Senior Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner

We are looking for a 0.8 WTE experienced and self-motivated Duty Worker to join our experienced, friendly and supportive perinatal duty service which provides cover across Exeter, East and Mid and North Devon. This position can be based in either Exeter or Barnstaple. The duty service offers urgent assessments, supports professionals and respond to urgent requests for those people on caseload. The duty worker would work closely with their colleagues whilst screening new referrals and actioning them appropriately. Whilst perinatal duty offer has been long standing, the duty workers have worked hard in expanding and developing this offer, creating a team which works alongside band 7 clinicians offering timely assessments and supporting referrers. The successful applicants will play an active role in the continued development of the duty service. We are commissioned to work with women/birthing people pre-conceptually, in pregnancy and postnatally where there are mental health concerns. With
the increase in a number of clinical roles across the service, we will be in a position to extend our offer for women/birthing people from 12-24 months as well as offering fathers/co-parents screening and sign posting for their own mental health needs. We will also be increasing our psychological intervention offer to those using our service., We are seeking an individual who is open to learning & developing their skills in perinatal mental health and we are committed to supporting them by offering a comprehensive induction with ongoing support, supervision and professional development from our established and passionate MDT. This also includes access to our monthly Continuous Professional Development where we offer case discussion and learning as well as often inviting external speakers to develop our skills and knowledge.

The Duty worker will work within a team with leadership from the band 7. You will be responsible to triage referrals daily, ensuring that women/birthing people have timely access to assessment according to clinical need.

You will be offering assessments of those that are experiencing a severe perinatal mental health presentation, developing management plans whilst offer information and support to those that use the service, referrers and families.

Devon Partnership NHS Trust Perinatal Service is a well-established service and we have been awarded for our exceptional work at a national level (Positive Practice in Mental Health - Community Perinatal Team 2016 winner). We have close working partnerships with our local Maternity Departments, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Talkworks, Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) and MBU Outreach Team as well as the Trusts well-respected Research Department. We are actively involved in a current research with Circle of security as an intervention.

We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader Employer.

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.