Perinatal Mental Health Midwife

at  Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Support the co-ordination of care of women with Perinatal Mental Health within the Maternity Service and across a multi-agency arena. Be a source of expertise to all maternity staff on Perinatal Mental Health including the provision of statutory and bespoke mandatory training to all disciplines. Will support the maternity service to design and deliver the local, regional, and national priorities relating to Perinatal Mental Health in particular development and transformation of a trauma informed service Managerial and professional accountability for the effective delivery of personalised midwifery care in the community. To be responsible for the line management and clinical supervision of a small team that may develop in the future, ensuring standards for monthly supervision and annual appraisal are met.
Support the Ward and Department Managers in the line management of the midwifery/nursing team, including recruitment, performance management and workforce planning. Provide preceptorship and clinical support for junior and new midwives. Provide a visible, accessible, and authoritative presence, acting as a professional role model by providing leadership and support withing the midwifery and multidisciplinary teams. Support, assist and advise women and their families, where midwifery led care is practiced.
Ensure there is an emphasis on the appropriate and timely referral to team-based care for women where complications arise, to facilitate seamless services provision. Work closely with all clinical areas in maternity to ensure an integrated service for women experiencing perinatal mental health concerns or challenges. Contribute to the achievement of the Divisions, Directorates, and Trusts objectives, supporting strategic planning. Promote the highest standards of audited research based clinical care, maintaining standards in accordance with UK law, NMC, Trust and EU guidelines.
Clinical Duties: Co-ordinate the care of women with Perinatal Mental Health needs within the maternity services & across the multi-agency arena. Maintain a high profile in the clinical areas by working clinically alongside the obstetric and midwifery workforce & being accessible to women and their families. Support the midwifery team in the development of personalised assessment, implementation and evaluation of women and families needs for example, trauma informed birth plans. Possess a sound knowledge and understanding of the key public health drivers influencing the provisions of maternity services especially in relation to perinatal mental health.
Promote the delivery of evidence-based care pathways for women and babies ensuring continuity is at the heart of all care planning. Ensure the delivery of safe care within a challenging and changing clinical environment, using persuasion and negotiation skills. Provide clinical advice within midwifery services, working closely with the matron & directors of service to further develop the perinatal mental health and trauma informed service. Manage and lead midwifery practice in both the community and impatient setting, working closely with other clinical managers, other specialist midwives and matrons to ensure protocols, guidelines, policies, and procedure are adhered to.
Implement change initiatives to improve and maintain a high-quality service in line with the national agenda. Bring to the immediate attention any issues, which are impending the provision of an efficient or high-quality service adhering to the escalation policy and the trusts incident reporting as relevant. Participate in audit and research leading to the development of research-based practices and development of trust midwifery policies and ensure its effective implementation maintaining standards in accordance with the UK law, NMC, Trust and EU guidelines. Receive information which may cause emotional distress to all parties and disseminate contentious, complex, and sensitive information appropriately.
Provide representation, advice and guidance to the multidisciplinary team, link regionally and nationally with Perinatal Mental Health services, workstream and networks. Promote flexible and integrated working across, liaising closely with the clinical managers in all areas of the service to promote collaborative working relationships which will improve womens experiences. Link and liaise with the Safeguarding Team and Name Midwife of safeguarding issues, to recognise and respond appropriately and effectively to convers relating to women, children, and the unborn baby. Ensure the provision of excelled infection control practices as defined by national recommendations and local policies and maintenance of high standards of cleanliness throughout.
Provide a clean environment for care, ensuring best practice in infection control and improving clinical care standards. Professional Duties: Ensure care given to women and their families is in keeping with agreed local Trust policies and with due regard to the NMC code of professional practice. Maintain and develop own professional competence and be responsible for own statuary requirements. Continually demonstrate evidence of developing clinical and managerial knowledge and expertise.
Contribute when planning services to meet organisational and national targets particularly with regards to personalisation and continuity of care to promote positive experiences for women and families. Provide and maintain an environmental in which individuals can develop their skills and knowledge to their full potential. Provide excellent support for all staff including rotational midwives and students on clinical placements. Respect womens diversity considering equality and rights, ensuring that vulnerable women and families receive an equitable care.
Act as an innovative and enthusiastic role model, promoting an open, honest, and transparent culture. Demonstrate excellent leadership skills. Maintain strong links with other agencies in cases of safeguarding children and vulnerable pregnant adults, domestic abuse, substance misuse in addition to maternal mental health issues. Support staff to be aware of and contribute to the assessment and referral to early intervention panels to help facilitate multi-agency support for women, babies, and families.
Support and ensure the workforce actively participate in personal development through mentorship, preceptorship, essential and role specific training, safeguarding supervision and appraisal. Maintain and promote and environment conducive to learning. Link with networks beyond the clinical area, sharing good practice and information. Actively link with the Patient and Public Involvement strategies within Maternity Services.
As a Trust representative promote midwifery and the service vision. Work in close liaison with the Matrons, clinical managers and LDRP co-ordinators to promote seamless care provision across pathways of care. Managerial Duties: Be able to provide if required: Effectively and efficiently manage workload and when required a duty roster ensuring skill mix and adequate safe staffing levels, escalating concerns in a timely manner. Effectively manage sickness, absence and attendance when required with the Trust Attendance Management Policy.
Promote team building and maintain cohesion withing and across clinical areas to establish a positive working environment, promoting and supporting autonomous practice. Communicate effectively throughout the multidisciplinary team, liaising with outside agencies, especially where the womens and families ability to do so is compromised; acting as the patients advocate. Promote cohesion within and across teams by regular dissemination of information on developments in Directorate/Divisio0nal and Trust activities. Undertake recruitment, retention and manage performance related issues, including disciplinary matters and complaints.
Plan and initiate induction and orientational programmes, which integrate new and rotational member of staff. Undertake annual appraisal of staff within your area of responsibility, build personal development plans with staff and empower them to achieve their objectives by providing on-going support and effective leadership. Be aware of and contribute to annual business planning to secure the smooth running of the service. Work closely with midwives, clinical manager, and Matrons to promote the implementation of policies and training.
Investigate and action where appropriate clinical incidents, reports, complaints, and monitoring of the Risk Register. Work with the Matrons and the Clinical Governance team, participating in the development, monitoring, and audit of standards of care. Promote best practice in relation to the clinical risk and governance issues and identify areas for improvement, contributing to the achievement of Divisional, Directorate and Trust. Ensure the midwives contribute to the achievement of Divisional, Directorate and Trust objectives and strategic planning, within the areas of responsibility.
Work in partnership with the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Local Maternity & Neonatal System (LMNS) to support implementation of the Regional and National agenda. Build and Maintain partner working relationships with other Perinatal mental health midwives across the LMNS. Be responsible for Health, Safety and the welfare of staff, clients, and the public

Please refer the Job description for details