Skip to main content

This site is independent of the NHS and the Department of Health.

Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Midwifery
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
12 months (12 month fixed term to cover secondment opportunity)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
  • Compressed hours
37.5 hours per week (Working days Monday-Friday)
Job ref
289-SC-2374-A
Employer
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Queen Mary Maternity Unit, West Middlesex University Hospital
Town
Isleworth
Salary
£51,883 - £58,544 per annum incl. HCAS.
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
24/03/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Midwife

NHS AfC: Band 7

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced midwife to support the perinatal mental health team on a12 months secondment. 

You will be responsible for providing extra support and care to some pregnant women with more severe mental health problems, in partnership with their own midwife and the specialist perinatal mental health team. You will work closely with women and their families to plan and coordinate their care based on their individual needs.

Main duties of the job

 You will work closely with women and their families to plan and coordinate their care based on their individual needs. You will provide a link between the maternity service and other services involved in mental health care for women, including the local primary care therapy service (IAPT) and perinatal mental health team. You will ensure that relevant pathways, policies and processes for women with, or at risk of, mental illness are developed, implemented and audited. This will involve working with a range of relevant professionals, services and agencies.

You will work alongside the safeguarding team to support women who cross the boundary of each specialist service, whilst also supporting the overall safeguarding team at times of need. You will support your colleagues through coordinating and providing training and guidance in maternal mental health for key maternity staff, to enable them to provide holistic care that optimises mental as well as physical health. You will be an innovative practitioner and an effective change agent, promoting evidence based practice. 

Working for our organisation

Proud of our workforce

 

·     Our 7,500 staff are recruited from local communities and around the world

·     Our staff rate us second among acute trusts in London as a place to work

·     Despite challenges in the NHS, our low staff vacancy rate remains significantly better than the national average

·     We are passionate about the health and wellbeing of our staff with a huge support offer, including our nationally-recognised free back-up care scheme and Timewise accreditation as a flexible employer

·     We love to develop our people, offering a range of development programmes and apprenticeships, with our healthcare support worker apprentices winning Apprentice of the Year for two years running

·     We offer a fantastic range of salary sacrifice schemes, from season ticket loans, bicycles and vehicles, to gym memberships, home electronics and holidays

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical / direct care practice 

  • Support, assist and advise women with, or at risk of, perinatal mental illness and their families to supplement the care provided by their midwives where necessary, for example working with women and their midwives to develop individual care plans, and making referrals to additional specialist support where required.
  • Act as an advocate for women to ensure they get the specialist mental health care they need.
  • 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. This includes a close working relationship with the safeguarding team.
  • Ensure research findings relevant to mental health are integrated into the practices and policies of the hospital. Encourage and take an active role in the evaluation of new approaches to practice.
  • Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records of patients’ assessments, care and plans.

Leadership and Collaborative Practice

  • Understand the impact of poor maternal mental health on infants and other family members, and the role that maternity services can play in mitigating this.
  • Develop and maintain a basic working knowledge of mental health legislation, policy and guidance.
  • Provide a link between midwives, GPs, health visitors, obstetricians, specialist mental health services, safeguarding services (where applicable) and other agencies in relation to the care of pregnant women and 
    new mothers with mental health problems.
  • Develop comprehensive care pathways for women and families affected by mild, moderate and severe maternal mental health problems in active collaboration with specialist perinatal mental health services  and other providers of health services (e.g. GPs, Health visitors, IAPT services, 3rd sector organisations).

Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.

 

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Registered Midwife
  • Degree or diploma in Midwifery or related subject
  • Evidence of post-registration education
  • Teaching and assessing/mentorship qualification
Desirable criteria
  • Additional qualification in mental health counselling

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Substantial recent experience of working as a Registered Midwife
  • Experience of working with women with complex needs
  • Evidence of an interest in developing specialist knowledge in the area of women’s mental health
  • Proven leadership skills
  • Evidence of delivering high quality teaching to staff groups
  • Experience of working across a variety of midwifery settings
Desirable criteria
  • Recent experience of research and audit
  • Previous management experience

Skills and knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Evidence of ability to influence and motivate others
  • Management/ organizational / prioritization skills
  • Ability to work autonomously and independently
  • Computer literate: able to use word, email, excel and manage databases
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to recognize the contribution of members of the MDT

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDWe are a Living Wage EmployerCapital Nurse, LondonHealthy Workplace - Commitment 2018Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoTimewise helps businesses to attract and develop the best talent through flexible working.No smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodDisability confident employerStep into healthArmed Forces Covenant Bronze AwardArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Louise Nunn
Job title
Consultant Midwife
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07880 079671
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies