Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Always act in a dignified and responsible manner with service users, carers and colleagues, using appropriate language and communication skills, which acknowledge barriers to understanding, cultural differences and diversity.

To provide supportive and sensitive communication, written and verbal advice to patients, carers and staff, whilst demonstrating an understanding of the nature and effects of some information and of barriers to effective communication e .g, sensory or cognitive impairment and unrealistic expectations whilst being considerate of client confidentiality.

Develop and maintain communication (sensitive, complex and contentious) with other teams, external agencies, in order to promote good client care and deliver initiatives such as Care Programme Approach.

To confidently convey complex written and verbal information on both clinical and non-clinical issues and to support the development of these skills with individuals within the team.

Act as an advocate, support service users through their care programme both physically and psychologically to achieve expected outcomes, explaining care, treatment and associated risks (complex information)

Provide and receive complex information where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, empathic and re-assurance skills are required to support service users through their recovery period.

Maintain strict confidentiality of complex and sensitive client information at all times.

Organise and plan activities with service users, facilitating therapeutic and educational groups, adjusting own workload in response to prevailing circumstances.

Physical skills

In order to manage risk -- requirement to adhere to individual risk assessments.

Develop and complete risk assessments, analysing and deciding the most appropriate approach to implementing care plans, agreeing objectives with service users and carers.

To provide a high standard of clinical care ensuring safe and effective assessment and treatment using highly developed clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment tools.

To manage a caseload and service delivery in accordance with and in order to contribute towards the attainment of Service/Trust productivity requirements and Quality priorities.

To facilitate the admission to or discharge from specialised inpatient Mother and Baby Units when required.

To work flexibly across a 5-day-a-week service.

To be compliant with CQC standards.

To delegate aspects of the patient treatment plan to other members of the team whilst maintaining overall responsibility for patients care, where appropriate.

To ensure the clinical practice of nursing members of the Perinatal Community Mental Health Team is of the highest standard.

To act as keyworker under the Care Programme Approach, ensuring up to date care plans, risk assessments and reviews are in place.

Work with women to assess their mental health, recognise mental illness and identify their related needs and circumstances; and enable them to understand, manage and where appropriate change their behaviour.

Plan, implement, review and improve interventions to meet women's identified needs and manage their inherent risk.

To assess carers' and family's needs and develop, implement and review programmes of support for carers and families.

Protect people from abuse, neglect and harm.

Enable women to develop independent living skills in their own community.

To work collaboratively and promote effective working relationships with members of the multi-disciplinary team, ensuring effective and appropriate clinical decision-making, both within the Perinatal Community Mental Health Team and with external agencies.

To maintain accurate and timely clinical records and to co-ordinate and monitor those of the team.

To adhere to relevant code of professional conduct and ethics, plus associated legislation.

To develop clinical practice having due regard to guidelines of the N.S.F for Mental Health N.I.C.E and Mental Health Act (1983)

To undertake specific project work or any other duties as negotiated with the Perinatal Team Keyworker.

To act as lead professionals within the Perinatal Community Mental Health Team.

Develop effective and supportive links with other health and social care staff. To create networks that improve the pathway of care for clients referred to the Perinatal and Maternal Mental health Team.

Participate in post registration education, training, continuing professional development and Revalidation.

Attending meetings as appropriate.

Fulfilling duties of weekly timetable including any 'out of hours' responsibilities.

Duties as instructed by your manager or appropriate authority.

Plan, implement, review and improve interventions to meet people's identified needs and manage their inherent risk.

Contribute to case conferences and reviews, supporting service users and carers to engage with services and contribute to their care.

Accept ongoing accountability for service users, hold and manage delegated caseload (complex cases) and supervise and/or mentor junior staff and learners as required in the provision of direct/indirect care.

Comply with and carry out safe practice in accordance with Trust policies and procedures, appropriate Codes of Conduct, the Mental Health Act (1983) and other relevant national and local guidance commenting on policies, procedures and developments as necessary.

Participate in audit and research as required and contribute to quality improvement initiatives, policy review and practice development.

Use safely in accordance with manufacturer's guidance clinical equipment in the performance of their work to appropriate high standards of care.

Ensure any stock and supplies, clinical equipment or medications are ordered as required.

Record all self-generated information within the service user's clinical notes using the Trust's clinical information system (Rio).

To demonstrate empowering leadership skills within the Perinatal Community Mental Health Team and seek opportunities in local and national area as to promote and develop the profession.

To participate in Clinical Governance activities, including: induction, supervision, personal development review, health and safety, risk management and audit.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional Registration - A registered qualification in one of the following - nursing, social work, occupational therapy.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and maintenance of relevant professional qualification

Desirable

• Management Training.

Experience

Essential

• Relevant knowledge/experience of Perinatal Mental Health assessment and care planning
• Experience of working with individuals in crisis in an inpatient or community setting
• Experience of working with people with severe and enduring mental illnesses
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Previous experience of working with women whose pregnancy or postnatal period is complicated by serious mental illness in any setting.

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Sound knowledge of national
• agenda for mental health.
• Highly developed clinical reasoning skills.
• Sound knowledge of clinical/risk assessment and understanding of Information Governance principles.
• Highly developed communication skills.
• Delegation whilst maintaining overall responsibility for
• patients care, where appropriate.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead a clinical team.
• Highly motivated & able to engage with service users & carers to improve outcomes.
• Ability to work independently and collectively.
• Able to demonstrate a good standard of English language.
• Compassionate - Open minded, treats colleagues, patients, carers and relatives with dignity and respect.
• Intuitive and caring nature.
• Act in ways that support equality and diversity.
• To be able to demonstrate an awareness and responsibility whilst recognising the impact frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
• Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the patients.
• Must be a car driver with a valid driving license or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel.
• Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients

Desirable

• N/A

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.

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

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Glanville House

Church Street

Bridgwater

Somerset

TA6 5AT

Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)