Assistant Practitioner - Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service

455 North London NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 12 January 2025

Job summary

The North London Foundation Trust Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS) is a multi-disciplinary community mental health service for pregnant and postnatal women and birthing people with moderate to severe mental illness. The aim of the team is to detect, prevent and treat perinatal mental health problems to improve the experience of pregnancy and the two years postpartum for service users and their families.

The service has been running since 2017 and provides specialist perinatal mental health services across the boroughs of Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey.The model operates with 3 clinical sub-teams.

The vacancy for this role is in the West team which covers Barnet based at N12 9RH.

The NLP SPMHS is made up of a full MDT: consultant psychiatrists, clinical/counselling psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, family therapist, nursery nurses, peer support workers and pharmacist. MDT sub-teams staff work closely with the maternity sites in North Central London (Barnet Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital, University College Hospital and Whittington Hospital). Clinics normally run at team bases, maternity sites, children's centers, and community centers across the boroughs as well as home visits. Some clinical work is additionally carried out via video call.

Main duties of the job

The North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS) is a multi-disciplinary community mental health service for pregnant and postnatal women and birthing people with moderate to severe mental illness. The aim of the team is to detect, prevent and treat perinatal mental health problems to improve the experience of pregnancy and the two years postpartum for service users and their families. The Maple Service is a community psychological therapy service for people who have the experience of perinatal fear, trauma, or loss.

Camden & Islington Mental Health Foundation Trust jointly with Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health Trust have developed perinatal mental health services across five boroughs in the North Central London area. The service has been running since 2017 and provides specialist perinatal mental health services across the boroughs of Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey.

-West team (Barnet) based at N12 9RH

-East team (Enfield & Haringey) based at N9 7HD

-South team (Camden & Islington) based at NW1 0PE

The post holder will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care for service users under the North London NHS Foundation Trust Perinatal Mental Health Service. This includes supporting partners, families, and professionals of those being cared for by the team.

About us

North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.Our Five-Year Strategy:

  1. We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.

  2. With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all

  3. We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.

  4. We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.

In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.

Date posted

09 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£31,944 to £34,937 a year Pro rata including HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

455-CANDI-1203

Job locations

Cedar Place

890 High Road

London

N12 9RH


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care for service users under the North London NHS Foundation Trust Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service. This includes supporting partners, families, and professionals of those being cared for by the team.

The post holder will carry out a range of clinical support tasks, including direct patient interactions, risk assessment, and delivering recovery interventions, identified as part of the service users care plan, with particular focus to develop / sustain the mother and infant relationship.

They will work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide excellent, compassionate, and sensitive care to women/birthing people. Working under supervision, the post holder will provide direct support to a defined group of service users as allocated and delegated by the team.

The post holder will provide direct support to the service users and partners and families under the care of the service. The focus of the role will be that of supporting women / birthing people and theirfamilies during the perinatal period., Providing clinical assistance to registered and medical staff to ensure safe provision of care.

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care for service users under the North London NHS Foundation Trust Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service. This includes supporting partners, families, and professionals of those being cared for by the team.

The post holder will carry out a range of clinical support tasks, including direct patient interactions, risk assessment, and delivering recovery interventions, identified as part of the service users care plan, with particular focus to develop / sustain the mother and infant relationship.

They will work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide excellent, compassionate, and sensitive care to women/birthing people. Working under supervision, the post holder will provide direct support to a defined group of service users as allocated and delegated by the team.

The post holder will provide direct support to the service users and partners and families under the care of the service. The focus of the role will be that of supporting women / birthing people and theirfamilies during the perinatal period., Providing clinical assistance to registered and medical staff to ensure safe provision of care.

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma in Mental Health Practice or NVQ level 3 in Mental Health with post qualification evidence of further study / additional training to diploma level or NVQ 4 in Mental Health or equivalent level experience. or Evidence of extensive and current paid experience of working with service users who have dementia.
  • Educated to GCSE level or equivalent (with a minimum of 5 A - E qualifications - which must include and English).
  • Level 1 Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults certificate.

Desirable

  • Level 2 Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults certificate.
  • To have experience of or if appropriate to service needs be willing to undertake training in de-escalation or breakaway techniques.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Significant experience of caring for people with mental health problems in an acute in-patient or community care setting.
  • Previous experience of working in a Health or Social Care setting in a paid or voluntary position
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the key sections of the Mental Capacity Act and their use in practice.
  • Demonstrate a sound understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and their partners and family.
  • To demonstrate an understanding and/or practical experience of delivering interventions.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Able to work on own initiative.
  • Able to work as part of a team.
  • Motivated and enthusiastic about working with women and families in the perinatal period.
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma in Mental Health Practice or NVQ level 3 in Mental Health with post qualification evidence of further study / additional training to diploma level or NVQ 4 in Mental Health or equivalent level experience. or Evidence of extensive and current paid experience of working with service users who have dementia.
  • Educated to GCSE level or equivalent (with a minimum of 5 A - E qualifications - which must include and English).
  • Level 1 Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults certificate.

Desirable

  • Level 2 Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults certificate.
  • To have experience of or if appropriate to service needs be willing to undertake training in de-escalation or breakaway techniques.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Significant experience of caring for people with mental health problems in an acute in-patient or community care setting.
  • Previous experience of working in a Health or Social Care setting in a paid or voluntary position
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the key sections of the Mental Capacity Act and their use in practice.
  • Demonstrate a sound understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and their partners and family.
  • To demonstrate an understanding and/or practical experience of delivering interventions.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Able to work on own initiative.
  • Able to work as part of a team.
  • Motivated and enthusiastic about working with women and families in 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.

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).

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).

Employer details

Employer name

455 North London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cedar Place

890 High Road

London

N12 9RH


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

455 North London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cedar Place

890 High Road

London

N12 9RH


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Team manager - South and West SPMS

Kristiana Heapy

K.heapy@nhs.net

07929085415

Date posted

09 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£31,944 to £34,937 a year Pro rata including HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

455-CANDI-1203

Job locations

Cedar Place

890 High Road

London

N12 9RH


Supporting documents

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