current full registration with HCPC Training in risk assessment and management. Desirable Post-qualification training in assessment and intervention models in one or more of the following: CBT, Systemic Therapy, Family Interventions. Experience of supervising qualified clinical staff from a range of professional backgrounds including HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologists AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE Essential Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, including those with physical health conditions and or long-term conditions across the whole life span's presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse. Knowledge of whole life span development and the impact on emotional, psychological and mental well-being Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two evidence based psychological interventions including CBT, Systemic Therapy or Family Interventions Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment within the context of multidisciplinary care Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the fields of Clinical / Counselling Psychology. Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration Ability to provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks. Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures Awareness of current NHS initiatives and developments. Knowledge of legislation and the national agenda in relation to adult mental health and psychological working in long term conditions, such as personality disorder. Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues relating to clients in mental health crisis Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team. Experience of service quality monitoring e.g. clinical audit, evaluative research, etc. Experience of teaching, training and/or offering supervision Experience of service development/project management. COMMUNICATION SKILLS Essential Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to communicate orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/ or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Ability to work and communicate therapeutically with clients and their families consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating. Ability to work and communicate as a responsible participating member of a multi-disciplinary team and the ability to respect and value other members' contributions and to encourage participation of all involved. Ability to keep accurate and complete records of activities and communications consistent with legislation, policies and procedures. Ability to alert line manager / team when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users of services or the public. Ability to time manage effectively and to work under pressure and to prioritise a clinical workload. ANALYTICAL SKILLS Essential Positive problem-solving approach Ability to critically evaluate and review developments made by others to determine if and how they could be applied within own area of work. Person Specification KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE Essential Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, or fully completed training as a Counselling Psychologist. Some experience working as a qualified practitioner with clients with severe mental illness within a mental health setting Experience of working within rehabilitation or adult community mental health services Current full registration with HCPC Training in risk assessment and management. Desirable Post-qualification training in assessment and intervention models in one or more of the following: CBT, Systemic Therapy, Family Interventions. Experience of supervising qualified clinical staff from a range of professional backgrounds including HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologists AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE Essential Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, including those with physical health conditions and or long-term conditions across the whole life span's presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse. Knowledge of whole life span development and the impact on emotional, psychological and mental well-being Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two evidence based psychological interventions including CBT, Systemic Therapy or Family Interventions Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment within the context of multidisciplinary care Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the fields of Clinical / Counselling Psychology. Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration Ability to provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks. Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures Awareness of current NHS initiatives and developments. Knowledge of legislation and the national agenda in relation to adult mental health and psychological working in long term conditions, such as personality disorder. Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues relating to clients in mental health crisis Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team. Experience of service quality monitoring e.g. clinical audit, evaluative research, etc. Experience of teaching, training and/or offering supervision Experience of service development/project management. COMMUNICATION SKILLS Essential Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to communicate orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/ or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Ability to work and communicate therapeutically with clients and their families consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating. Ability to work and communicate as a responsible participating member of a multi-disciplinary team and the ability to respect and value other members' contributions and to encourage participation of all involved. Ability to keep accurate and complete records of activities and communications consistent with legislation, policies and procedures. Ability to alert line manager / team when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users of services or the public. Ability to time manage effectively and to work under pressure and to prioritise a clinical workload. ANALYTICAL SKILLS Essential Positive problem-solving approach Ability to critically evaluate and review developments made by others to determine if and how they could be applied within own area of work. 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). Additional information 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 Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Address Prospect House, Peace Drive, Watford, WD17 3XE Peace Drive Watford WD17 3XE Employer's website https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)