Clinical, Counselling or Practitioner Psychologist

The Perinatal Mental Health Service (PMHS) and Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS) is expanding and offering a new position for a psychologist to work in either or both teams.


Join our friendly and supportive multidisciplinary teams and psychology team, where you'll find an environment to grow professionally. With plenty of training opportunities, specialist supervision, and avenues for professional development, you'll thrive in our collaborative setting.


As part of large-scale national health service developments, we are dedicated to improving the quality of care and support for birthing people, their babies, and partners. By joining us, you'll have the chance to shape these new services, learn from current research and practice in the field, and attend training for specialist perinatal interventions.


This includes ante and/or post-natal individual or group interventions, compassion-focused therapy (CFT), video interaction guidance (VIG), eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive behavioural therapy(CBT), systemic therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.
The principal purpose of this job is to improve the psychological health and well-being of women using the Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Services. You'll be supported to train in evidenced-based perinatal mental health approaches, such as VIG, EMDR, Circle of Security, interpersonal psychotherapy, CBT, etc. The PMHS provide a specialist, multidisciplinary community mental health service for the assessment and treatment of pregnant and post-natal birthing people with severe mental health illness, including post-partum psychosis.


The MMHS is a smaller but expanding team and has been providing support to the community since March 2022. The aim of the service is to offer birthing people, babies, and their support network, psychologically informed assessment and interventions related to tokophobia, trauma, and/ or loss during pregnancy, birth, and/or post-natal experiences.


As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, continuing professional development and regular informal conversations around career progression, annual recognition awards to celebrate and recognise our colleagues achievements throughout the year and not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.


We work hard to make sure that inclusion is part of everything we do. We know that true inclusion means we're able to provide the best care for our patients and provide a fulfilling career for all our colleagues.


The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London - there is truly something for everyone


There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable.


We have six active and impactful colleague networks. These networks provide a safe space for colleagues to share their experiences and learn from one another, but also influence change across our trust:


Multicultural Network
Women's Network
Armed Forces' Network
LGBTQ+ Network
Lived Experience Network, for colleagues living with disabilities
Autistic Colleague Network

PMHS and MMHS provide specialist, multidisciplinary community mental health support to pregnant and post-natal birthing people, babies, and their support system. We work alongside people with lived experiences, midwives, health visitors, mental health practitioners, nursery nurses, doctors, and therapists. Psychologists develop and co-facilitate training, clinical supervision, reflective practice and consultation to a wide range of health professionals including maternity and neonatal services.


To meet appropriate standards of practice in the quality and timeliness of the service provided. The standards of practice will include meeting the standards defined by the HCPC and British Psychological Society (including the Division of Clinical Psychology)
To formulate and implement plans for the psychological treatment and/or management of patients mental health and the presenting problem(s), based upon the appropriate theoretical and conceptual framework of the patients problems, via the employment of methods based upon evidence-based practice and efficacy.
To provide consultation and advice to relevant significant others, such as partners, in order to improve the psychological health of people using the Service.
To provide consultation and advice and (where appropriate) clinical supervision to other professionals and agencies that provide services to adults with mental health difficulties.
To keep adequate clinical records in accordance with local trust policies and procedures.
To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual patients and to provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management, in line with local trust policies and procedures.
To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the care and to monitor and evaluate progress during both uni-and multi-disciplinary care.
Provide individual assessment and therapeutic interventions for cognitive, mental health, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Therapy may be one to one sessions, lasting approximately one hour, or group based interventions.
Communicate complex and sensitive information empathically, using language which is appropriate to the client group and considers any special needs.
Apply the knowledge acquired through further psychological training on psychological theory to therapy. Qualifications and Training
Qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist (D.Psychol. or equivalent), eligible for Chartered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist Status with the British Psychological Society and Registered with HCPC


Further training or experience in Perinatal Mental Health/ related area
Further training in at least one (other) psychological therapy, e.g. cognitive analytic psychotherapy, EMDR dialectical behaviour therapy.

Experience of work across service settings and agencies and participation in working parties.
Experience of applying therapeutic approaches to the work with people with complex mental health presentations

Professional and patient focussed approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members.
Planning & Organisation Skills
Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust