Job summary
This is an exciting new role to develop maternity perinatal mental health services in Somerset.
Based across two acute units in Taunton and Yeovil, you will be building on the current service provision to bring together the pathways for women accessing care in both sites.
This role will include working closely with the perinatal and maternal mental health teams, CMHS and psychiatric liaison services as well as our obstetric colleagues.
We welcome informal discussions prior to applying, please contact us on 07771 252790
Main duties of the job
The role includes managing a small caseload of women experiencing significant mental health concerns alongside providing support to the wider midwifery workforce caring with women with complex mental health needs.
As part of this role you will be required to provide updates on maternity essential training days, undertake audits, provide an annual report and complete rapid reviews when required.
Acting as a representative for the Trust at regional and local perinatal mental health steering groups and also provide regular updates in Trust governance meetings.
This role does include a flexible approach to work bases. You may work from home at times but must be able to travel between sites across Somerset, therefore a car driver or access to a vehicle with business insurance is essential to meet the needs of the service.
The post is full-time, 37.5 hrs per week and is fixed term for one year.
To join us in this exciting and rewarding role you must have a current midwifery registration and a proven record of recent years experience post registration.
About us
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression, and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.
The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.
There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Act as a resource for all staff involved in maternity care (obstetricians, midwives, student midwives and support staff). Provide evidence-based advice, support and information with regards to the appropriate management and referral of women with mental health problems
- Care pathways to be in place for all levels of mental health issues; develop in active collaboration with specialist perinatal mental health services and other service providers.
- Set, monitor and audit standards of care in relation to care pathways for women with mental health/complex needs, to demonstrate service outcomes.
- Provide annual statistics required in relation to outcomes for women with mental health/complex needs.
- Provide a service link between midwives, GPs, health visiting service, obstetricians, specialist mental health services, child safeguarding team and other agencies in relation to the care of pregnant women and new mothers with mental health problems.
- Review and develop staff guidance relating to perinatal mental illness, ensuring it is evidence based and reflects both national guidance and local circumstances.
- Work collaboratively with professional colleagues to provide midwifery care to women with mental health needs.
Please see attached job description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Act as a resource for all staff involved in maternity care (obstetricians, midwives, student midwives and support staff). Provide evidence-based advice, support and information with regards to the appropriate management and referral of women with mental health problems
- Care pathways to be in place for all levels of mental health issues; develop in active collaboration with specialist perinatal mental health services and other service providers.
- Set, monitor and audit standards of care in relation to care pathways for women with mental health/complex needs, to demonstrate service outcomes.
- Provide annual statistics required in relation to outcomes for women with mental health/complex needs.
- Provide a service link between midwives, GPs, health visiting service, obstetricians, specialist mental health services, child safeguarding team and other agencies in relation to the care of pregnant women and new mothers with mental health problems.
- Review and develop staff guidance relating to perinatal mental illness, ensuring it is evidence based and reflects both national guidance and local circumstances.
- Work collaboratively with professional colleagues to provide midwifery care to women with mental health needs.
Please see attached job description for further details.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Registered Midwife Educated to a minimum of 1st degree level/able to demonstrate evidence that is working at degree level/commenced degree pathway.
- Evidence of relevant post graduate specialist training in Mental Health or equivalent experience and short courses to MSc, post graduate diploma level or equivalent.
- Current NMC registration
- Comprehensive post qualifying experience which has included caring for women during the antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods
- Experience of working with Mental Health teams
- Evidence of understanding the impact of poor maternal mental health and birth trauma on infants and other family members, and the role that Maternity Services can play in mitigating this.
- Knowledge of the impact of common psychiatric medications on women and babies during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and have links to experts (Specialist Perinatal Psychiatrists and Pharmacists, Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife) to keep this knowledge up to date and seek additional information where required.
- IT skills to assist with presentations and report writing
- Experience of collaboration working with other agencies
- Able to act as a lead resource with expert knowledge of specialty required to provide clinical advice and support to staff, mothers, families and other disciplines.
- Demonstrated commitment to continuing professional development.
- Knowledge of Socially disadvantaged family issues
- Audit / research / project development in a clinical field
- Skills in risk assessment and management
- Ability to recognise deterioration in mental health.
- Understanding of less common mental health disorders which may manifest in pregnancy and the postnatal period
- Proven knowledge of local referral routes for women being treated with mental health conditions.
- Ability to work on social factors affecting mental distress e.g. accommodation, substance misuse, domestic violence, welfare rights
- Demonstrate understanding of ethics, UK law, Midwifery Rules and Standards, Nursing and Midwifery Council guidelines and those relating to childbirth, especially pertaining to advocacy, consent and sexual health.xperience of supervising staff
- Demonstrate previous success in supporting and delivering change and performance with and through clinical teams
- Proven ability to analyse complex problems and to develop and successfully implement practical and workable solutions to address them.
- Liaise with mental health services, and other services and partner agencies to ensure that women with severe mental illness are receiving active and effective care.
- Good communication skills both written and verbal
- Be able to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively
- Ability to engage positively with service users and their families
- Ability to work effectively as a team member
- The ability to travel around the locality as requested, independently and efficiently.
- Ability to work flexibly to cover service
Desirable
- Experience of working in the community settings in a senior midwife role
- Knowledge of appropriate legislation e.g. current Mental Health Act legislation, safeguarding legislation and other policy related to mental health
Person Specification
Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Registered Midwife Educated to a minimum of 1st degree level/able to demonstrate evidence that is working at degree level/commenced degree pathway.
- Evidence of relevant post graduate specialist training in Mental Health or equivalent experience and short courses to MSc, post graduate diploma level or equivalent.
- Current NMC registration
- Comprehensive post qualifying experience which has included caring for women during the antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods
- Experience of working with Mental Health teams
- Evidence of understanding the impact of poor maternal mental health and birth trauma on infants and other family members, and the role that Maternity Services can play in mitigating this.
- Knowledge of the impact of common psychiatric medications on women and babies during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and have links to experts (Specialist Perinatal Psychiatrists and Pharmacists, Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife) to keep this knowledge up to date and seek additional information where required.
- IT skills to assist with presentations and report writing
- Experience of collaboration working with other agencies
- Able to act as a lead resource with expert knowledge of specialty required to provide clinical advice and support to staff, mothers, families and other disciplines.
- Demonstrated commitment to continuing professional development.
- Knowledge of Socially disadvantaged family issues
- Audit / research / project development in a clinical field
- Skills in risk assessment and management
- Ability to recognise deterioration in mental health.
- Understanding of less common mental health disorders which may manifest in pregnancy and the postnatal period
- Proven knowledge of local referral routes for women being treated with mental health conditions.
- Ability to work on social factors affecting mental distress e.g. accommodation, substance misuse, domestic violence, welfare rights
- Demonstrate understanding of ethics, UK law, Midwifery Rules and Standards, Nursing and Midwifery Council guidelines and those relating to childbirth, especially pertaining to advocacy, consent and sexual health.xperience of supervising staff
- Demonstrate previous success in supporting and delivering change and performance with and through clinical teams
- Proven ability to analyse complex problems and to develop and successfully implement practical and workable solutions to address them.
- Liaise with mental health services, and other services and partner agencies to ensure that women with severe mental illness are receiving active and effective care.
- Good communication skills both written and verbal
- Be able to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively
- Ability to engage positively with service users and their families
- Ability to work effectively as a team member
- The ability to travel around the locality as requested, independently and efficiently.
- Ability to work flexibly to cover service
Desirable
- Experience of working in the community settings in a senior midwife role
- Knowledge of appropriate legislation e.g. current Mental Health Act legislation, safeguarding legislation and other policy related to mental health
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).
