Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner (Assessment Team)
Job overview
**We offer a relocation package of up to £8,000**
The relocation package is for anyone who would need to relocate in order to take up employment with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership. Terms and conditions apply.
The Cheshire and Mersey Perinatal Mental Health Service has grown at a significant rate following a successful bid for Long Term Plan funding, allowing us to support an increasing number of women, partners, and families within the perinatal period.In order to continue this expansion and ensure high-quality mental health assessments with a “think family approach”, we now have an assessment team model. The assessment team comprises of Non-Medical Prescribers and Mental Health Practitioners who act as a “front door” to our service with the main focus of the roles being on initial assessments and duty triage, however, there may be some requirement from time to time to support some other elements within the service.
We are seeking a Mental Health Practitioner to join our assessment team who is passionate about providing excellent care to women and families within the perinatal period and seeking to reduce health inequalities.
We are a supportive, friendly, highly committed service who provide multi-disciplinary, specialised care to women in the perinatal period with moderate to severe mental health problems throughout Cheshire and Wirral. We offer excellent training opportunities to our staff and provide robust supervision to support delivery of high quality care.
Main duties of the job
Our team covers the entire CWP geographical patch and have a "hub" base in Ellesmere Port where duty takes place, therefore, ability and willingness to travel is essential.
Respond to the needs of new and expectant mothers in a timely manner, with the capacity to deal with crises and emergencies, as well as supporting routine and preventative care; providing specialist care and support through pregnancy, and post-natally, to women experiencing significant mental health difficulties associated with the perinatal period.
Undertake assessments in a variety of settings with a strong emphasis on risk assessment, robust mental health care planning and safeguarding.
Work collaboratively with colleagues in maternity services, health visiting, children’s centres and children’s services.
Working for our organisation
CWP provides health and care services for local people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care – including the provision of three GP surgeries.
Our aim is to help people to be the best they can be, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We were recently rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission with a Good rating overall.
We offer a variety of roles at all levels, so whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your skills and experience in a new role, CWP is the right employer for you.
CWP are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences.
To support this, we offer up to three weeks induction, dependent on role, with our Prepare to Care programme for all new starters. This programme welcomes you to CWP and provides you with information and training to support you in your role.
We welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description for full details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which are ‘the 6 Cs’ Communication, Competence, Courage, Care, Compassion and Commitment. The supporting information section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours.You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.
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 https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/completing-application-guidance. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email – [email protected] 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.
CWP is proud to be an accredited Veteran Aware organisation helping to provide and share best practice in NHS care for our armed forces community. As a veteran aware organisation, CWP is committed to delivering on the principles of the Armed Force Covenant and has a ‘Silver’ award with the MOD Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (DERS).
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.
If you experience any technical difficulties or need help when making an application please contact our Recruitment Team on 01244 393100.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Educated to diploma/degree level and registered with an appropriate professional body (ie Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker, Registered General Nurse etc)
- Training to level 3 in Safeguarding Children and Young People: roles and competencies for Health Care Staff or willingness to undertake training.
- Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism
- Clinical Supervision qualification
- Educational qualification
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential criteria- Specialist knowledge in perinatal mental health or willingness to undertake training.
- Specialist knowledge in attachment and infant mental health or willingness to undertake training.
- An understanding of the NSF and Mental Health Act/ Mental Health Capacity Act requirements.
- CPA Process
- Able to produce well written reports.
- Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals from various settings.
- Able to own problems and get involved in the solutions
- Ability to manage risk
- Able to plan creatively to maximise effectiveness of care plans.
- Able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to manage own time and that of the team’s.
- Ability to work flexibly.
- Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
- Ability to manage change in a positive manner.
- Awareness of community structures and social care options and processes
- Understanding of recovery principles in Mental Health
Experience
Essential criteria- Skills and experience in delivering mental health training and education to non-mental health professionals.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environment
- Substantial experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems
- Working within a community mental health setting in either the statutory or voluntary sector.