Job summary
- Main area
- Ocean Psychology
- Grade
- 8a
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed term contract)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 363-BED7736724
- Employer
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- John Bunyan House, Bedford Health Village
- Town
- Bedford
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Ocean Senior Psychologist band 8A
8a
ELFT has long been recognised as a centre of excellence for mental and health care, innovation and improvement. So it is a very exciting time for you to come and work for us. Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving 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.
Job overview
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. For internal candidates the possibility of a secondment or job-share can be considered.
The Ocean service provides specialist, trauma-informed care for women or birthing people 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 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 team has its administrative base in John Bunyan House in Bedford. 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.
Main duties of the job
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 Talking Therapies 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.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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 Talking Therapies 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.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). OR have an NHS Core Profession (Nurse, Allied Health Profession, Medical Doctor, Social Worker) or demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills and attitudes AND Have completed a minimum of one year of recognised full-time (or equivalent part-time) psychological therapy or counselling training leading to a qualification, certification or accreditation recognised by a relevant professional or regulatory body plus relevant specialist short courses.
Desirable criteria
- Post Qualification Training in EMDR or CBT for trauma.
- Supervisor training.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Assessed experience of working as a qualified Clinical or Counselling psychologist at a specialist level or assessed experience of working as a qualified psychotherapist, including post qualification experience as an adult psychotherapist, preferably in the NHS or similar public health provider.
- Good understanding of other professionals’ theoretical perspectives of this client group.
- Experience of providing specialist psychological assessment, including cognitive and neurological assessment, and treatment of service users utilising at least two main models as appropriate (including EMDR or tfCBT) across the full range of care settings and clinical severity including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient.
- Experience of providing teaching, training and clinical supervision to junior psychologists and other professions.
Desirable criteria
- The application of psychologically informed interventions in different cultural contexts including working with interpreters.
- Experience with facilitating groups.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- The theory and practice of psychological assessment and therapies in relation to treatment of a range of mental health disorders including EMDR, (tf)CBT, CFT, and other trauma informed therapies.
- Risk assessment practice and procedures.
- The value of service user participation in the delivery and development of services.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the presentation of complex mental health problems arising from maternal trauma and loss.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills with service users, carers and staff.
- Ability to work independently to maintain agreed caseload and activity levels.
Desirable criteria
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Amanda Spong
- Job title
- Principal Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07584 554059
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