Job summary
There is an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Specialist maternity counselor to join the St Mary’s , Manchester Foundation Trust, within the Managed Clinical Service.
The post holder will be working within a team to develop and co-ordinate the counselling service across the MCS, for parents who have suffered major complications of pregnancy and delivery. In addition to the clinical service, they will also be responsible for balancing, liaison, and administrative aspects of the counselling service. The post holder must demonstrate a commitment to providing psychological and therapeutic interventions for mothers/fathers and couples on a range of complex and sensitive issues specific to pregnancy, for example (not exclusive to) traumatic birth, tokophobia (fear of labour) pregnancy loss (including termination of pregnancy for foetal/maternal conditions and stillbirth, miscarriage and neonatal loss pregnancy loss), issues surrounding surviving twins/triplets, and support with next pregnancy
Main duties of the job
The Specialist maternity counselling services have been established for a number of years and provides bespoke counselling services to women and their position is ideal for an experienced and confident counselor with a passion for individualized and compassionate care.
The post holder will offer face to face or virtual psychological and emotional psychological support to identified families in line with MFT Values and behaviours. They will undertake assessments of all patients referred at any stage of pregnancy or postpartum, many of whom present with multiple and complex issues mental health concerns, psychiatric histories and/or safeguarding concerns) in order to establish appropriateness of treatment including emotional support as and when this is required and risk assessment. The post holder will carry a caseload of individual (in-patient and out-patient) and couple counselling, providing short, medium and longer term counselling and support as required. They will deliver specialist therapeutic counselling to patients including bereavement and pregnancy loss and next pregnancy support
About us
MFT is England’s largest NHS Trust with a turnover of & is on a different scale than most other NHS Trusts. We’re creating an exceptional integrated health & social care system for the 1 million patients who rely on our services every year.
Bringing together 10 hospitals & community services from across Manchester, Trafford & beyond, we champion collaborative working & transformation, encouraging our 28,000 workforce to pursue their most ambitious goals. We set standards that other Trusts seek to emulate so you’ll benefit from a scale of opportunity that is nothing short of extraordinary.
We’ve also created a digitally enabled organisation to improve clinical quality, patient & staff experience, operational effectiveness & driving research and innovation through the introduction of Hive; our brand-new Electronic Patient Record system which we’ve launched in September 2022.
We’re proud to be a major academic Research Centre & Education provider, providing you with a robust infrastructure to encourage and facilitate high-quality research programmes. What’s more, we’re excited to be embarking on our new Green Plan which will set out how MFT continues to play its part in making healthcare more MFT, we create and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, provide equal opportunities for career development that are fair, open and transparent, protecting your health and wellbeing and shaping the future of our organisation together.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, there is helpful advice and information available by searching on the NHS England website where you can also find out more about how to access the vaccination.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at
Were looking forward to hearing from you!
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not currently a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated, there is helpful advice and information available by searching on the NHS England website where you can also find out more about how to access the vaccination.
Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at
Were looking forward to hearing from you!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or above in counselling or psychotherapy
- BACP or accreditation with other recognised professional counselling/psychotherapy body
- Education to degree level
- Registered counsellor
Desirable
- Interest or working towards an MSC
- qualification in counselling supervision
Training and Experience
Essential
- perinatal experience in NHS, public or voluntary sector including short, medium and longer term work.
- Proven ability to work in multi-disciplinary setting
- Experience in managing crisis orientated and trauma situations
- Experience in counselling to couples and families with anxiety, trauma, PTSD
Desirable
- Experience in Obstetrics and Neonatology.
- Training and development of doctors, midwives and nurses in psychological care of patients in Obstetrics and Neonatology and couple counselling
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Experience in video and telephone counselling
- Understanding of the complex and sensitive psychological needs of bereaved parents
- Demonstrate understanding of professional issues relating to counselling / psychotherapy
- Ability to work autonomously whilst appreciating the role of clinical supervisor
- Exemplary personal standards of conduct and behaviour
- oKnowledge of the specialist psychological issues linked to pregnancy loss(stillbirth, miscarriage and neonatal death
Desirable
- Understanding of audit process
- computer skills
Attributes
Essential
- Compassionate and empathic
- Enthusiasm and inspirational skills.
- Commitment to continuing professional development
- Exemplary personal standards of conduct and behaviour
- Capacity to work with colleagues at all levels
Desirable
- Competent in the use of data bases and spread sheets.
- Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills
Values
Essential
- Clearly shows a commitment to patient care
Desirable
- Has read or attended national study days regarding counselling.
Senistivity
Essential
- Careful use of terminology
Car Driver
Essential
Abiltity to process
Essential
- Appearance of the job application/ layout/approach taken
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or above in counselling or psychotherapy
- BACP or accreditation with other recognised professional counselling/psychotherapy body
- Education to degree level
- Registered counsellor
Desirable
- Interest or working towards an MSC
- qualification in counselling supervision
Training and Experience
Essential
- perinatal experience in NHS, public or voluntary sector including short, medium and longer term work.
- Proven ability to work in multi-disciplinary setting
- Experience in managing crisis orientated and trauma situations
- Experience in counselling to couples and families with anxiety, trauma, PTSD
Desirable
- Experience in Obstetrics and Neonatology.
- Training and development of doctors, midwives and nurses in psychological care of patients in Obstetrics and Neonatology and couple counselling
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Experience in video and telephone counselling
- Understanding of the complex and sensitive psychological needs of bereaved parents
- Demonstrate understanding of professional issues relating to counselling / psychotherapy
- Ability to work autonomously whilst appreciating the role of clinical supervisor
- Exemplary personal standards of conduct and behaviour
- oKnowledge of the specialist psychological issues linked to pregnancy loss(stillbirth, miscarriage and neonatal death
Desirable
- Understanding of audit process
- computer skills
Attributes
Essential
- Compassionate and empathic
- Enthusiasm and inspirational skills.
- Commitment to continuing professional development
- Exemplary personal standards of conduct and behaviour
- Capacity to work with colleagues at all levels
Desirable
- Competent in the use of data bases and spread sheets.
- Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills
Values
Essential
- Clearly shows a commitment to patient care
Desirable
- Has read or attended national study days regarding counselling.
Senistivity
Essential
- Careful use of terminology
Car Driver
Essential
Abiltity to process
Essential
- Appearance of the job application/ layout/approach taken
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).