Assistant PsychologistinColchesterinColchesterPUBLISHED WED 19 MAR 2025

Job Overview

Are you passionate about supporting those who have experienced perinatal loss? Then now is the time to come and work for the Essex Maternal Mental Health Service, By Your Side, as an Assistant Psychologist. We are looking for a highly motivated Assistant Psychologist with a genuine interest in Maternal Mental Health and with experience of facilitating/co facilitating psychoeducational groups.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist to join the Essex Maternal Mental Health Service ( MMHS), By Your Side which integrates maternity and psychological therapy for women and/or birthing parents experiencing mental health difficulties arising from, or directly related to, their maternity experience.

By Your Side Provides Therapeutic Service For Accessing The 5 Maternity Units Across Essex To Women And/or Birthing Parents Who Has a Moderate To Severe Mental Health Response After Suffering a Perinatal Loss, This Includes

Miscarriage (including recurrent/multiple miscarriages)

Still birth

Termination

Neonatal death (in the UK this is the death of a live-born baby that occurs within 28 days of birth)

The By Your Side clinical team includes clinical psychologists, psychological therapists and specialist maternal mental health midwives. The ability to work flexibly and positively in multidisciplinary teams is therefore essential.

Main duties of the job

The work requires flexibility, pragmatism, and creativity. The role is predominantly online, however there is an exception to travel across Essex once per month as and when needed.

Our dedicated team is based across Essex using a hybrid work model, and work Monday to Friday, 9-5pm – with flexible working available if required.

You will also interface with the wider maternity context, including the Perinatal Mental Health Service and the voluntary and charity sector provisions. There will be a need to evaluate the performance of the team over the time.

The post holder will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team and be responsible for facilitating/co-facilitating a group intervention and supporting clinicians in their work. The post holder will also support the wider multi-disciplinary team with service governance and quality improvement projects and assist with service development, promotion and evaluation. There will also be the opportunity to undertake some clinical duties, such as running regular focus groups with Lived Experience Ambassadors.

This an exciting time to join the team as we continue growing and developing to deliver a high-quality, trauma-informed supportive service for bereaved individuals.

Working for our organisation

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer
  
  
  

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Please note - staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered ‘suitable alternative employment’ to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Important Professional References

Make sure that as a part of your application you have professional references with business contract information covering your last three year employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.

As a newly appointed employee you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post, the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Applications for Job Share are positively welcomed.

Equal Opportunities Employer

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on or email and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email acco