Perinatal Mental Health Social Worker

The Perinatal Mental Health Community Service (PMHCS) covers the whole of Kent and Medway. PMHCS specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and short-term treatment of women aged 18 and above who are affected by a moderate to severe mental health illness in the preconception, antenatal and postnatal period.

• The post holder will be working within a Perinatal Mental Health Community Service covering a defined geographical area of the Trust but, if required, will need to be flexible and cover other localities and / or the Mother and Baby Unit.
• Within PMHCS, Social workers will focus specifically upon the needs of working age adults and their infants with perinatal mental health issues.
• The post holder will be registered with Social Work England
• The post holder will have completed their ASYE

The Social Work role across KMPT is developing a strong profile within this sector. As a social worker you will provide a high standard of support and care delivery with regards to social work needs to those service users whose ability to cope with the tasks of living are threatened or impaired by mental health issues, emotional, psychological and social problems. The post-holder will support the needs of mothers, parents and infants are met. You will work closely with other agencies and individuals to support service users with a clear focus on recovery, social inclusion and social justice. The role will entail assessment, support planning and the opportunity to provide 1-1 strength based therapeutic interventions. KMPT believe that Professional Practice should be informed by the following principles;

• Our intervention only when absolutely necessary
• People know what they need best
• We see the person and not their difficulties
• People have the right to live without fear or harm

Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.

We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people across the county.

The Trust (rated Good overall by the CQC and Outstanding for care) has 3,283 staff working in 66 buildings across 33 locations, covering an area of 1,450 square miles.

You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.

The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.

• To develop and engage in effective and supportive relationships with service users, carers and families.
• To develop and deliver evidenced based psychosocial interventions where appropriate. Including individual, holistic and therapeutic social work, needs based psychosocial and spiritual assessment and interventions.
• To undertake holistic social work assessments using strengths based model collaboratively with services users, relatives and carers in order to promote the appropriate support towards recovery.
• To contribute/undertake Perinatal initial assessments as part of a multi-disciplinary approach.
• To offer and provide a comprehensive social narrative history of mothers/parents.
• To deliver a range of family interventions where the relationships may be a considerable contributor to the mental distress.
• To undertake a range of procedures and practices underpinned by theoretical knowledge or relevant practice.
• To provide a service that is tailored to meet the needs of the individual and to understand what our service users need and be adaptable and responsive.
• To ensure effective communication with particular regard for individuals who may have difficulties in relating to the complexity of emotional and psychological conditions. This will include skills in managing moods, motivation, counselling, training, empathising and reassurance.
• To manage and support service users requiring social work interventions.
• To ensure appropriate risk assessments and risk management plans are completed and reviewed.
• To ensure all child protection/safeguarding, adult safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act issues are dealt with according to policy and procedure. To liaise with the Trust’s Safeguarding Team.
• To complete social circumstances reports where appropriate.