The opportunity has arisen for a suitably qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to apply for a permanent Band 7 Community Perinatal Psychology post within this Service. The successful applicant will work within the Hillingdon Community Perinatal Mental Health Team.
This position is open to applicants who have relevant pre‑ and post‑qualification experience and can demonstrate a well‑developed interest in and understanding of perinatal mental health problems.
The applicant must have excellent clinical skills and experience with a wide variety of patient groups across the whole life span. In addition to a focus on maternal mental health, specialist perinatal mental health services also consider the family context and the infant‑and‑parent‑infant relationship. Promoting the emotional and physical wellbeing and development of the mother and infant are central to the work of all professionals within high‑quality perinatal mental health services.
We are looking for a well‑rounded and experienced practitioner with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, who is keen to work pro‑actively within multidisciplinary teams and who is confident, motivated, flexible and able to show initiative. The candidate must be robust, resourceful and willing to work in an environment which can be demanding and challenging. Appropriate training, support and regular supervision will be provided by the MDT and a Senior Perinatal Psychologist.
Clinical Responsibilities
* Provide assessments of patients referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources.
* Contribute to assessments of women/birthing people with specialist mental health disorders, including formulations of predisposing, protective, precipitating and perpetuating factors.
* Implement care plans for the formal treatment and/or management of a woman/birthing person’s problems (with consideration of her baby’s needs) based upon an appropriate conceptual framework, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.
* Be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams, employing methods grounded in the principles and techniques of a range of theoretical approaches. These will include long and short‑term interventions as appropriate to need.
* Evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes which have shaped the individual, family or group.
* Provide specialist expertise, advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to women/birthing people’s formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan.
* Contribute directly and indirectly to a framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all women/birthing people treated within the service, across all settings and agencies providing services for women/birthing people, their children and their families.
* Undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual women/birthing people and their families and provide advice to other professions on risk assessment and risk management in relevant cases.
* Communicate in a skilful and sensitive manner information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients under their care and monitor progress during the course of both uni and multi‑disciplinary care.
* Work under supervision from the team lead, the consultant perinatal psychologist and with case management support from the consultant psychiatrist.
Managerial Responsibilities
* Provide clinical supervision and performance management of clinical psychology or other professional trainees and of psychology assistants if applicable.
* Be involved, if appropriate, in short‑listing and interviewing.
Teaching, Training and Supervision Responsibilities
* Receive weekly or bi‑weekly (dependent on experience) clinical professional supervision from a senior perinatal clinical psychologist.
* Develop skills in the area of professional post‑graduate teaching, training and supervision and provide supervision to other MDT work as appropriate.
* Contribute to the pre‑ and post‑qualification teaching of psychological approaches and sharing clinical skills, as appropriate.
* Provide advice, consultation and training to professionals (including children’s social workers) working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings.
* Gain additional specialist experience and skills relevant to clinical psychology and/or the service as agreed with the professional psychology manager.
* Provide professional and clinical supervision of trainee and assistant clinical psychologists.
Research and Audit Responsibilities
* Contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the team’s operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service valuation and audit.
* Advise both service and professional management on aspects of the service where clinical and/or organisational matters need addressing.
* Utilise theory, evidence‑based literature and research to support evidence‑based practice in individual and group work, in some instances, alongside other team members.
* Undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research.
* Undertake project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision.
* Contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes.
* Contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in Psychology/Perinatal Psychotherapies across and beyond the service.
Administration and Clinical Recording Responsibilities
* Enter required data into the Trust’s patient administration systems and make use of databases as directed by managers in the course of clinical duties.
* Use computer and computer software to prepare reports, presentations and documents relevant to working duties.
* Undertake administrative tasks in line with service requirements, making appropriate use of administrative support available.
Employer Information
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.
We are proud of our diversity and continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
This advert closes on Thursday 21 May 2026.
#J-18808-Ljbffr