Clinical or Counselling Psychologist Maternal Mental Health Service

The Bedfordshire and Luton Ocean service have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and reflective Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, or EMDR therapist, to work with pregnant and postnatal women who have moderate to severe mental health needs. This position is a 12 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave, with the possibility of a permanent post currently under discussion. For internal candidates the possibility of a secondment or job-share can be considered. The post will involve a blend of face to face and remote working but some work may require the ability to travel between sites and offer home visits, so a car owner/driver is essential.

The Ocean service provides specialist, trauma-informed care for women who have experienced loss and trauma during their fertility or maternity journey. The team consists of a principal clinical psychologist, who is the clinical lead, psychological therapist, two specialist midwives, an assistant psychologist, and an administrator. We are a psychologically-led service and were nominated in 2022 for the ELFT Improving Service User Experience award.

We are looking for someone who is able to engage positively and sensitively with people with mental health difficulties and their support networks, and demonstrate an awareness of the experiences and challenges that face those experiencing mental health difficulties in the perinatal period.

The post holder is responsible for the provision of highly specialist, co produced, psychological input to women who have experienced loss and trauma through their maternity experience, particularly those vulnerable to poor health outcomes through poverty and other social inequalities, disabilities and physical health conditions and will also manage other psychological therapists. Psychological input includes highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions delivered within acute hospital and community settings as required.

The characteristics of the core population receiving direct services are women who have lost a baby through recurrent miscarriage, termination for fetal abnormality, still birth, and neo natal death, in addition, the service will provide for women who have experienced birth trauma, whose needs can not be met by IAPT services or perinatal mental health team. The core population will be women who are experiencing emotional distress that requires specialist support and psychological intervention, but do not require a multi-disciplinary service or have high levels of risk. Work with partners may also be included where indicated by the formulation.

Service users seen by the post holder will include those who have experienced high levels of distress and complex mental health difficulties.

The post holder will contribute to the development of broader level programs and interventions which promote population health.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Please kindly refer to the job description attached to this vacancy for more information.