Job summary
The post holder will work on the Mother and Baby Unit, a specialist provision for women with mental health problems during pregnancy and/or in the year after their baby is born. Patients in the postnatal period will have their babies with them during their time as an inpatient on the Mother and Baby Unit. The Mother and Baby Unit will be an 8 bedded unit with 6 beds commissioned by NHS England for the women of Cheshire and Merseyside and 2 beds commissioned by NHS Wales for the women of North Wales. The Mother and Baby Unit will also accept referrals for out of area women when there are beds available.
Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 26th January 2026 and the proposed interview date is 11th February 2026
Main duties of the job
- The Lead Nursey Nurse will demonstrate and role model a sound knowledge of caring effectively for infants under 1 year and use this to teach and guide colleagues.
- Ensuring current practice and care on the Mother & Baby Unit reflects standards as outlined in the Trust's Safeguarding Children Policy alongside Cheshire West and Chester Child Protection Procedures and to be able to involve specialist safeguarding services as and when necessary.
- Supporting junior staff in, and be able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for infants on the Mother & Baby unit.
- Assisting in the management and organisation of work as required.
- Provide professional supervision and clinical leadership to other members in the staff group.
- To form part of the development of clients' and staff knowledge and skills in caring for infants on the unit.
- To contributing to the development of standards of care for both mothers and babies on the unit, proving feedback as necessary and taking positive steps toward implementing necessary change.
Contribute and deliver training in line with service need and development of the staff group.
About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Education to degree level in a relevant subject e.g Early Yeats or equivalent experience within perinatal mental health
- NNEB or Level 3 BTec National Diploma in Early Years awarded by Edexcel or NVQ Level 3 in Early Years and Education (NVQCE) or Level 3 qualification in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD)
Desirable
- Baby Massage
- Video Interactive Guidance
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- Experience of managing and supporting staff/teams
- Substantial experience of supporting families in relation to the following: Weaning and Nutrition
- Child Development
- Behaviour Management
- Play and development
- Attachment and Bonding
- Safety
Desirable
- ECDL/IT Skills
- Health promotion
Experience
Essential
- Recent and substantial. experience of working with children/families
- Ability to implement previous learning in practice and knowledge of illness surrounding birth
- Understanding of perinatal mental health
- Experience in service delivery
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Desirable
- Experience in service delivey
- Supervisory Skills
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
Essential
Desirable
- Safeguarding
- Ability to be sensitive
Personal Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Time management skills
- Team working
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Education to degree level in a relevant subject e.g Early Yeats or equivalent experience within perinatal mental health
- NNEB or Level 3 BTec National Diploma in Early Years awarded by Edexcel or NVQ Level 3 in Early Years and Education (NVQCE) or Level 3 qualification in Children's Care, Learning and Development (CCLD)
Desirable
- Baby Massage
- Video Interactive Guidance
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- Experience of managing and supporting staff/teams
- Substantial experience of supporting families in relation to the following: Weaning and Nutrition
- Child Development
- Behaviour Management
- Play and development
- Attachment and Bonding
- Safety
Desirable
- ECDL/IT Skills
- Health promotion
Experience
Essential
- Recent and substantial. experience of working with children/families
- Ability to implement previous learning in practice and knowledge of illness surrounding birth
- Understanding of perinatal mental health
- Experience in service delivery
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Desirable
- Experience in service delivey
- Supervisory Skills
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
Essential
Desirable
- Safeguarding
- Ability to be sensitive
Personal Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Time management skills
- Team working
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.
