Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

It is an extraordinary time for specialist perinatal mental health services across the UK with growing national and local focus on service development and expanding access for new and expectant mums. The national ambition is to improve outcomes for an increasing number of women over a 5-year period through investment in resources and broadening of interventions available. The perinatal period includes from conception up until one year following the birth of the baby and is a critical time for prevention and treatment for women at risk of serious mental ill health. Providing a unique opportunity for intervention and change, improving outcomes for mums, their families and ultimately society, in the longer term.

Main duties of the job

• To work jointly with care coordinators from CMHTs with a small complex and challenging caseload of pregnant women or those with an infant up to one year old.
• Conduct both single handed and joint high quality mental health assessments as required to identify mental health needs for people referred to the Perinatal Mental Health Service.
• Take responsibility for the management of a defined client caseload as identified in consultation with the Team Manager, Clinical Team Leader and team.
• Utilise the Care Programme Approach (CPA) as defined within the Trust Policy and to act as lead practitioner in the care of women under the perinatal service.
• To ensure that all Trust Perinatal service users have a perinatal care plan, this is implemented. This may require attending and contributing to pre and post-birth meetings.
• Ensure risks are effectively managed and interventions are effectively prioritised.
• Maintain effective individualised care through the assessment of health and social care needs, planning, implementation and evaluation of care plans co-produced with service users.
• Utilise the Information Management and Technology system of the Trust to maintain effective communication and clear, concise and contemporaneous documentation for individualised client care.
• Establish therapeutic relationships with individual clients and to work with fathers, partners and significant others to provide appropriate education, training and support.

About us

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who share 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.

Job responsibilities

The Essex Perinatal Mental Health Service operates from five hubs across Essex. The hubs are situated around the 5 acute hospitals. The bases are in the areas of Rochford, Laindon, Harlow, Chelmsford and Colchester and provide specialist assessment and intervention for women at risk of moderate to serious mental illness or complex disorders within the county of Essex. The successful candidate will be based at a hub and work from South Essex service providing care as a perinatal Practitioner, holding a caseload for women and their families in the perinatal period of conception up until one year following the birth of the baby.

This is a wonderful development opportunity for experienced RMN, OT or social worker interested in perinatal mental health and wishing to develop specialist knowledge and practice in this rewarding field. We significantly invest in our perinatal practitioners to foster expertise in our team providing specialist training packages and development opportunities in line with emerging evidence and standards for parental mental illness. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and interest in mental health in the perinatal period together with knowledge of child and adult safeguarding practice. Good communication, collaborative partnership working, time management and planning skills are essential. Some previous experience of working with this group would be an advantage.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

• RMN qualification and evidence of current registration on Part 3 of NMC register or Social worker Degree or Occupational therapist professionals qualification.
• At least 2 years post qualified experience.

Knowledge

• Minimum requirement of two years post basic training.
• Evidence of continuing professional and personal development.
• Experience in perinatal mental health.
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues and child protection requirements/legislation and how these apply to the role.
• Previous perinatal experience.

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.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£37,338 to £44,962 a year, pro rata for part time.