Clinical/Counselling Psychologist: Maternal Mental Health: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

We are delighted to advertise this varied and innovative fixed term post in the Birth in Mind, Maternal Mental Health Service, a regional sevice based at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust (STHFT). In our latest staff survey, 95% of staff report feeling valued and cared for and that their role makes a difference.

We aim to attract a committed, diverse, and talented workforce who are passionate about delivering psychological care within an acute hospital setting and adapting approaches to meet the needs of our services and service users. In return, we offer a supportive, dynamic work setting where you can link with colleagues and develop your career.

We welcome applications from HCPC registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologists with skills and experience relevant to this context; support will be given for anyone returning to the workplace. We also welcome applications from trainees due to complete their course in 2026.

As a department, we recognise that diversity of workforce extends our skills, experiences, and ideas, thereby adding value and creativity to our services. The department has an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) group and welcomes applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and the LGBTQ+ community.

Main duties of the job

Within this diverse role there will be opportunities for multidisciplinary team working. Working with patients and team members, there is potential to have a far-reaching positive impact both directly and indirectly, making a huge difference to outcomes and quality of life for patients. There may also be opportunities to work with patients with other physical health conditions.

Candidates completing research element of DClinPsy or not yet registered with HCPC:A temporary Band 6 Trainee Clinical or Counselling Psychologist role would only be considered where candidates have not yet acquired HCPC registration following completion of training or where there is a delay due to not fully completing the research element of their DClinPsy but are expected to complete within a reasonable timeframe and have completed all other aspects of the course. You would be required to provide evidence of course completion in the form of a results transcript from University before a start date could be arranged. The temporary contract will be dependent on the estimated time before HCPC registration is achieved. Once HCPC registration is achieved within the timeframe agreed, the contract will then be changed to a Band 7 post. This is in accordance with National course agreements; in this event, the post-holder will be required to keep their Line Manager updated about research progress.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• (Band 7) Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996), or counselling psychology as accredited by the HCPC, including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the British Psychological Society
• (Band 7) Professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• (Band 7) Eligible for Practitioner Full Membership of the BPS Divisions of Clinical or Counselling Psychology or working towards this.
• (Band 6) Undertaking Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (with anticipated completion date), including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the British Psychological Society.
• (Band 6) On completion of above training, eligibility for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• (Band 6) On completion of training, eligible for Practitioner Full Membership of the BPS Divisions of Clinical or Counselling Psychology)

Desirable

• (Band 6&7) Pre-qualification training and qualifications in other fields of applied psychology.

Experience

Essential

• (Band 6&7) Working with a wide variety of presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity
• (Band 6&7) Specialist psychological assessment and treatment of patients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings.
• (Band 6&7) Experience of working with patients across the lifespan

Desirable

• (Band 6&7) Experience of working in a physical health setting.
• (Band 6&7) Experience of working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary setting.
• (Band 6&7) Experience of teaching and/or training.
• (Band 6&7) Experience of delivering psychologically informed groups.
• (Band 6&7) Experience of the application of the practice of psychology in different cultural contexts.

Further Training

Essential

• (Band 7) Doctoral or equivalent level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology
• (Band 6/7) Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and HCPC.
• (Band 6) On completion of training, Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.

Desirable

• (Band 6&7) High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological or psychotherapeutic approach.
• (Band 6&7) Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g., personality disorder, chronic or terminal illness, complex psychological or physical problems, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• (Band 6&7) Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management
• (Band 6&7) Skills in working effectively with other professionals in multidisciplinary settings
• (Band 7) Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• (Band 6&7) Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
• (Band 6&7) Ability to establish and maintain professional credibility at all levels of the organisation

Desirable

• (Band 6&7) Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
• (Band 6&7) Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• (Band 6&7) Highly developed ability to communicate effectively (orally and in writing) highly complex and/or clinically sensitive information to patients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• (Band 6&7) Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise workload
• (Band 6&7) Positive attitude, sensitivity, and commitment to working with patient groups affected by medical/physical health conditions
• (Band 6&7) Ability to deal with frequent exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances
• (Band 6&7) Ability to maintain intense concentration on a frequent basis

Closing Date: 25 August 2026