Clinical Psychologist in Maternal Mental Health

This highly valued post is available due to staff progression and is offering an exciting opportunity for someone already working at 8A, or ready to progress to this level.

This post offers the prospect of developing highly specialist skills within the small Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Maternal Mental Health team (MMH).This team offer therapy and support for those experiencing perinatal loss, birth trauma, pregnancy after a loss and tokophobia. MMH works alongside the larger Perinatal team and liaison between the two is substantial. This post would be attractive for someone who values close working with a small psychologically led, trauma informed team.

The development of Specialist Perinatal services over the last 5 years has been considerable and therefore the opportunities for learning and development are wide ranging. The psychological approaches are varied, including CBT for trauma, EMDR, CFT, approaches for traumatic loss and encompass individual, couple and systemic work as appropriate.

The post holder will have the opportunity to undertake training for their own development and to improve service provision. There is also a strong ethos in the team of effecting systemic change and therefore supporting local stakeholder services with training, consultation, liaison and community outreach.

The main duties will predominantly be to provide a therapeutic service to MMH clients and offer a specialist perinatal, psychological framework to MDT colleagues and stakeholders.

You will be expected to play a significant role in contributing to service development within the key areas for MMH services which includes systemic change and support for maternity services. The postholder will also be expected to work on improving access and therefore reach out to the local community as part of this.

You would also be encouraged to develop and support appropriate audit, service evaluation and research projects as needs require. The perinatal frame of mind is a vital part of the service, therefore you would be working with individuals, couples, parent-infant relationships and within a whole family approach.

The postholder will be expected to hold a clinical caseload and can develop clinical skills within the Perinatal frame. Clinical supervision of psychological therapy, and MDT colleagues will be an essential part of the role, as well as providing consultation and supervision for the wider team and other stakeholder services according to need and as time allows.You will be expected to regularly supervise trainee Clinical Psychologists on placement and provide essential support to enable a positive placement experience.