Clinical Research Fellow

Giving HOPE and minimising trauma when parents are separated from their baby close to birth: Developing a Good Practice Framework for MMHS

The ESMI-III (Effective Implementation of Maternal Mental Health Services)research team at KCL, have been working with Lancaster University to understand how Maternal Mental Health Services (MMHS) can support the development and delivery of a care pathway for women who have previously experienced or are at risk of separation at birth due to safeguarding concerns. Specifically, how the Giving HOPE intervention can be embedded within this system.  Initial findings from the ESMI-III study have highlighted several challenges to implementing a pathway for this group of women.

In October 2023, we held an online workshop to share learning and good practice from the ESMI-III, Born into Care and three MMHS sites. The workshop was attended by almost 300 participants, predominantly NHS clinicians and MMHS staff.  The webinar provided an opportunity for MMHS and other peri-natal mental health clinicians to hear how the HOPE Boxes could be used to support women in their services.

In this role we are seeking an experienced maternal mental health clinician to bring together the learning so far on implementation of this care pathway within the MMHS, and develop a good practice framework for MMHS to support women at risk of separation at birth due to safeguarding concerns.

Roles include:

- Synthesis of the learning so far from the mapping exercise, focus groups and co-design workshops with MMHS involved in the HOPE box pilot

- Workshop preparation and delivery with psychologist leads from MMHS with a focus on their current offers

- Develop ‘blueprint’ detailing care pathway and interface with other services (including Specialist Perinatal Mental Health, Recurrent Care Services, Maternity Services)

- Liaising with the research teams and King's College London and Lancaster Universities to ensure timely dissemination of findings

Educated to a doctoral level or equivilant

Qualified Clinical Psychilogist

Clinical Psychologist

Experince of service development and delivery

Experience of working as a psychologist in a Maternal Mental Health Service

Experience of providing psychological interventions for women at risk of seperation from their baby due to safeguarding concerns