Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner

Job overview

Join our specialist Perinatal Team and make a meaningful impact on the mental health of women and families during the crucial perinatal period.

Our Perinatal Team supports women with severe or complex mental health conditions who are planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, or have a child under two. We deliver high‑quality, evidence‑based specialist assessment, intervention, and advice, ensuring safe and effective care for women, their babies, and their families.

Formed in 2017 as part of the national Perinatal Long Term Plan, the team continues to grow and enhance its offer. Ongoing developments include a 24‑month care pathway, increased access to psychological therapies, and the delivery of partner assessments.

Why join us?

Working in the Perinatal Team offers a unique opportunity to:

• Support women experiencing moderate to severe antenatal and postnatal mental health difficulties
• Work closely with their families and infants, ensuring timely and appropriate interventions
• Engage in multidisciplinary and multiagency working
• Access specialist perinatal training and development opportunities
• Ensure women, families, and infants are appropriately safeguarded
• Contribute to an innovative, expanding specialist service

Location

If successful, you will be based in our North Hub, working across Peterborough, Huntingdon, and Wisbech as part of an experienced and supportive multidisciplinary team. This role involves travel, applicant must have access to a car.

Main duties of the job

If you are successful, you will work with mothers, their infants and families who are at risk of or experiencing severe and complex perinatal mental health conditions.

You will have a case load of ladies that you work with as care coordinator, linking in with the wider treatment options available within the team via our nursery nurses, occupational therapists, and psychologists.

We prefer to see our mums in their home environment as this is often easier for them with small children. As a care coordinator you would be involved in developing care plans and liaising with family members, carers and significant others to support the development and management of individuals care plans.

You will also be working with women, to support them to understand the nature of their mental health challenges (psycho education), helping women develop coping strategies and relapse prevention plans, linking in with wider third sector agencies.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

• To be part of the development of the Countywide Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service.
• To work directly with women, their infants and families who are at risk of or experiencing severe and complex perinatal mental health conditions, including assessment and intervention linked to the mother/ infant relationship.
• To contribute to the development and delivery of Perinatal Mental Health Training and Education to other staffing groups.
• To participate in safeguarding adult enquiries and complete safeguarding lead training.
• Mentor and co-mentor students.
• To provide medication advice and information within their competency.
• Provide supervision to junior staff.
• To work jointly with staff from other services.
• To provide specialist advice and consultation to other staff regarding the management of women experiencing severe and complex mental health conditions during the perinatal phase including guidance on management and signposting where conditions do not require input from a specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service.
• Attend professional’s meetings and other meetings to offer advice where appropriate.

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.

*DVLA have a number of reciprocal arrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website