09 Oct
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
Liverpool
Job description
Job summary
The post holder(s) will be part of a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to the effective provision of Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Services to an identified caseload of women.
Improving the physical health of our clients and reducing the impact of inequality on poor health outcomes (both maternal and child) has been identified as a need in our current service provision and this post reflects this.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will assist in the identification of physical health and lifestyle needs, and participate in the delivery and evaluation of interventions developed to meet those needs.
Working alongside mothers experiencing moderate to severe perinatal mental health problems,
and including those with pre-existing severe mental health disorders.
The post holder will contribute to holistic community assessments, in a range of settings, with a strong emphasis on promoting optimum physical health and wellbeing.
The post holder will actively work with families and carers in their own home and in the community settings flexibly and will offer practical support and advice based on the identified needs of service users , partners and their children.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services.
Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient.
We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together.
We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Undertaking person centred lifestyle assessments, in a sensitive manner, empowering mothers to make positive change.
This may include discussions regarding nutrition, exercise, smoking, alcohol use, substance misuse, sexual health both in pregnancy and in the postnatal period.
To provide appropriate information / education to service users, families and carers relating to physical health and lifestyle ensuring informed decision making.
Make appropriate referrals and support to access relevant lifestyle improvement initiatives available.
Provide support, motivation and development of appropriate action plan for each client.
Carry out review meetings to assess progress and provide long term motivation and guidance, using solution focussed or motivational interviewing skills as appropriate.
Produce progress or activity reports as required in relation to interventions offered.
Evaluate and feedback clients responses to the intervention and modify in discussion with multi disciplinary colleagues.
Whilst working with clients and community groups, identify barriers and possible solutions to making sustainable lifestyle changes, reporting these back to the lead professional involved.
To contribute to planning, development, implementation and evaluation of individual care interventions related to physical health and wellbeing during the perinatal period.
To identify, obtain and if appropriate carry out appropriate diagnostic / assessment techniques to identify and respond to clients physical health needs in a range of settings.
For women who have severe mental illness and are prescribed mood stabilisers or antipsychotic medication work alongside lead professionals to ensure that appropriate monitoring tests are performed and accurately recorded, and any concerns escalated as necessary.
If necessary and appropriate, accompany and provide support to women undergoing physical health tests.
Obtain necessary results from blood tests and other investigations and record accurately in electronic patient record, escalating to medical staff when necessary.
Liaison as necessary with maternity and primary care regarding the physical health needs of clients.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum of NVQ Level 3 in a subject relevant to Health, Social Care and / or child development
- Good standard of general education including English and Maths to GCSE grade C or above or equivalent.
Desirable
Foundation Degree in Health Care
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Ability to use tools relevant to the service , clinical outcomes tools
- Experience in making judgements involving facts or situations, some requiring analysis
- Contribute to appropriate risk management / child protection plans
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice
- Ability to demonstrate nonjudgemental / professional attitude
- Empathy, tact and judgement to enable and support ongoing positive relationships with Clients, their families or Carers
- Demonstrates motivation, reliability and commitment to team working and the development of others
- Excellent organisation skills and time management
- Flexible, and responsive to change
- Confident and Professional
- Demonstrates an ability to value the opinions of others
- Strong interpersonal, motivational, communication and organisational skills, qualities and behaviours
- Flexibility to respond to urgent client need or the needs of the Service
- Willingness to undergo education and training for both service and professional development needs
- Positive role model
- To demonstrate how to provide and receive routine information requiring tact or persuasive skills; barriers to understanding
- Travel is integral to this post ability to travel across Trust sites
- Able to work flexible hours as required
- Evidence of ongoing personal development
- Willingness to undertake further training
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of the impact of lifestyle factors, physical and mental health on pregnancy outcomes for mums and babies.
- Knowledge of the impact of psychotropic medication on physical health.
- Knowledge of the impact of psychotropic medication on physical health
Values
Essential
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
- Change oriented
▶️ Assistant Practitioner (Perinatal Physical Health and Wellbeing)
🖊️ Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
📍 Liverpool