Go back South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Occupational Therapist/Care Co-ordinator
The closing date is 04 January 2026
An exciting opportunity for 2 Band 6 Occupational Therapist/Care Co-ordinators (Lambeth and Lewisham Community Perinatal Teams)
The post holder will be responsible for assessing and treating a range of mental health difficulties suffered by pregnant women and those with infants up to one year old.
You will be providing clinical expertise and Specialist Borough CMHTs, relevant agencies, such as obstetric liaison, community mental health teams, acute inpatient units and to facilitate a safe and appropriate discharge plans for women from the Mother and Baby Inpatient Unit.
You will work with other colleagues from generic psychiatric services and staff from other perinatal services including the inpatient Mother and Baby Unit at the Bethlem Royal Hospital. You will provide training, consultation and liaison service for other healthcare professionals both within and outside the Trust.
You will be a member of a number of internal and external professional networks to ensure that care plans for mother and services across agencies are coordinated efficiently and effectively. You will clinically supervise, advise or manage junior members and trainees in the Perinatal Team and work as part of the Multidisciplinary team.
The service operates from 9am-5pm Monday-Friday. The role is for a full time post.
If you are someone who relishes a challenge and has a passion for dealing with women with complex mental health problems and their families, this could be the job for you.
Main duties of the job
* Managing and care co-ordinating a caseload of women with moderate to severe mental illness, during the perinatal period.
* Encouraging and empowering service users to have an optimum level of responsibility for their individual programme of care and with their consent, where appropriate, seeking the cooperation of friends, relatives and carers - following 'recovery' principles and approaches.
* Demonstrating competencies in Risk Assessment and Risk Management, including reporting of Serious Incidents and Complaints.
* You will be part of the daily duty rota for the service, which involves screening and managing new referrals, fielding telephone queries and supporting the team where necessary.
* Understanding and implementing safeguarding procedures in a community setting; recognise, report and investigate safeguarding issues and raise safeguarding alerts if you suspect that a service user and/or carer has been exposed to harm or abuse.
About us
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do.
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance.
Some benefits are highlighted here:
* Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
* Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as part-time working and job sharing.
* Career development, There are opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes.
* Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars.
* Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available on selected sites.
* NHS discounts health service discounts website.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Job responsibilities
See Job description and Person Specification for more detailed information.
As a practitioner working in a community setting you will promote and deliver evidence-based care for mothers with mental health conditions in their own homes and within a variety of accommodation settings.
Working autonomously within the parameters of the role leading and supporting junior staff and wider care team to implement the delivery of quality care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery-focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.
Demonstrating an enhanced understanding of Mental Health signs and symptoms and an understanding of how these may present in practice including recognition of impact on patient presentation and behaviour including risk factors. Supporting and teaching junior staff to develop understanding of mental health signs and symptoms and develop appropriate responses to these in practice.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
* Registered Occupational Therapist
* Degree
Experience
* Experience of research‑based/reflective practice, e.g. understanding and ability to use supervision to reflect on skills, attitude and knowledge and develop these by using evidence based practice
* Significant relevant clinical experience - 2 year minimum working in Mental Health settings
* Evidence of continuing professional development
* Experience as a preceptor / mentor
* Knowledge of clinical governance and audit
* Experience of Interagency working
* Experience of supporting practice development in clinical areas
* Awareness/knowledge of the issues surrounding social inclusion for women with mental health issues during the perinatal period
* Knowledge of how mental health problems impact on their babies/child development
* Experience of working with children and/or families
Skills/Knowledge
* Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, without close supervision
* Skills in clinical assessment/baseline mental health assessment
* Skills in risk assessment and risk management and crisis management
* Resilient: able to cope with difficult interpersonal situations
* Self‑aware, self‑confident and intrinsically motivated to do a good job and to motivate others
* Problem‑solving, ability to identify problems, review options and take appropriate action without a predetermined framework
* Skilled in supervision of others, and in providing critical and constructive feedback.
Other requirements
* Empathy for service users including individuals who have experienced mental health problems.
* Loyal and able to advocate for and show pride in the work area and organization and demonstrates values of trust and NHS
* Flexibility to work across all clinical areas as required
* Ability to fulfil all the requirements of the role (including physically)
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Address
Lambeth Perinatal Mental Health Team, Mary Sheriden Centre, Wooden Spoon House
Salary
£46,419 to £55,046 a year per annum incl. of HCAs
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full‑time
Reference number
334-CLI-7421641-A
Job locations
Lambeth Perinatal Mental Health Team, Mary Sheriden Centre, Wooden Spoon House
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