Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video Job overview We are looking for a ( hours per week) Assistant Psychologist to assist the Maternal Mental Health Service Principal Psychologist/Service Lead in the development of the Maternal Mental Health Service. Their role will include data collation and analysis as well as looking at the development of clinical groups, some direct work with patients, and support of the qualified staff in the team. Main duties of the job The NELFT Maternal Mental Health Service works with women who are experiencing psychological distress in relation to their perinatal experience. This can include experiences such as Birth Trauma; Perinatal Loss (including Miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, medical termination for any reason, and babies removed from their parents care through children services involvement); fear of giving birth (referred to as Tokophobia), and those individuals that feel marginalised by their maternity experience (for example assisted pregnancy, IVF, those from LGBTQ+ communities etc)
The post holder will be able to work flexibly, with flexible working patterns subject to the agreement of the principal psychologist and service lead.
The key responsibilities of this role come under the following areas: Clinical skills and practice; Service development; Teaching and training; Work with other agencies; Applied research and service evaluation Working for our organisation Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.
They are:
We are kind.
We are respectful.
We work together with our communities.
These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period.
High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15%of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,714 and a maximum payment of £5,941 - per annum, pro rata for part time).
Use of AI
Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI
during the recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities Maternal Mental Health Services aim to provide an assessment and psychological interventions service for women and their partners experiencing birth trauma, tokophobia and perinatal loss such as miscarriage, stillbirth, medical termination, and those that have had a loss of a baby through removal by children’s social care. This is part of the NHS Long Term Plan for Perinatal Services.
The post holder will work within the team alongside qualified and registered psychological practitioners to support the provision of a specialist psychological service to identified patients attending the community Maternity Mental Health Services (MMHS) who are presenting with psychological distress and mental health concerns, in relation to maternal mental health related conditions. This includes referrals from various Maternity and Gynaecology teams, such as the Sub Fertility, Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU), and perinatal loss such as miscarriage, stillbirth, medical termination, birth trauma, tokophobia and those who have had a loss of a baby through removal by children’s social care.
The post holder will contribute to and support, the specialist maternity mental health (MMHS) psychological therapy service. A key component of this post will be working closely with the Principal Psychologist in MMHS, the Highly Specialist Psychological Therapist in MMHS for PPIMHS, and other specialist professionals and services.
The post holder will support the qualified staff in setting and running support and information sessions for clients referred to the service. This may be on an individual or group basis. The post holder will be working within a busy community setting, and will need to show a sound ability to working within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures.
The post holder will show an active interest and enthusiasm in service development and to utilise research skills for audit, policy and research within the area served by the teams/services.
The post holder will achieve this by assisting the qualified psychologists and psychological therapists to:
(i) provide psychological services (assessment and intervention) to people experiencing difficulties with their mental health in relation to maternity-related challenges.
(ii) prepare and co-facilitate evidence-based psychological interventions for people referred to the service on an individual, family or group basis.
(iii) work on service development and quality improvement initiatives relevant to psychological services.
All duties will be carried out within the limits detailed in the British Psychological Society’s ‘Guide to the Employment of Assistant Psychologists’. The post holder will receive regular clinical supervision and line management support from a qualified and registered psychologist.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application. Person specification Qualifications Essential criteria • Psychology degree (*eligible for British Psychological Society Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (1) Experience Essential criteria • Interest in work with women and their partners experiencing psychological distress in relation to birthrelated trauma. (1) • Interest in developing and implementing the evidence base for psychological interventions (1) • Interest in service development and quality improvement (1) Desirable criteria At least six months NHS experience (1) Knowledge Essential criteria An awareness of NHS Plan, NICE guidelines and clinical governance priorities (1) • Knowledge of psychological therapies relevant to supporting clients using the service (1) Skills Essential criteria Willingness and ability to develop further skills and knowledge relevant to the post (1) • Basic awareness of IT and IT skills (1) • Good written and presentational skills (1) • Ability to think flexibly, be responsive, and work under supervision (1) Benefits
We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT: A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity.
Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.
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