Job summary
The Newborn Services at MFT provides specialist care for premature and critically ill babies across three sites including the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, St Mary's (Oxford Road Campus), Wythenshawe and North Manchester Neonatal Units. This post will be based across all three sites. We have an excellent reputation for the delivery of high-quality nursing and medical care, education and research. We are committed to continually improving the quality of the services we provide to the babies and families.

The neonatal units are busy care environments, the work is challenging both professionally and personally, but the satisfaction of making a real and lasting difference to the lives of the babies and families is significant. We are passionate about maintaining our high quality care and would like to recruit a highly committed, dynamic, motivated and experienced counsellor to join our team.

Main duties of the job
You will need to be passionate about the role and willing to work effectively as part of a large team. You need to have excellent organisation skills. You will work closely with your team members to provide support and advice.

You will work as part of the Newborn Services Psychological Support Service. You will be responsible for balancing clinical, teaching/training, liaison and administrative aspects of the Newborn Services Psychological Support Service. You must demonstrate a commitment to providing crisis psychological interventions often 'in the moment' for parents/ care givers and siblings on a range of complex and sensitive issues.

This support will encompass both bereavement issues (e.g., end of life care, surviving twins/triplets) and non-bereavement issues (e.g., receiving difficult news, poor prognoses and stresses associated with neonatal intensive care. You will be required to provide psychological support to neonatal staff in order to promote a supportive atmosphere in a stressful environment.

About us
Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Documents to download heading.

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place , simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Documents to download heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

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, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?
A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police thats considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check
Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS
At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december

DBS Update Service
Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person Specification
Education and Professional Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma/Degree in counselling / psychotherapy which includes the ability to work integratively
• BACP/UKCP accreditation or accreditation with other recognised professional counselling/psychotherapy body
• Safeguarding Children qualification (Level 3)

Desirable

• Education to Degree Level
• supervisor's Qualification

Experience
Essential

• At least 4 years bereavement experience in NHS, public or voluntary sector including short, medium and longer term work
• Significant experience in Neonatology / baby loss / child loss
• Experience in counselling on a wide range of problems to individuals, couples and families E.g. anxiety, depression, bereavement, trauma and PTSD
• Experience in managing crisis orientated situations

Desirable

• Experience in Training and development of doctors, midwives and nurses in psychological care of patients in Neonatology

Skills and Aptitudes
Essential

• Understanding of the complex and sensitive psychological needs of bereaved parents
• Knowledge of the specialist psychological issues linked to intensive care/neonatal/child loss, surviving of twin/triplet, end of life care
• Understanding and experience of working with the wide range of ethical, moral and cultural issues that affect individuals and couples
• Ability to cope with difficult issues, and distressed parents presenting with a range of complex and sensitive issues on a flexible, unplanned basis
• Ability to work under pressure and acknowledge personal limitations
• Ability to work autonomously and prioritise workload
• Ability to work as part of a team

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Compassionate and Empathic
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills
• Commitment to continuing professional development of self and others

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).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).