Senior Specialist Midwife Perinatal Mental Health

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King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.7 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

Job overview

The post holder will provide clinical midwifery care to women with mental illness including signposting support and advice if requested for both in and out of area women. The post holder will be responsible for being a point of contact for staff within women's services who may need advice or guidance when supporting those with mental illness.

The post holder will ensure that the relevant pathways, policies and processes for women with, or at risk of, mental illness are developed, implemented and audited. This will involve working with a range of relevant professionals, services and agencies. The post holder must be an experienced midwife who works autonomously in the provision of all areas of midwifery and acting as a resource and support for the multidisciplinary team. This will include the organising of perinatal mental health illness study days. PROMPT, and new starter and MSW updates.

Main duties of the job

• Act as a resource for all staff involved in maternity care (obstetricians, midwives, student midwives, maternity support workers, health visitors, social workers and local 3rd sector workers).
• Provide maternity care for a caseload of women and birthing people experiencing mental illness, prioritising holistic care which encompasses choice for the woman or birthing person.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based advice, support and information with regards to the appropriate support and referral of women with mental health illness.
• Care pathways to be in place for all levels of mental health severities (low, moderate and high); developed in active collaboration with specialist perinatal mental health services, women's services and women and families accessing our care.
• Provide a service link between midwives, GPs, health visiting service, obstetricians, specialist mental health services, child safeguarding team and other agencies in relation to the care of pregnant women and new mothers with mental health illness.
• Attend triannual meetings with UK Perinatal Mental Health Midwives forum where able.
• Work with colleagues to ensure that there is routine screening and early identification of women with, or at risk of a mental illness.
• Attend triannual risk meetings with MDT to review and share learning points in relation to perinatal mental illness.
• Attend weekly perinatal mental health meetings where possible. Attend staff huddles to offer skill sharing and allow for staff to access face to face support. Identify areas for research, audit and development relevant to mental health. Initiate and participate in research and clinical audit programmes, and encourage other midwives to do the same.
• Engage with service users and family members to gain feedback on their experiences. Use this feedback to inform development of services.
• The post holder will work in collaboration with the Lead Consultant Obstetrician, the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team, the Perinatal Mental Health Network, the Adult Mental Health Services, Crisis Team and Safeguarding Team.
• Be aware of the spiritual, psychological and emotional needs of the family and endeavour to meet these at all times within the maternal mental health context. Undertakes and completes audits as necessary. Ensure local community support and out of area perinatal mental health team contacts are up to date and accessible to all. Foster and maintain close links with University in relation to perinatal mental health practice and education. Attend mandatory training in line with Trust and Directorate Policies.
• Act in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct and Midwives Rules.

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Recent midwifery experience in clinical practice.
• Experience of working with multi-disciplinary and agency teams.

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Midwife.
• Evidence of ongoing personal and professional development demonstrated through a Professional Portfolio.
• Mentorship qualification with sign off status.

Desirable criteria

• Additional training in mental health and/or counselling.
• MSc qualification within health and social care.
• Teaching qualification.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.