Specialist Perinatal Community Occupational Therapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a passionate Occupational Therapist, to apply for a 12-month fixed-term Band 7 Community Perinatal Occupational Therapist post, in the boroughs of Hillingdon.

CNWL's Perinatal Mental Health Services provides support for pregnant & postnatal women experiencing mental health /emotional difficulties in the boroughs of Brent, Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Hillingdon and Westminster, providing community and inpatient care.

An integrated model of care is provided between maternity, primary and secondary care services. The clinicians are experienced specialists offering mental health assessment and treatment for women in the context of the community to support them to remain in their own home with their families encouraging the formation of lasting positive bonds.

As the Occupational Therapist working within the team you will offer a unique understanding of occupational performance, physical and mental health, mother/infant co-occupations and child development in the context of maternal mental health. A range of individual and group interventions to enable women with perinatal mental health problems to overcome the barriers that prevent them from participating in self-care, productive, leisure and mothering occupations will be offered., The successful applicant will work closely with the team's excellent Band 6 Occupational therapist as well as the supportive and skilled MDT. We have an excellent network of Occupational Therapists working across other perinatal sites within the Trust who meet on a regular basis to engage in training, share working and learning experiences as well get involved in new and exciting projects. There are also opportunities to link in with OTs within the wider trust and/or Perinatal OTs regionally.

This position is open to applicants who have significant experience in working in mental health including a minimum of 1 year in a community mental health setting.

The applicant must have excellent clinical skills with a special interest to work in maternal mental health, providing assessment using tools drawn from the Model of Human Occupation and specialist perinatal interventions. We aim to improve occupational performance within the parenting role which supports and promotes improved mental and physical health for mothers, babies and their families.

There will be expectation of supporting the team to meet targets while participating in service developments tasks, as well as contributing to delivering generic assessments and supporting the role of duty. Thorough assessment of risk, the formulation of safe and effective risk management plans and documentation with the ability to communicate these clearly and concisely is essential.

Experience of participating in formal child protection procedures and of being involved in inter agency work with families is desired.

Appropriate training, support and regular supervision will be provided by MDT and the Occupational Therapy Lead.

Each team comprises of a highly skilled and dedicated multi-disciplinary team, including professionals such as psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, parent-infant psychotherapists and nursery nurses.