Perinatal Mental Health Occupational Therapist/Community Practitioner

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic, energetic and clinically confident Community Practitioner / OT to join our Community Perinatal Teams across the Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark teams.

You will have experience of general adult inpatient, Mother and Baby inpatient unit, community mental health services or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

You will be familiar with Perinatal community standards, governance and performance structures and confident in partnership work with other agencies such as Children and Family Social Services, Midwifery and Obstetric teams, CMHTs, Health Visitors and the Voluntary sector.

The Croydon Perinatal Service provides a Monday to Friday, 9-5 service to service users residing within the Borough of Croydon offering assessment, intervention and treatment to women who suffer from moderate to severe mental health disorders in the perinatal period.

You will be based at Larkbarrow House, Bethlem Royal Hospital.

Responsibilities:

• To be personally responsible and professionally accountable for a caseload as part of the perinatal community team and support/supervise the work of others as required.
• Co-ordinating care, communicating with other professionals involved in the care and ensuring regular CPA reviews are held as required.
• Independently carrying out assessment, care planning and care coordination with excellent interpersonal skills, ability to listen to others views, respect and value individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds.
• Leading pre-birth planning meetings when necessary, with community team members, midwives and health visitors and social care to coordinate, in order to provide coordinated, comprehensive and supportive care plans for women and their families in the antenatal and postnatal period.
• Recognising and addressing concerns about the physical health needs of service users with long term conditions (e.g. diabetes, asthma etc.); escalating these concerns as necessary to senior members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Person Specification:

• Current registration (NMC / OT / SW)
• Community Care coordination experience
• 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.
• An interest in working in Community Perinatal Mental Health Team
• Experience as a preceptor / mentor / supervisor

Salary: £45,953 to £54,254 a year pro rata per annum Incl. of HCAs