Specialist Perinatal Social Worker

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the South West London and St George's Perinatal Mental Health Service part time on a fixed term basis.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Perinatal Social Worker to join our SWLSTG Perinatal Team on a part-time basis.

The successful candidate will ideally have essential perinatal mental health experience and be committed to delivering compassionate, trauma‑informed, family-centered care.

This is Fixed-Term, 2.5 days a week and the days of Wednesday afternoon to Friday is expected.

Main duties of the job

As a Perinatal Social Worker, you will be a key member of a specialist multidisciplinary Perinatal Mental Health Team, providing consultation and advice for women experiencing complex mental health difficulties during pregnancy and the first year after birth.

The role includes leading on safeguarding, child protection, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act and Care Act matters within the team, while working collaboratively with health, social care and voluntary sector partners to deliver coordinated, family-centred care. You will contribute to clinical decision-making, risk management, service development, audit and quality improvement activities.

You will provide consultation, advice and training to colleagues and partner agencies, helping to develop best practice in perinatal mental health and social care. The post holder will maintain accurate clinical records, participate in multidisciplinary meetings, and support positive outcomes for women and their families through compassionate, recovery-focused and trauma-informed practice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be a senior social worker within the Trust’s wider Perinatal Mental Health Team. The Team is being expanded as the Trust has been successful in bidding in 2018/19 to Wave 2 of NHS England’s Perinatal Mental Health Community Services Development Fund, to improve perinatal service provision across South West London.

• To contribute to the Perinatal model for assessment and treatment within the Perinatal Mental Health Team- working as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, providing individual, group and family work to clients where appropriate.
• Promote mental health wellbeing and physical outcome;
• Promote stability in education and work;
• Reduce episodes of crisis;
• Manage risk within team, Directorate and Trust structures;
• Work to relevant professional and ethical guidelines, and within the framework of Directorate and Trust policies and procedures.
• Contribute to screening and outcome measures in clinically meaningful ways to demonstrate treatment effectiveness and seek feedback about user experiences.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.