Job summary
Perinatal mental health services are concerned with the prevention, detection and therapeutic management of perinatal mental health problems that complicate pregnancy, the postpartum year and compromise the parent-infant relationship. Childbirth and the transition to parenthood are associated with substantial psychiatric and psychological morbidity.
Health professionals working within specialised perinatal services require a high level of knowledge and experience regarding such presentations. In addition to the focus on maternal mental health, specialist perinatal mental health services uniquely focus on the infant, and the mother-infant relationship. Promoting emotional and physical wellbeing and development of the infant are central to service provision within high quality perinatal mental health services.
In order to meet Long Term Plan ambitions to increase access to evidence based psychological therapies, we are expanding the psychological therapies service. The post-holder will work alongside a new 8a parent infant therapist, and 2 psychologists to deliver parent infant interventions.
Main duties of the job
The role of the Perinatal Infant Mental Health Specialist (PIMHS) is to provide specialist parent/infant assessment and interventions within the Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Service with an aim of
- Providing early identification, intervention and health promotion with regard to infant/early year's mental health
- Developing and co-ordinating training in issues relating to infant mental health
- Providing clinical supervision to Nursery Nurse and other MDT staff providing parent infant interventions within the service
- Ensuring the voice of the infant is central to care delivery and service development
The post-holder will be part of a multi-disciplinary Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team contribute to service development from an infant mental health perspective to meet the needs of the population of wide social and cultural diversity.
About us
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
The Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team provides specialist advice, support and oversight of the perinatal mental health pathway in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, from preconception through to the infant's first birthday, working with and supporting health and social care professionals in primary care, maternity services, early years and adult mental health teams. This team carries a direct caseload of women who are experiencing moderate to severe perinatal difficulties, where the level of these difficulties exceeds the expertise of primary care or general mental health services. We also work with those who are at high risk of relapse, and may be under Secondary Mental health care services.
The clinical team is made up of psychiatrists, mental health nurses, nursery nurses, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, a mental health worker and a parent infant therapist.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To be involved with assessing and working with infants, parents, carers and families who are on the Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Service (SCPNS) caseload where there are serious mental health concerns which may impact on the parent infant relationship.
To offer guidance, advice, consultation, training and supervision as needed for those working within the SCPNS with mothers with high risk perinatal mental health needs with infants and young children.
To liaise with other relevant services, including attendance at case meetings, case conferences, network and professional meetings as required.
To participate in individual management and clinical supervision (as provided) and ensure that time is available to undertake this effectively
To keep records and to provide clinical reports on interventions and outcomes
To work within relevant legal and professional frameworks such as The Childrens Act and professional body guidelines, including child protection and clinical risk policies.
To work within the guidelines of Clinical Governance and employing NHS Trust policies.
To ensure that, as far as possible, practice is evidence based, keeping informed of current practice by undertaking training as appropriate and as required by professional guidelines.
To explore, research and develop further innovative ways to promote positive infant mental health in young children.
To provide clinical supervision of Nursery Nurses who are providing parent infant interventions
To offer specific, more specialised therapeutic interventions on Partnership wide basis (e.g. NBO, Watch Wait and Wonder, formal Parent-Infant psychotherapy)
Job description
Job responsibilities
To be involved with assessing and working with infants, parents, carers and families who are on the Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Service (SCPNS) caseload where there are serious mental health concerns which may impact on the parent infant relationship.
To offer guidance, advice, consultation, training and supervision as needed for those working within the SCPNS with mothers with high risk perinatal mental health needs with infants and young children.
To liaise with other relevant services, including attendance at case meetings, case conferences, network and professional meetings as required.
To participate in individual management and clinical supervision (as provided) and ensure that time is available to undertake this effectively
To keep records and to provide clinical reports on interventions and outcomes
To work within relevant legal and professional frameworks such as The Childrens Act and professional body guidelines, including child protection and clinical risk policies.
To work within the guidelines of Clinical Governance and employing NHS Trust policies.
To ensure that, as far as possible, practice is evidence based, keeping informed of current practice by undertaking training as appropriate and as required by professional guidelines.
To explore, research and develop further innovative ways to promote positive infant mental health in young children.
To provide clinical supervision of Nursery Nurses who are providing parent infant interventions
To offer specific, more specialised therapeutic interventions on Partnership wide basis (e.g. NBO, Watch Wait and Wonder, formal Parent-Infant psychotherapy)
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- oQualified Allied Health Professional (HV, OT, RMN) and current registration under appropriate professional body (HCPC, NMC) with additional post graduate training in Diploma in Infant mental health or other equivalent qualifications OR oClinical Psychology, qualified child and adolescent psychotherapists or other appropriate qualification to doctoral level and current membership of appropriate professional body (e.g. BPS, BCP, ACP, HCPC).
Desirable
- Further training in infant mental interventions
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of and familiarity with infant development and infant mental health principles.
- oKnowledge and awareness of safeguarding procedures and anti-discriminatory practice.
Skills
Essential
- oGood communication and liaison skills.
- oWell organised with good administration skills.
- oEmpathy/engagement skills with the client group.
Experience
Essential
- oExperience and knowledge of working with more complex family difficulties and concerns, including families where children may be at risk or with serious concerns about parenting and safeguarding
- oExperience of delivery of a range of therapeutic models and interventions and their application to infant mental health problems i.e. watch, wait and wonder, VIG, Brazelton etc.
Desirable
- oExperience of working with women during the perinatal period.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- oQualified Allied Health Professional (HV, OT, RMN) and current registration under appropriate professional body (HCPC, NMC) with additional post graduate training in Diploma in Infant mental health or other equivalent qualifications OR oClinical Psychology, qualified child and adolescent psychotherapists or other appropriate qualification to doctoral level and current membership of appropriate professional body (e.g. BPS, BCP, ACP, HCPC).
Desirable
- Further training in infant mental interventions
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of and familiarity with infant development and infant mental health principles.
- oKnowledge and awareness of safeguarding procedures and anti-discriminatory practice.
Skills
Essential
- oGood communication and liaison skills.
- oWell organised with good administration skills.
- oEmpathy/engagement skills with the client group.
Experience
Essential
- oExperience and knowledge of working with more complex family difficulties and concerns, including families where children may be at risk or with serious concerns about parenting and safeguarding
- oExperience of delivery of a range of therapeutic models and interventions and their application to infant mental health problems i.e. watch, wait and wonder, VIG, Brazelton etc.
Desirable
- oExperience of working with women during the perinatal period.
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).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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