Specialist Perinatal Social Worker

South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 45,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust is seeking a Perinatal Social Worker on a part-time fixed-term basis. The post involves working within the Perinatal Mental Health Team, providing consultation and family-centered care for women during pregnancy and the first year after birth.

The ideal candidate will have essential perinatal mental health experience and be committed to trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Qualifications

• Essential criteria: CQSW and Degree in social work or DIPSW.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead on safeguarding, child protection, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act and Care Act matters.
• Provide consultation, advice and training to colleagues and partner agencies.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and participate in multidisciplinary meetings.

Skills

Risk assessment

CPD evidence

Trauma-informed care

Family-centered care

Education

CQSW and Degree in social work or DIPSW

Job description

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' however we aim to be 'outstanding'.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you'll be part of something special - an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

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.

Working for our organisation

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK

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.

Person specification

Training & Qualification Essential criteria

• CQSW and Degree in social work or DIPSW
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable criteria

• AMHP
• Psychotherapy training

Experience Essential criteria

• At least 4 years post qualifying
• Experience of CAMHS and/or Adult Mental health service
• Demonstrable experience of working with families in a variety of community settings
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team working

Desirable criteria

• Working with people from ethnically diverse backgrounds and anti-discriminatory/equal opportunity practice
• Experience at providing training, educational opportunities to service users and other professional groups

Knowledge & Skills Essential criteria

• An understanding and utility of' Mental Health Act 1983 Mental Capacity Act 2005 Care Act 2014 Children Act 1989 Children and Social Work Act 2017
• Skills in risk assessment and management

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of policy/protocol development
• Previous experience of working with child protection experience

At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

• BME (Evolve) Staff Network
• Christian Staff Network
• DiverseAbility
• Deaf Staff Network
• Mental Health Staff Forum
• Women's Staff Network
• LGBTQIA+

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
• That we are a smoke-free Trust
• South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. The contact details published on our official website are the Trust's authorised contact channels and should be used for all recruitment communications, job applications, and verification of employment offers.