Job summary The Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service will offer a range of services for women who are planning to conceive, during their pregnancy and the postpartum period that: Have an existing mental health condition or personality disorder Develop a mental health condition or at risk of doing so Have become new parents and experience difficulties during the parent-infancy relationship building We have an opportunity for a social worker to join the team for 12 months. The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings. Main duties of the job Recruitment to this permanent Social worker positions is part of the development of perinatal community Mental Health Service. Although the role and responsibilities have been outlined within this job description, it is important that the post-holders are flexible, innovative and has positive attitude to change as the services continuos to develop. The team base will be within one of the maternity services or in close proximity. The postholders will be required to be flexible and to use office space and other sites in the Boroughs in their day to day working. The service is integrated with Maternity Services at each hospital sites and the postholders will work very closely with midwives and obstetricians. The service will also be embedded in the local community and will provide home visits, outreach clinics in children's centres, primary care and will work closely with charities and other third sector organisations. The postholders will be expected to work collaboratively and in partnership with; Local Secondary Mental Health Sevices, Materntity Services, Primary Care, Local Authority Services, Acute Hospitals, Voluntary and Third Sector Organisations and local Mother and Baby Units. About us We are committed to offering you an environment to flourish which includes dedicateddevelopment opportunitiesas well as ahealthier work life balance. We will offer you; Flexible working available to provide a healthy work-life balance. Commitment from the team todevelop you by offering in house perinatal training in the form of masterclasses led by members of the perinatal service and associated integral agencies. Free access to our Staff and Wellbeing service to ensure that you are always looking after yourself. Commitment to career mapping to ensure continuous professional development including opportunities within the Trust. On-site shadowing opportunities including Maternity Services, Mother and baby Unit, Home Treatment Team, Psych Liaison and many more. An opportunity to work with a friendly, dynamic, passionate and diverse team who are committed to looking after each other as well as their service users. Excellent staff benefits : our benefit packages are amongst the best in London and include: childcare vouchers, health and wellbeing services, season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, blue light card, discounts at Nando's and Superdrug, mobile phone contracts and much more Award-winning Staff Networks. Hidden Gem & annual award ceremonies. Date posted 28 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £51,883 to £58,544 a year Per annum inc HCAS Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time Reference number 333-J-PERI-0159 Job locations Northwick Park Hospital, Mental Health Unit Watford Road Harrow HA1 3UJ Job description Job responsibilities Embedding as a specialist social worker within the community maternity services to perform multiagency liaison work, offering easy-to-access expert advice. Working closely with Childrens Centres, charities and other third sector organisations to educate, improve access and outreach to local communities. This would include increased home visiting and the establishment of community satellite clinics and a move away from hospital-based services where possible. Regular targeted training programmes which will be disseminated and evaluated for a range of professionals. Direct work in complex cases with women booked for delivery at the local maternity hospital, providing comprehensive assessment, treatment, planning and review. Attendances at perinatal CPA meetings, to advise and ensure procedures are implemented. Supporting the establishment of peer support groups in the local community Supporting local antenatal classes to educate and promote positive mental health. Setting up a virtual perinatal team of champions/named professionals, using existing staff within CMHTs, Psychology/IAPT services, Midwifery teams, Health Visitor teams, CAMHs, Children & Families Social Services and GP services. This will raise awareness and improve the knowledge and skills of staff locally who work closely with this group of women, thus improving safety and quality of the care provided. Working closely with the existing Liaison Psychiatry Services and Mother and Baby Unit. Contributing to the development and dissemination of robust integrated CNWL /local Maternity Hospital perinatal care pathways and policies. Contributing to the on-going development and establishment of Community Perinatal Mental Health Services Attend and contribute specialist mental health knowledge at Child Protection Conferences, psychosocial meetings and birth planning meetings. Job description Job responsibilities Embedding as a specialist social worker within the community maternity services to perform multiagency liaison work, offering easy-to-access expert advice. Working closely with Childrens Centres, charities and other third sector organisations to educate, improve access and outreach to local communities. This would include increased home visiting and the establishment of community satellite clinics and a move away from hospital-based services where possible. Regular targeted training programmes which will be disseminated and evaluated for a range of professionals. Direct work in complex cases with women booked for delivery at the local maternity hospital, providing comprehensive assessment, treatment, planning and review. Attendances at perinatal CPA meetings, to advise and ensure procedures are implemented. Supporting the establishment of peer support groups in the local community Supporting local antenatal classes to educate and promote positive mental health. Setting up a virtual perinatal team of champions/named professionals, using existing staff within CMHTs, Psychology/IAPT services, Midwifery teams, Health Visitor teams, CAMHs, Children & Families Social Services and GP services. This will raise awareness and improve the knowledge and skills of staff locally who work closely with this group of women, thus improving safety and quality of the care provided. Working closely with the existing Liaison Psychiatry Services and Mother and Baby Unit. Contributing to the development and dissemination of robust integrated CNWL /local Maternity Hospital perinatal care pathways and policies. Contributing to the on-going development and establishment of Community Perinatal Mental Health Services Attend and contribute specialist mental health knowledge at Child Protection Conferences, psychosocial meetings and birth planning meetings. Person Specification Education and qualifications Essential Registered Social work qualification and evidence of current registration on Social Work England register Evidence of continuing professional development Desirable Educated to degree level or equivalent Dual qualified as AMHP or Best interest assessor or Practice educator Specialist Training in perinatal & infant mental health Qualifications / training in specialist skills e.g. Family therapy/interventions/ psychological interventions Experience Essential oProfessional knowledge acquired through degree /diploma oSignificant post-qualification experience oSignificant post-qualification experience working with women with serious mental illness in a secondary mental health setting either community or impatient Experience of managing a caseload of service users with evidence of completing high quality assessments Experience of working in a complex multi-disciplinary / multi-agency context Experience of formal child protection processes and inter-agency work with families Experience of formal Adult Safeguarding processes and inter-agency work with families Experience of undertaking complex social needs, mental state, risk and needs assessments Experience of working in a multi-racial/cultural community and of working with interpreters Desirable Experience of multi-agency pre-birth planning (CPA) for women with serious mental illness Evidence of networking within the Perinatal Psychitatry Specialty Experience of working in obstetrics and gynaecology Experience of planning and delivery of training in response to identified needs Experience of contributing to policies and procedures Experience of supervising mental health / non mental health professionals Skills and Abilities Essential Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options Team/self management and organisational skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service. Ability to contribute to and facilitate effective multidisciplinary/multi-agency working Ability to implement evidence-based practice Ability to liaise and offer highly specialist consultation to other agencies effectively Ability to provide highly specialist therapeutic assessments and a range of therapeutic interventions Ability to effectively manage own clinical and administrative caseload and work under pressure at times of change Ability to identify, recognise and understand safeguarding children and adult issues and refer appropriately Ability to develop and deliver training on perinatal mental health and associated issues such as safeguarding children, domestic violence Ability to provide supervision to staff within own and other disciplines and to use supervision effectively Ability to work flexibly across service boundaries and with professionals from health care settings such as maternity services Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both oral and written Ability to work effectively with women from diverse minority ethnic and cultural backgrounds and with families with a high level of deprivation, social isolation, exclusion and stigma. Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary and 'virtual' team Desirable Computer literate to an intermediate/ advanced level Knowledge and Understanding Essential Up to date knowledge of evidence based practice and current developments in perinatal psychiatry Knowledge about mental illness in the perinatal period Up to date knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and associated legislation and government policy and its implications for mental health services Up to date knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and associated legislation and government policy and its implications for mental health services Knowledge and understanding of diversity and equality issues and their application in perinatal psychiatry services Knowledge & understanding of contributions of other disciplines and professionals to a multi-agency service Understanding of clinical governance and audit issues Understanding of issues around information-sharing in relation to Child Protection and Children in Need Knowledge of relevant Perinatal service models Knowledge of relevant legislation e.g. MHA, MCA Desirable Experience of conducting clinical audits Person Specification Education and qualifications Essential Registered Social work qualification and evidence of current registration on Social Work England register Evidence of continuing professional development Desirable Educated to degree level or equivalent Dual qualified as AMHP or Best interest assessor or Practice educator Specialist Training in perinatal & infant mental health Qualifications / training in specialist skills e.g. Family therapy/interventions/ psychological interventions Experience Essential oProfessional knowledge acquired through degree /diploma oSignificant post-qualification experience oSignificant post-qualification experience working with women with serious mental illness in a secondary mental health setting either community or impatient Experience of managing a caseload of service users with evidence of completing high quality assessments Experience of working in a complex multi-disciplinary / multi-agency context Experience of formal child protection processes and inter-agency work with families Experience of formal Adult Safeguarding processes and inter-agency work with families Experience of undertaking complex social needs, mental state, risk and needs assessments Experience of working in a multi-racial/cultural community and of working with interpreters Desirable Experience of multi-agency pre-birth planning (CPA) for women with serious mental illness Evidence of networking within the Perinatal Psychitatry Specialty Experience of working in obstetrics and gynaecology Experience of planning and delivery of training in response to identified needs Experience of contributing to policies and procedures Experience of supervising mental health / non mental health professionals Skills and Abilities Essential Sufficient clinical knowledge to be able to make autonomous decisions, based on analysis of complex presenting problems and judgement about available options Team/self management and organisational skills that enable a number of complex activities and clinical work to be undertaken, revising and adjusting these according to the needs of individual patients and the service. Ability to contribute to and facilitate effective multidisciplinary/multi-agency working Ability to implement evidence-based practice Ability to liaise and offer highly specialist consultation to other agencies effectively Ability to provide highly specialist therapeutic assessments and a range of therapeutic interventions Ability to effectively manage own clinical and administrative caseload and work under pressure at times of change Ability to identify, recognise and understand safeguarding children and adult issues and refer appropriately Ability to develop and deliver training on perinatal mental health and associated issues such as safeguarding children, domestic violence Ability to provide supervision to staff within own and other disciplines and to use supervision effectively Ability to work flexibly across service boundaries and with professionals from health care settings such as maternity services Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both oral and written Ability to work effectively with women from diverse minority ethnic and cultural backgrounds and with families with a high level of deprivation, social isolation, exclusion and stigma. Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary and 'virtual' team Desirable Computer literate to an intermediate/ advanced level Knowledge and Understanding Essential Up to date knowledge of evidence based practice and current developments in perinatal psychiatry Knowledge about mental illness in the perinatal period Up to date knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and associated legislation and government policy and its implications for mental health services Up to date knowledge of the Care Act 2014 and associated legislation and government policy and its implications for mental health services Knowledge and understanding of diversity and equality issues and their application in perinatal psychiatry services Knowledge & understanding of contributions of other disciplines and professionals to a multi-agency service Understanding of clinical governance and audit issues Understanding of issues around information-sharing in relation to Child Protection and Children in Need Knowledge of relevant Perinatal service models Knowledge of relevant legislation e.g. MHA, MCA Desirable Experience of conducting clinical audits 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Address Northwick Park Hospital, Mental Health Unit Watford Road Harrow HA1 3UJ Employer's website https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)