Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated specialist midwife
to join the newly developed West Yorkshire Paths (maternal mental health service)
and support the delivery of the priorities set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.
The post will be hosted by SWYPFT on
behalf of the West Yorkshire ICS.
West Yorkshire Paths provide support to women and birthing parents
experiencing moderate to severe or complex mental health difficulties as a result of birth trauma, fear of birth
itself (tokophobia), and baby loss (including loss through removal into social
care).
The specialist midwife will contribute to the effective delivery of the service,
their key role will be to deliver care for service
users and families with birth trauma and baby loss.
The post holder will have the opportunity to work closely
with maternity services, and perinatal mental health teams to help influence
trauma informed working across West Yorkshire perinatal services.
The specialist midwife will demonstrate a
high level of expertise within the specialist service providing advice,
education and support to staff, patients, their families, and carers.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be
fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.
For full job description, please see attached supporting
documents.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking to
recruit enthusiastic candidates, who are professional and approachable and able
to build positive working relationships within the West Yorkshire Paths team
and with partners across the West Yorkshire ICS.
The specialist
midwife will contribute to mental health triage, screening, signposting, and
providing support and psychological wellbeing interventions as needed. The post holder will work closely
with psychological professionals within Paths to provide an overall package of
care
There will also be a focus on
reducing health inequalities, inclusion and engagement of seldom heard
communities to break down barriers in access to the service and outreach work
to engage communities.
Agile working will be required with travel mainly local to Leeds
with occasional travel across the West Yorkshire footprint on an ad-hoc basis
to help manage capacity and demand and help reduce barriers to accessing the
service. 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.
Part-time
and flexible working hours will be considered.
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.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The
specialist midwife will contribute to the effective delivery of the West
Yorkshire's Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS) to address the psychological
needs women and birthing people with moderate to severe mental health
difficulties. Their key role will be to
deliver care for service users and families with birth trauma and tokophobia
and creating awareness among maternity and neonatal staff about the
psychological impact.
The role will also involve providing
training to other professionals, supporting maternity and others services to
develop tools and pathways that help to identify and refer patients within the
inclusion criteria.
The
post holder will demonstrate a high level of expertise within the specialist
service providing advice, education and support to staff, patients, their
families and carers.
The
specialist midwife must have skilled expertise primarily in the areas of
perinatal mental health and trauma informed working. Their crucial
responsibility is to maintain and develop exceptional standards of care for
this specific group of people and their families.
As a team member of the MMHS team, the specialist
midwife will contribute to mental health triage, screening, signposting, and
providing support and psychological interventions as needed.
Their role is to ensure that people who have experienced birth trauma or fear
of birth due to previous life trauma and have mental health difficulties
receive appropriate support. They will work closely with maternity colleagues,
as well as other services such as the Perinatal Community Mental Health Team,
Primary Care, and relevant external and specialist third sector agencies, as
required.
The
post holder will support new ways of working that emphasises a more efficient
and patient focused service, and will ensure the safe treatment, referral and
discharge of patients. Working
closely with maternity and mental health the specialist midwife will take a
strategic role in their local area to ensure clear integrated pathways of care
are reviewed and provide affective and timely access to the service.
Responsibility
for maintaining the on-going development of clinical practice and standards of
care within the service. Develop procedures and guidelines in collaboration
with multidisciplinary colleagues. There will also be a focus on inclusion and
engagement of seldom heard communities to break down barriers in access to the
service and outreach work to engage communities.
About the service:
We
offer a service for moderate to severe or complex mental health difficulties
with a significant association with a trauma or loss in the
maternity/perinatal/neonatal context and falling through the gaps of existing
service provision.
The
service provides specialist trauma informed birth reflections and targeted
psychological interventions to address severe and complex reproductive trauma.
We aim to prevent long term complications for family health and relationships.
Our focused support can help women and birthing parents to overcome negative
experiences, reduce the increase risk of postnatal depression, anxiety and
enhance mother-infant bonding.
We
aim to improve screening to provide prompt referral into our service. Offering
specialist midwifery and psychological support aimed at preventing further
trauma and minimising harm. Through clear and collaborative care planning with
maternity services, we strive to empower individuals to have a more positive
birth experience.
The
postholder will:
Provide highly skilled trauma informed practice and
care planning. High quality understanding of trauma informed working in
maternity and mental health. Facilitate trauma informed training for
multi-disciplinary teams.
Assist
and guide people in the identified group, and their families, in accessing
suitable and timely support. This may involve creating individual care plans
and referring them to relevant specialist services, as needed.
Advocating
for women and birthing people to ensure they receive the specialist care they
require. Building trusting relationship and identify risks and concerns.
Liaise
with other services and partner agencies to ensure that people who have
experienced trauma are receiving the most appropriate care and support families
with the negative affects of maternal mental health needs.
Serve as a liaison between maternity
and mental health services to increase awareness, service delivery, and
ultimately improve the satisfaction and wellbeing of both patients and staff.
Bring people together to
improve the quality, consistency and coordination of care.
Responsible for providing excellent midwifery and trauma informed care
to high-risk individuals as an autonomous practitioner. Raising awareness of
perinatal mental health needs and tackling stigma.
Triage referrals, plan, implement and
evaluate care for women and birthing parents. Manage onward referrals and
signposting.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants
are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application
forms.Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is
strongly discouraged and we 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The
specialist midwife will contribute to the effective delivery of the West
Yorkshire's Maternal Mental Health Service (MMHS) to address the psychological
needs women and birthing people with moderate to severe mental health
difficulties. Their key role will be to
deliver care for service users and families with birth trauma and tokophobia
and creating awareness among maternity and neonatal staff about the
psychological impact.
The role will also involve providing
training to other professionals, supporting maternity and others services to
develop tools and pathways that help to identify and refer patients within the
inclusion criteria.
The
post holder will demonstrate a high level of expertise within the specialist
service providing advice, education and support to staff, patients, their
families and carers.
The
specialist midwife must have skilled expertise primarily in the areas of
perinatal mental health and trauma informed working. Their crucial
responsibility is to maintain and develop exceptional standards of care for
this specific group of people and their families.
As a team member of the MMHS team, the specialist
midwife will contribute to mental health triage, screening, signposting, and
providing support and psychological interventions as needed.
Their role is to ensure that people who have experienced birth trauma or fear
of birth due to previous life trauma and have mental health difficulties
receive appropriate support. They will work closely with maternity colleagues,
as well as other services such as the Perinatal Community Mental Health Team,
Primary Care, and relevant external and specialist third sector agencies, as
required.
The
post holder will support new ways of working that emphasises a more efficient
and patient focused service, and will ensure the safe treatment, referral and
discharge of patients. Working
closely with maternity and mental health the specialist midwife will take a
strategic role in their local area to ensure clear integrated pathways of care
are reviewed and provide affective and timely access to the service.
Responsibility
for maintaining the on-going development of clinical practice and standards of
care within the service. Develop procedures and guidelines in collaboration
with multidisciplinary colleagues. There will also be a focus on inclusion and
engagement of seldom heard communities to break down barriers in access to the
service and outreach work to engage communities.
About the service:
We
offer a service for moderate to severe or complex mental health difficulties
with a significant association with a trauma or loss in the
maternity/perinatal/neonatal context and falling through the gaps of existing
service provision.
The
service provides specialist trauma informed birth reflections and targeted
psychological interventions to address severe and complex reproductive trauma.
We aim to prevent long term complications for family health and relationships.
Our focused support can help women and birthing parents to overcome negative
experiences, reduce the increase risk of postnatal depression, anxiety and
enhance mother-infant bonding.
We
aim to improve screening to provide prompt referral into our service. Offering
specialist midwifery and psychological support aimed at preventing further
trauma and minimising harm. Through clear and collaborative care planning with
maternity services, we strive to empower individuals to have a more positive
birth experience.
The
postholder will:
Provide highly skilled trauma informed practice and
care planning. High quality understanding of trauma informed working in
maternity and mental health. Facilitate trauma informed training for
multi-disciplinary teams.
Assist
and guide people in the identified group, and their families, in accessing
suitable and timely support. This may involve creating individual care plans
and referring them to relevant specialist services, as needed.
Advocating
for women and birthing people to ensure they receive the specialist care they
require. Building trusting relationship and identify risks and concerns.
Liaise
with other services and partner agencies to ensure that people who have
experienced trauma are receiving the most appropriate care and support families
with the negative affects of maternal mental health needs.
Serve as a liaison between maternity
and mental health services to increase awareness, service delivery, and
ultimately improve the satisfaction and wellbeing of both patients and staff.
Bring people together to
improve the quality, consistency and coordination of care.
Responsible for providing excellent midwifery and trauma informed care
to high-risk individuals as an autonomous practitioner. Raising awareness of
perinatal mental health needs and tackling stigma.
Triage referrals, plan, implement and
evaluate care for women and birthing parents. Manage onward referrals and
signposting.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants
are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application
forms.Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is
strongly discouraged and we 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.
Person Specification
Training
Essential
- Enhanced training in Perinatal Mental Health e.g., post graduate diploma in perinatal mental health/Tavistock Perinatal Mental Health training or willing to undertake within the first 12 months in post.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to motivate and influence others.
- Excellent communication skills at a senior level.
- Ability to provide sensitive care related to mental health topics.
- Highly motivated and enthusiastic about positive change.
- Organisational and management skills.
- Time management skills.
- Understanding of equality and diversity and barriers to accessing care.
- Act as a role model for good practice.
- Ability to travel around sites in West Yorkshire.
- Sound clinical reasoning & decision making.
- Flexible.
- Presentation skills.
Desirable
- Confident public speaking.
Special Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- An advanced knowledge of midwifery and perinatal mental health and trauma informed care.
- Developed working knowledge of the impact of poor mental health on service users, infants and other family members, and the role that maternity services can play in mitigating this.
- Understanding of trauma informed working and facilitated trauma informed training.
- Developed knowledge and understanding of current policy, legislation and research in midwifery and mental health.
- IT skills.
- Ability to interpret and apply best practice and promote its use with others.
- Demonstrate capability to plan and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
- Ability to work as an individual and as part of a team.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the wider public health agenda.
- Clinical governance experience.
- Implementation of service design plans.
- Excellent approach to partnership working.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with families with Perinatal Mental Health needs.
- Development of pathways, guidelines, and practices.
- Audit and evaluation experience
- Experience of teaching / training.
Desirable
- Facilitated perinatal mental health training.
- Previous band 7 experience.
- Development of staff.
- Service improvement and development.
Physical Attributes
Essential
- Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Midwifery Registration and degree in Midwifery, NMC pin.
- Post Graduate Qualification in specific speciality or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Leadership certification.
- Teaching / Training and mentoring qualification or equivalent experience.
Person Specification
Training
Essential
- Enhanced training in Perinatal Mental Health e.g., post graduate diploma in perinatal mental health/Tavistock Perinatal Mental Health training or willing to undertake within the first 12 months in post.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to motivate and influence others.
- Excellent communication skills at a senior level.
- Ability to provide sensitive care related to mental health topics.
- Highly motivated and enthusiastic about positive change.
- Organisational and management skills.
- Time management skills.
- Understanding of equality and diversity and barriers to accessing care.
- Act as a role model for good practice.
- Ability to travel around sites in West Yorkshire.
- Sound clinical reasoning & decision making.
- Flexible.
- Presentation skills.
Desirable
- Confident public speaking.
Special Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- An advanced knowledge of midwifery and perinatal mental health and trauma informed care.
- Developed working knowledge of the impact of poor mental health on service users, infants and other family members, and the role that maternity services can play in mitigating this.
- Understanding of trauma informed working and facilitated trauma informed training.
- Developed knowledge and understanding of current policy, legislation and research in midwifery and mental health.
- IT skills.
- Ability to interpret and apply best practice and promote its use with others.
- Demonstrate capability to plan and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
- Ability to work as an individual and as part of a team.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the wider public health agenda.
- Clinical governance experience.
- Implementation of service design plans.
- Excellent approach to partnership working.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with families with Perinatal Mental Health needs.
- Development of pathways, guidelines, and practices.
- Audit and evaluation experience
- Experience of teaching / training.
Desirable
- Facilitated perinatal mental health training.
- Previous band 7 experience.
- Development of staff.
- Service improvement and development.
Physical Attributes
Essential
- Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Midwifery Registration and degree in Midwifery, NMC pin.
- Post Graduate Qualification in specific speciality or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Leadership certification.
- Teaching / Training and mentoring qualification or equivalent experience.
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).
