Closing date: 29 October 2026

Job summary
NHFT have an exciting vacancy available for a CBT Therapist in the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS). This is an established award-winning team, which has expanded in line with the Long-Term Plan for Mental Health.

The SPMHS supports women/birthing people who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties in the perinatal period (from 12 weeks of pregnancy until 2 years postpartum). The psychology team provides evidence based psychological therapies and comprises of Clinical Psychologists, Applied Psychologists, and Psychological Therapists. The therapies provided may include EMDR, Trauma focused CBT, CBT for anxiety-based disorders (including OCD), Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Compassion focussed Therapy, Parent Infant Psychotherapy, and Family Therapy. Psychological interventions are provided on both a group and one-to-one basis and both remote and face-to-face interventions are available.

We are looking for a CBT Therapist who has an interest in working with women/birthing people experiencing perinatal mental health conditions including post-natal depression, post-partum psychosis, perinatal anxiety disorders, PTSD, and maternal OCD. This is a multi-disciplinary service with lots of opportunities for joint working and service development.

Main duties of the job
Following a period of induction and training, the post holder will provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention for women/birthing people and their families who are under the care of the SPMHS. The post-holder will receive supervision from a senior psychologist / psychological therapist within the team and will support the development of psychologically informed care across the multidisciplinary team and wider perinatal mental health local pathway. The post holder will be involved in multi-disciplinary team discussions to inform psychological thinking throughout the service. The post holder will be expected to work closely with all members of the SPMHS and network of Psychologists and Psychological Therapists in NHFT and contribute to service, practice, and clinical governance developments, both within the team and the wider network. They will contribute to audit, policy and service development, and research within the area served by the service. The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.

About us
NHFT is an Outstanding rated integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

NHFT welcomes applications from people, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status or pregnancy or maternity status.

Job responsibilities
Please ensure you read the job description and person specification attached and that your supporting information reflects the relevant skills and experience you have, as your application will be shortlisted against these criteria.

Please note we are a countywide service, providing both face-to-face and remote intervention. Ability and willingness to travel for work is essential there are two bases for SPMHS in Campbell House and Rectory Road. We also regular work out of family hubs and childrens centres as well as providing home visits.

There will be opportunities for further training via local and regionally delivered training programmes. We have strong links with the East Midlands Regional Perinatal Network. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to the development of a locally agreed programme that delivers training to health and social care professionals in Northamptonshire. We have developed an exciting induction programme to meet the Perinatal Competency Framework and provide regular supervision and training for all our staff.

Details
Date posted: 15 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 270-TH436-MH

Essential

• British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) level 2 accredited post graduate diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
• Current registration with a professional body such as NMC, HCPC, or similar
• Full UK Driving License.
• Has access to a vehicle which can be used for work purposes OR has the ability to travel as required to meet the needs of the service.
• Extensive experience of working in a community setting with people experiencing a range of mental health difficulties.
• Knowledge and experience of evidence-based psychological techniques and treatment protocols for mental health difficulties that might be experienced in the perinatal period.
• Experience of delivering psychological therapy on both a one-to-one and a group basis as a qualified CBT therapist.
• Experience of assessing and managing risk, including liaising with other agencies when required.

Desirable

• A recorded registered qualification in nursing, social work, occupational therapy, art therapy or a psychological therapy.
• Training in other models of psychological therapy such as EMDR, compassion focussed therapy, trauma-focussed CBT, acceptance and commitment therapy, video interaction guidance, or couples therapy.
• Specialist perinatal mental health training.
• Experience of supervising others.
• Experience of delivering teaching or training.
• Experience of supporting individuals with complex and/or severe mental health difficulties in a community or an inpatient setting.
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge and experience of supporting individuals with perinatal mental health difficulties using specialized psychological therapies relevant to the perinatal period.
• Experience of contributing to service development projects within the NHS.
• Knowledge and experience of child and adult safeguarding processes and inter-agency working with families.

Employer contact: Kirsty Harris, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Kirsty-Anne.Harris@nhft.nhs.uk, 03000270480

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.