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Job summary

Main area
Perinatal
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
22.5 hours per week (part time)
Job ref
364-A-9972
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Severalls Hospital, Colchester
Town
Colchester
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum, pro rata for part time
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
28/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner

Band 6

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk. 

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive. 

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years. 

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.  

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner

Band 6 - £37,338 - £44,962 per annum pro rata

22.5  hours per week

Severalls Hospital, Colchester

It has and is an extraordinary time for specialist perinatal mental health services across the UK with growing national and local focus on service development and expanding access for new and expectant mums. The national ambition is to improve outcomes for an increasing number women over a 5-year period through investment in resources and broadening of interventions available. The perinatal period includes from conception up until one year following the birth of the baby and is a critical time for prevention and treatment for women at risk of serious mental ill health. Providing a unique opportunity for intervention and change, improving outcomes for mums, their families and ultimately society, in the longer term. 

Main duties of the job

The Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner will work as a member of the Perinatal Mental Health Service.  The post holder will manage a defined caseload of service users experiencing moderate to severe perinatal mental health problems, and those with pre-existing severe mental health diagnoses to reduce perinatal risk and maintain stability in this vulnerable period for women's mental health. They will undertake holistic community assessments with a strong emphasis on the parent-infant relationship and safeguarding.

The post holder will offer a variety of therapeutic interventions including supportive therapy, psychosocial interventions, specialist medication advice and problem solving techniques.  In addition the post holder will be expected to offer both support and advice to carers and relatives, and to work in an integrated manner with key partner organisations and professionals.  The post holder will be required to provide consultative advice to other agencies, and to participate in delivering training and development for other professionals

Working for our organisation

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you. 

  • Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  • Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  • If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
  • We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
  • Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  • Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  • £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
  • Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

  • Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.     To work jointly with care coordinators from CMHTs with a small complex and challenging caseload of pregnant women or those with an infant up to one year old.

2.     Conduct both single handed and joint high quality mental health assessments as required to identify mental health needs for people referred to the Perinatal Mental Health Service.

3.     Take responsibility for the management of a defined client caseload as identified in consultation with the Team Manager, Clinical Team Leader and team.

4.     Utilise the Care Programme Approach (CPA) as defined within the Trust Policy and to act as Care Co-ordinator as required.

5.     To ensure that all Trust Perinatal service users have a perinatal care plan, this is implemented. This may require attending and contributing to pre and post-birth meetings.

6.     Ensure risks are effectively managed and interventions are effectively prioritised.

7.     Maintain effective individualised care through the assessment of health and social care needs, planning, implementation and evaluation of care plans co-produced with service users.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • RMN qualification and evidence of current registration on Part 3 of NMC register or social worker or OT registered

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • At least 2 years post qualified
Desirable criteria
  • Perinatal experience

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Safeguarding experience in both adult and child
Desirable criteria
  • Community experience

desirable

Desirable criteria
  • Previous Perinatal experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Carrie Hayward
Job title
Essex Perinatal Mental Health Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01245315637
Additional information