Job Overview: Brent and Harrow Community Perinatal Mental Health Team, based at Northwick Park Hospital, is recruiting for a Band 7, 12‑month fixed‑term/secondment post. Two passionate Registered Mental Health Nurses are sought. The team promotes staff development and training opportunities and encourages progression to more established practice roles.
We welcome existing Band 6 or Band 7 nurses seeking the next step, or experienced practitioners looking for a new venture. Flexible working arrangements are available to accommodate individual lifestyle needs. The role offers opportunities to work within the perinatal specialty, including clinical experience across maternity and postnatal care.
Main duties of the job
* Deliver comprehensive mental‑state examinations, thoroughly assess risk, formulate safe and effective risk‑management plans, and document and communicate these clearly.
* Manage caseloads within a complex multidisciplinary/multi‑agency framework.
* Use formal child‑protection processes and engage in inter‑agency work with families.
* Stay current with policies and practice relevant to perinatal mental health.
* Participate in a robust induction programme and ongoing tailored training.
Working conditions
* Monday‑Friday, 09:00‑17:00 service with occasional extended opening hours for early or late clinic appointments, home visits, or training.
* Work may include use of office space on other local sites and close collaboration with maternity, community, and inpatient mental‑health services.
Detailed responsibilities
* Embed as a specialist nurse within in‑patient and community maternity services to provide multi‑agency liaison and expert advice.
* Collaborate with children’s centres, charities, and other third‑sector organisations to improve access and outreach, including home visiting and community clinic development.
* Conduct targeted training programmes for multi‑professional teams.
* Provide comprehensive assessment, treatment, planning, and review of complex cases including perinatal CPA meetings.
* Support the establishment of peer‑support groups, antenatal educational sessions, and a virtual perinatal team of local champions.
* Contribute to development and dissemination of integrated perinatal care pathways and policies.
* Occasionally attend specialist mental health conferences and child‑protection meetings to share expertise.
Key working relationships
* Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist
* Perinatal Psychiatry Administrator
* Specialist one‑to‑one midwives
* Local acute and maternity services (in‑patient & community)
* Liaison Psychiatry Service and Mother‑and‑Baby Unit
* Other Perinatal Mental Health Teams across NW London
* Local mental‑health services (adult, CAMHS, psychology/IAPT)
* Health visitors & local safeguarding children’s team
* Local children & families social services
* GPs and voluntary/third‑sector organisations
Person specification
Education and qualifications
* Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with current Part 3 NMC registration.
* Evidence of continuous professional development.
* Practice Assessor/Supervisor training.
* Degrees or equivalent (desirable).
* Dual qualification as RGN or midwife (desirable).
* Specialist training in perinatal & infant mental health (desirable).
* Recent experience in perinatal mental‑health practice or safeguarding children (desirable).
* Training in therapeutic/psychological interventions (desirable).
Experience
* Degree/diploma providing professional knowledge.
* Extensive post‑qualification experience.
* Experience working with women with serious mental illness and managing complex caseloads.
* Experience in multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency settings and formal child‑protection processes.
* Experience conducting complex nursing, mental‑state, risk, and needs assessments.
* Experience working in multicultural communities and using interpreters.
* Experience in multi‑agency pre‑birth planning (CPA) for women with serious mental illness (desirable).
* Networking within the Perinatal Psychiatry specialty (desirable).
* Experience in obstetrics and gynaecology (desirable).
* Planning and delivery of training in response to identified needs (desirable).
* Supervising mental‑health or non‑mental‑health professionals (desirable).
Skills and abilities
* Clinical knowledge supporting autonomous decision‑making in complex cases.
* Team, self‑management, and organisational skills for complex activities.
* Facilitating effective multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency working.
* Offering specialist consultation across agencies.
* Providing therapeutic assessments and interventions.
* Managing own clinical and administrative caseload under pressure.
* Identifying safeguarding children issues and making appropriate referrals.
* Flexibility across service boundaries and with maternity professionals.
* Excellent written and oral communication skills.
* Working effectively with diverse minority ethnic and culturally varied families.
* Collaboration within multi‑disciplinary and virtual teams.
* Computer literacy (intermediate/advanced – desirable).
Knowledge and understanding
* Evidence‑based practice in perinatal psychiatry.
* Mental‑illness in the perinatal period.
* Knowledge of Children Act 1989, relevant legislation, and government policy.
* Understanding of diversity, equality, and inclusion issues.
* Familiarity with other disciplines’ contributions to a multi‑agency service.
* Clinical governance, audit, and information‑sharing issues.
* Understanding of perinatal service models and relevant legislation (MHA, MCA).
* Conducting clinical audits (desirable).
Personal attributes
* Calm, professional demeanor.
* Initiative, flexibility, tact.
* Resilience under pressure and in unpredictable situations.
* Meeting deadlines and accepting constructive criticism.
* Self‑motivation and lateral problem‑solving.
* Willingness to engage in peer and group supervision.
Equal opportunities: The NHS is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be treated fairly and equally in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
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