Senior Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner

We are looking for a experienced and self-motivated senior mental health practitioner to work in our busy North Devon Perinatal Team.

The Community Perinatal Service has been going through an exciting period of expansion in order to meet the commitments of the NHS Long Term Plan. We are commissioned to work with women/birthing people pre-conceptually, in pregnancy and postnatally where there are mental health concerns. With the increase in a number of clinical roles across the service, we will be in a position to extend our offer for women/birthing people from 12-24 months as well as offering fathers/co-parents screening and sign posting for their own mental health needs. We will also be increasing our psychological intervention offer to those using our service.

This service development will not only create valuable interventions for women/birthing people and families, but will also offer valuable opportunities for career progression to staff within a variety of professional groups.

We would consider a developmental post for a band 5 if the applicant has extensive experience of working in acute mental healthservices through their training, or as a post qualified mental healthprofessional.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking an individual who is open to learning & developing their skills in perinatal mental health. We are committed to supporting them by offering a comprehensive induction with ongoing support, supervision and professional development from our established and passionate MDT. This also includes access to our monthly Continuous Professional Development where we offer case discussion and learning as well as often inviting external speakers to develop our skills and knowledge.

You will be offering assessments of those that are experiencing a severe perinatal mental health presentation, developing management plans whilst offering information and support to those that use the service, referrers and families. You will have your own caseload of families, supported by a rich MDT to offer interventions that are evidenced based within the perinatal period; such as birth planning, risk management, emotional regulation and compassion focused thinking interventions.

Devon Partnership NHS Trust Perinatal Service has 4 local teams and is a well-established service. We have close working partnerships with our local Maternity Departments, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Talkworks, Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) and MBU Outreach Team as well as the Trusts well-respected Research Department. We are actively involved in a current research with Circle of security as an intervention.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role.

Person Specification Qualifications

• A professional mental health nursing qualification eg RMN, Nursing Degree or Occupational Therapy qualification or Social Work qualification with relevant mental health experience Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff or willingness to undertake training IT Skills
• Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people: roles and competencies for Health Care staff or willingness to undertake training IT Skills

Experience

• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment
• Substantial experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems.
• Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector or equivalent experience. Participation in user involvement in services.
• Providing clinical supervision.
• Experience of working closely or in a perinatal mental health service

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.