South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Senior Perinatal Practitioner

The closing date is 11 August 2025

Job summary

Band 6 Senior Perinatal MH Practitioner- Maternity leave secondment opportunity-30hrs

The South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust are pleased to offer an exciting secondment opportunity to join our Specialist Perinatal Mental Health team to cover maternity leave. We are a specialist multi-disciplinary team working across the Trusts footprint with women and their families who are experiencing moderate to severe perinatal mental health illness. The available post advertised is for Wakefield. Please note these posts are agile and although the team admin base is in Dewsbury there is no requirement to work from there for these posts.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for qualified Mental Health professionals who are looking for their next career step. This position is open to applicants with experience at Band 5 or above (or the equivalent for social workers). Experience in perinatal mental health care and competence in working with and managing risk in relation to both mother and baby will be an advantage but we have excellent training and supervision processes in place to support staff where needed.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a genuine interest to work with women during the perinatal period. You will be provided with specialist perinatal training and supervision to develop knowledge to be able to work with this client group.

All applicants must have excellent clinical skills and confidence and enthusiasm for working with perinatal partner agencies in networks that extend beyond traditional specialist mental health boundaries.

The Service operates Monday-Friday; 9.00am-5.00pm however successful applicants would be expected to have the flexibility to work occasional extended hours to facilitate service effectiveness. Car driver essential.

Please contact Claire Lowe Perinatal Service Manager at Claire.Lowe@swyt.nhs.uk or Laura Washington Advanced Clinical Practitioner at Laura.Washington@swyt.nhs.uk for further details.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Details

Date posted

28 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-CK2281

Job locations

8 Fox View Hub

Dewsbury District Hospital

Dewsbury

WF134AD


Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

Has continuing responsibility for the provision of skilled interventions to people with mental health problems in the community. Works within a multi-disciplinary team as a member of the Perinatal Mental Health Team.

Key Result Areas:

Management of own caseload in line with C.P.A. procedures and risk management protocols.

Provision of leadership to the Perinatal Mental Health Team in respect of psycho-social interventions to people and their carers in line with national and local practice standards e.g. NICE

  • Supervision and support of other team members.
  • Participation in service development and clinical governance structures.

Professional:

1. Assesses needs and identifies problems relevant to the care of people referred.

  1. Devises a plan of care in partnership with the person and carers.
  2. Implements the planned programme of care to ensure a high standard is achieved.
  3. Reviews the effectiveness of the care provided and where appropriate initiates any action.
  4. Advises and supports the person and carers to promote health and well-being and to prevent illness.
  5. Recognises situations that may be detrimental to the health and well-being of the person and initiates action that may be required.
  6. Establishes and maintains satisfactory communication with all agencies involved in the persons care in both hospital and community.
  7. Functions as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
  8. Management of enquiries and direct referrals of people in accordance with the Perinatal Mental Health team operational Policy and participates in the team duty rota.
  9. Maintain professional registration and demonstrate commitment to statutory codes of practice and continued professional development requirements.
  10. Responsible for acting up in the absence of the team leader

Administrative:

1. Maintains accurate patient care records in accordance with professional codes of conduct and trust procedures and ensures records are made available when required by the appropriate agency.

2. Participates in the formulation of policies at unit level.

3. Maintains accurate mileage records.

4. Manages caseload with due economy of cost and time.

5. Ensures safe carriage, storage and administration of drugs prescribed (registered nurses only).

6. Responsible for the ordering of stock with due economy.

7. Produces monthly statistics in line with trust directives.

8. Keeps the Management Team and colleagues informed of developments relevant to the area of responsibility.

Education:

1. Supervises students and trainees on placement.

  1. Assists in the teaching and in-service training of staff.
  2. Is conversant with current trends in clinical practice.
  3. Participates and accepts delegated responsibility in research and clinical audit as required.
  4. Attends courses or training sessions relevant to the updating of knowledge and experience.

Personnel:

1. Promotes an understanding of mental health and well being.

  1. Ensures health and safety regulations are observed.
  2. Attends mandatory training sessions as directed by the Trust.
  3. Participates in the values based induction and the annual appraisal process.
  4. Attends team meetings.
  5. Supports the Trusts commitment to a healthy work-life balance.

Trust Values:

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respectat all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

Honest, open, transparent

Respectful

Person first and in the centre

Improve and be outstanding

Relevant today, ready for tomorrow

Families and carers matter

Safeguarding:

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:

All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;

maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;

understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and Trust Data Protection policy;

comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;

receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;

understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;

recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;

ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participatingin relevanttraining;

comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);

demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;

abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;

work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.

adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;

being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;

Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promply;

For further information, please see attached supporting documents.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

Has continuing responsibility for the provision of skilled interventions to people with mental health problems in the community. Works within a multi-disciplinary team as a member of the Perinatal Mental Health Team.

Key Result Areas:

Management of own caseload in line with C.P.A. procedures and risk management protocols.

Provision of leadership to the Perinatal Mental Health Team in respect of psycho-social interventions to people and their carers in line with national and local practice standards e.g. NICE

  • Supervision and support of other team members.
  • Participation in service development and clinical governance structures.

Professional:

1. Assesses needs and identifies problems relevant to the care of people referred.

  1. Devises a plan of care in partnership with the person and carers.
  2. Implements the planned programme of care to ensure a high standard is achieved.
  3. Reviews the effectiveness of the care provided and where appropriate initiates any action.
  4. Advises and supports the person and carers to promote health and well-being and to prevent illness.
  5. Recognises situations that may be detrimental to the health and well-being of the person and initiates action that may be required.
  6. Establishes and maintains satisfactory communication with all agencies involved in the persons care in both hospital and community.
  7. Functions as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
  8. Management of enquiries and direct referrals of people in accordance with the Perinatal Mental Health team operational Policy and participates in the team duty rota.
  9. Maintain professional registration and demonstrate commitment to statutory codes of practice and continued professional development requirements.
  10. Responsible for acting up in the absence of the team leader

Administrative:

1. Maintains accurate patient care records in accordance with professional codes of conduct and trust procedures and ensures records are made available when required by the appropriate agency.

2. Participates in the formulation of policies at unit level.

3. Maintains accurate mileage records.

4. Manages caseload with due economy of cost and time.

5. Ensures safe carriage, storage and administration of drugs prescribed (registered nurses only).

6. Responsible for the ordering of stock with due economy.

7. Produces monthly statistics in line with trust directives.

8. Keeps the Management Team and colleagues informed of developments relevant to the area of responsibility.

Education:

1. Supervises students and trainees on placement.

  1. Assists in the teaching and in-service training of staff.
  2. Is conversant with current trends in clinical practice.
  3. Participates and accepts delegated responsibility in research and clinical audit as required.
  4. Attends courses or training sessions relevant to the updating of knowledge and experience.

Personnel:

1. Promotes an understanding of mental health and well being.

  1. Ensures health and safety regulations are observed.
  2. Attends mandatory training sessions as directed by the Trust.
  3. Participates in the values based induction and the annual appraisal process.
  4. Attends team meetings.
  5. Supports the Trusts commitment to a healthy work-life balance.

Trust Values:

The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respectat all time. The post holder must all time act in accordance with the Trusts Values:

Honest, open, transparent

Respectful

Person first and in the centre

Improve and be outstanding

Relevant today, ready for tomorrow

Families and carers matter

Safeguarding:

Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.

Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.

Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:

All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:

ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;

maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;

understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and Trust Data Protection policy;

comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;

receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;

understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;

recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;

ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participatingin relevanttraining;

comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);

demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;

abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;

work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.

adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;

being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;

Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promply;

For further information, please see attached supporting documents.

Person Specification

Training

Essential

  • Assessment and care planning skills
  • Risk assessment and risk management
  • Relevant post-registration qualifications and / or training
  • Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills

Desirable

  • Dual qualification as a RMN and Specialist Public Health Nurse or Midwife
  • Solihull Approach Training or similar
  • Video Interaction Guidance Training

Physical Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Qualifications

Essential

  • RMN Current NMC registration
  • Social Worker/Occupational Therapist-current Social Work England/HCPC registration
  • Experience of mentoring/supporting learners or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
  • Practice Placement Educator

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Time management
  • Self-direction
  • Reliability, enthusiasm, motivation, flexible resourcefulness, adaptable
  • A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)
  • Autonomy
  • Diplomacy
  • Leadership skills

Experience

Essential

  • Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing people experiencing complex mental health problems
  • Experience of supporting and supervising colleagues/students/trainees
  • Experience of using IT systems to support, record and monitor clinical activity
  • Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing risk in a variety of settings
  • Proven ability in assessing the needs and strengths of people and their carers Experience of delivering a range of therapeutic interventions
  • Working within an integrated multi-disciplinary environment and co-working with other teams and professions within team meetings, case conferences and professional meetings
  • Ability to support colleagues with day-to-day caseload management including prioritisation of responsibilities in times of high clinical demand
  • Ability to promote and develop links with other professionals for e.g practitioners within long term conditions, primary care
  • Evidence of knowledge and application in practice of national guidance and standards, e.g. NICE, CQC, CQUINs
  • Experience of working holistically with older adults in a bio psycho-social model of care with emphasis on physical ill health that impacts on mental wellbeing

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a perinatal mental health setting

Special Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Working knowledge of recent government legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Health & Safety, Care Programme Approach
  • Able to work incorporating principles of Clinical Governance
  • Proven skills in partnership working with people who use services and their carers
  • Shows awareness of equality and diversity and is able to incorporate this into care planning and the delivery of care. Ability to act up in the absence of the team manager
  • Knowledge of using IT systems to record clinical activity
  • Knowledge of audit processes
  • Knowledge of carer services/ issues/

Desirable

  • Proven activity in audit
  • Knowledge and skills in specialist areas such as dual diagnosis, peri-natal mental health, working with people experiencing psychosis, working with people with a diagnosis of personality disorder
Person Specification

Training

Essential

  • Assessment and care planning skills
  • Risk assessment and risk management
  • Relevant post-registration qualifications and / or training
  • Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills

Desirable

  • Dual qualification as a RMN and Specialist Public Health Nurse or Midwife
  • Solihull Approach Training or similar
  • Video Interaction Guidance Training

Physical Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Qualifications

Essential

  • RMN Current NMC registration
  • Social Worker/Occupational Therapist-current Social Work England/HCPC registration
  • Experience of mentoring/supporting learners or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring.
  • Practice Placement Educator

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Time management
  • Self-direction
  • Reliability, enthusiasm, motivation, flexible resourcefulness, adaptable
  • A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)
  • Autonomy
  • Diplomacy
  • Leadership skills

Experience

Essential

  • Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing people experiencing complex mental health problems
  • Experience of supporting and supervising colleagues/students/trainees
  • Experience of using IT systems to support, record and monitor clinical activity
  • Can demonstrate skills in assessing and managing risk in a variety of settings
  • Proven ability in assessing the needs and strengths of people and their carers Experience of delivering a range of therapeutic interventions
  • Working within an integrated multi-disciplinary environment and co-working with other teams and professions within team meetings, case conferences and professional meetings
  • Ability to support colleagues with day-to-day caseload management including prioritisation of responsibilities in times of high clinical demand
  • Ability to promote and develop links with other professionals for e.g practitioners within long term conditions, primary care
  • Evidence of knowledge and application in practice of national guidance and standards, e.g. NICE, CQC, CQUINs
  • Experience of working holistically with older adults in a bio psycho-social model of care with emphasis on physical ill health that impacts on mental wellbeing

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a perinatal mental health setting

Special Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Working knowledge of recent government legislation e.g. Mental Health Act, Health & Safety, Care Programme Approach
  • Able to work incorporating principles of Clinical Governance
  • Proven skills in partnership working with people who use services and their carers
  • Shows awareness of equality and diversity and is able to incorporate this into care planning and the delivery of care. Ability to act up in the absence of the team manager
  • Knowledge of using IT systems to record clinical activity
  • Knowledge of audit processes
  • Knowledge of carer services/ issues/

Desirable

  • Proven activity in audit
  • Knowledge and skills in specialist areas such as dual diagnosis, peri-natal mental health, working with people experiencing psychosis, working with people with a diagnosis of personality disorder

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).

Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

8 Fox View Hub

Dewsbury District Hospital

Dewsbury

WF134AD


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

8 Fox View Hub

Dewsbury District Hospital

Dewsbury

WF134AD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Claire Lowe

claire.lowe@swyt.nhs.uk

07825262303

Details

Date posted

28 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-CK2281

Job locations

8 Fox View Hub

Dewsbury District Hospital

Dewsbury

WF134AD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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