Mental Health Practitioner

We are looking for an experienced and self-motivated Senior Mental Health Practitioner to work in our busy Exeter Perinatal Team. The post is 30 hours per week Our team is passionate about improving outcomes for parents, babies, and families. We are committed to working with kindness, curiosity, and compassion, recognising the courage it takes for individuals to seek support during some of the most challenging periods of their lives. While the work can be complex and emotionally demanding, particularly when supporting families affected by trauma, we believe strongly in the importance of connection, mutual support, and maintaining a positive team culture. We are proud of our dedicated, skilled, and welcoming team. We work hard for the families we serve, but we also make time to celebrate successes, support one another, and bring humour and humanity into our working day. We recognise that looking after each other is fundamental to delivering excellent care, and we strive to create an environment where staff feel valued, empowered, and able to thrive.Main duties of the job If you are passionate about perinatal mental health & are looking to develop your career within a supportive, forward-thinking, & ambitious service, we would love to hear from you. We are committed to supporting you by offering a comprehensive induction with ongoing support, supervision and professional development from our established and passionate MDT. This also includes access to our monthly Continuous Professional Development programme where we offer case discussion and learning as well as often inviting external speakers to develop our skills and knowledge. You will be offering assessments to those that are experiencing a severe perinatal mental health presentation, developing management plans whilst offering information and support to those that use the service, referrers and families. You will have your own caseload of families, supported by a rich MDT to offer interventions that are evidenced based within the perinatal period; such as birth planning, risk management, emotional regulation and compassion focused thinking interventions. Devon Partnership NHS Trust Perinatal Service has 4 local teams and is a well-established service. We have close working partnerships with our local Maternity Departments, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Talkworks, Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) and MBU Outreach Team as well as the Trusts well-respected Research Department., The post holder will work as part of the Community Perinatal Team, supporting the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based mental health care for women who are pre-conceptual, pregnant or postnatal. They will manage an appropriate caseload, assess need, develop and review care plans, and deliver interventions that promote recovery, independence and wellbeing. The role involves working closely with women, families, carers, maternity services, primary care, DPT colleagues, voluntary and statutory agencies, and other community partners to ensure coordinated and person-centred care. The post holder will communicate complex and sensitive information clearly and compassionately, including information relating to assessment, care planning, treatment, review and safeguarding. They will contribute to triage, provide specialist advice to referrers and multidisciplinary colleagues, and support the safe day-to-day operation of the service, including clinical enquiries and case coordination. The post holder will plan and organise their workload, attend relevant meetings, coordinate case conferences where required, and ensure interventions are integrated across services. They will promote equality of access, consider the wishes, values and beliefs of women and those close to them, and work in line with CPA principles where appropriate. The role requires active participation in safeguarding, including safeguarding children training to level 4, and a clear commitment to safe, competent and accountable practice. The post holder will contribute to service standards, work cooperatively with colleagues to ensure continuity of care, and maintain professional competence through clinical supervision and ongoing development. Where relevant to the role and with appropriate training and supervision, they may deliver psychological therapy.

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas. We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.,

• Specialist knowledge in perinatal mental health, Excellent communication skills including the ability to engage with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health problems.
• Able to produce well written reports.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of professionals, The ability to travel to meet the requirements of the role, A professional mental health nursing qualification, Occupational Therapy qualification or Social Work qualification with relevant mental health experience, Post graduate qualification relevant to specialism
• Training to level 3 in Safeguarding children and young people., Participation in user involvement in services.
• Substantial experience of managing a busy caseload of clients with a range of mental health problems., Leading on lived experience projects within a service
• Working in a community secondary mental health team
  
  About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery. We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do