Nursery Nurse

Job overview

The Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) is a 12-bed acute female ward, providing evidence-based mental health treatment for both pregnant women and women with babies under one year old.

Our service is for women who present with an acute or relapsing mental illness e.g. schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, affective disorders.

Our treatment programmes are designed collaboratively with the service user, their families and the extensive MDT to which the nursery nurse provides a unique voice. Our aim in promoting recovery is twofold: a) for women to develop confidence in their vital role as mothers and to have a lasting return to their community and b) for babies to grow up to be physically healthy, emotionally capable and securely attached so that they can lead happy lives.

We do not expect you to come to us as experts in this specialist field. However, you can expect us to train you to become expert over time. We provide opportunities to learn about the various mental health conditions which our patients may present with. Our team is known for its openness and enthusiasm for training new staff.

We train all our nursery nurses in baby massage/baby yoga/breast feeding .

We provide a weekly opportunity for reflective practice.

Supervision will be provided monthly by the senior nursery nurse and /or Children's Social Worker.

We have lots of informal opportunities to discuss safeguarding concerns.

Main duties of the job

As part of a rich multi-disciplinary team, you will be responsible for providing nursery nursing interventions and support to mothers with acute perinatal mental health needs and their babies. This will include mothers in the antenatal and postnatal period within the MBU setting.

The post holder is required to have a robust working knowledge of childcare and child development which is used to inform care plans and interventions. The candidate will have an up to date awareness of recent research and guidance regarding child development and attachment theory.

You will work alongside professionals offering therapeutic input with the mother and baby relationship as a focus of your work. You will also have an opportunity to liaise with other professionals agencies as part of your role.

We are committed to the development of the people that come to work with us. We will invest in you and support you to maximise your potential. As part of your ongoing development, you will receive regular supervision and training to enable you to flourish within the service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

.Key Responsibilities:

1)To work as a member of the MBU delivering interventions which meet the needs of the baby for those mothers who are receiving inpatient care. The nursery nurse will also promote and support the health of the mother and baby.

2) To support the mother and the rest of the MDT in order to ensure that consistent and appropriate emotional and practical care of the baby is being given at all times.

3)The nursery nurse will also monitor, document and report the developmental progress of the babies on the unit; will work in partnership with the family and the wider community nursing teams e.g.Midwives, Health Visitors, Community Nurses and Community Nursery Nurses.

4) To ensure regular monitoring of physical health and developmental milestones of the babies are undertaken and reported back to the link health visitors as required.

5) To ensure that a Mother’s involvement in the care of her baby is fully promoted and that the mothers are consulted regarding all care given to their baby

6) To organise and facilitate mother and baby groups with the aim of sharing and educating in all areas of baby care and play.

7) To provide written and verbal reports to the multi-disciplinary team relating to

mothers care of and behaviour with her baby and any observed changes in the physical health of babies reporting any concerns immediately to the nurse in charge.

8) To communicate sensitive information to patients and/or relatives/carers concerning appropriate physical and/or psychological care and interactions with their baby.

9) To access regular supervision and appraisal and contribute to the well-being of the team by supporting other team members and treating all colleagues with respect.

10) To undertake Promotion of Safe and Therapeutic Services interventions as required in line with Trust policy.

11) To undertake any other appropriate duties as may be assigned or delegated on occasions by the Nurse in Charge.

Applicant requirements

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.