Are you looking for an exciting new job in an award winning, well-supported, friendly, dynamic, culturally astute and inclusive environment that puts women/birthing people at the centre of a high standard of care? If so, come and join us.

Our latest CQC report that has just been published rates us again as good, maintaining our good rating since 2017 and has awarded us outstanding for leadership.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, special Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Midwife to join our midwifery team on our Lewisham site, working with a dedicated team who continually evaluating the service so that it is a client centred, quality driven responsive maternity unit.

We are looking for a Midwife with relevant teaching and supervision experience, with skills and qualifications in perinatal mental health and well-developed leadership skills who can work independently and as part of the MDT.

You will be committed to delivering high quality care that is responsive to the needs of the local community and will actively engage the people who use our services to improve care delivery and service co-design, ensuring feedback is used to improve perinatal mental health services.

Working with the Head of Midwifery, Consultant Midwife, Professional Leads and CCG to create a culture of learning that is based on a need for continuous improvement, you will lead the provision of evidence based perinatal mental health training, support and advice to the wider workforce.

Main duties of the job

You will ensure staff are competent and confident to deliver services to women/birthing people with a range of perinatal mental health difficulties.

You will play a key role in developing and maintaining high standards of care for women/birthing people with mental health problems in pregnancy and the postnatal period, and their families.

You will work as an expert and role model in the field of perinatal mental health across the commissioned geographical areas of Lewisham and Greenwich and provide clinical and professional leadership to the Maternity Department. The role will have key specialist clinical, consultative, training, practice development and strategic responsibilities.

You will provide extra support to some pregnant women/birthing people with more severe mental health problems, working with their own midwife and the specialist perinatal mental health team. You will work closely with clients 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 to women/birthing people, including the local primary care therapy service (IAPT) and perinatal mental health services.

You will have excellent written and verbal presentation and interpersonal skills and be able to represent the service with key stakeholders to develop and progress integrated care pathways for perinatal mental health.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development

Widening access (anchor institution) and employability

Improving the experience of staff with disability

Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development

Making equalities mainstream

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will play a key role in developing and maintaining high standards of care for women/birthing people with mental health problems in pregnancy and the postnatal period, and their families. You will have a high level of relevant expert knowledge and skills, which you will use to manage, develop and lead care for pregnant and new mothers with mental health needs.

You will be responsible for providing extra support and care to some pregnant women/birthing people with more severe mental health problems, in partnership with their own midwife and the specialist perinatal mental health team. You will work closely with clients 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 to women/birthing people, including the local primary care therapy service (IAPT) and perinatal mental health services. You will ensure that relevant pathways, policies and processes to identify clients with, or at risk of, or with existing mental illness are developed, implemented and audited. This will involve working with a range of relevant professionals, services and agencies, including commissioners and the public health team.

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 in all areas of maternity care.

This post is not suitable for newly qualified midwives

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Midwife
• Mentorship
• Degree
• Evidence of on going education

Desirable

• Masters
• Supervisor of Midwives
• oAdditional qualification in mental health or counselling qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience as a Band 6 Midwife
• Proven leadership skills
• Evidence of delivering high quality teaching to staff groups.
• Evidence of multi agency working.

Desirable

• Previous experience within similar role at Band 7

Knowledge

Essential

• Specialist knowledge and experience in maternal and infant mental health, developed through training and practice
• A specialist interest in mental health.
• Detailed knowledge of current midwifery issues.
• Knowledge of clinical governance processes
• Understanding of wider NHS agenda and drivers for change.

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham

London

SE13 6LH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

197-RF4997