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Job summary

Main area
Perinatal Services
Grade
NHS Afc: Band 7
Contract
Fixed term: 22 months (until 11/08/2028)
Hours
Part time - 18.75 hours per week
Job ref
294-FASP-8340138-EB
Employer
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Springfield University Hospital
Town
London
Salary
£58,133 - £65,261 pro rata per annum inclusive of inner London HCAS
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust logo

Specialist Perinatal Social Worker

NHS Afc: Band 7

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the South West London and St George's Perinatal Mental Health Service part time on a fixed term basis.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Perinatal Social Worker to join our SWLSTG Perinatal Team on a part-time basis.

The successful candidate will ideally have essential perinatal mental health experience and be committed to delivering compassionate, trauma‑informed, family-centered care.

This is Fixed-Term, 2.5 days a week and the days of Wednesday afternoon to Friday is expected.

 

Main duties of the job

As a Perinatal Social Worker, you will be a key member of a specialist multidisciplinary Perinatal Mental Health Team, providing consultation and advice for women experiencing complex mental health difficulties during pregnancy and the first year after birth.

The role includes leading on safeguarding, child protection, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act and Care Act matters within the team, while working collaboratively with health, social care and voluntary sector partners to deliver coordinated, family-centred care. You will contribute to clinical decision-making, risk management, service development, audit and quality improvement activities.

You will provide consultation, advice and training to colleagues and partner agencies, helping to develop best practice in perinatal mental health and social care. The post holder will maintain accurate clinical records, participate in multidisciplinary meetings, and support positive outcomes for women and their families through compassionate, recovery-focused and trauma-informed practice.

Working for our organisation

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

 

Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be a senior social worker within the Trust’s wider Perinatal Mental Health Team. The Team is being expanded as the Trust has been successful in bidding in 2018/19 to Wave 2 of NHS England’s Perinatal Mental Health Community Services Development Fund, to improve perinatal service provision across South West London.

  • To contribute to the Perinatal model for assessment and treatment within the Perinatal Mental Health Team- working as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, providing individual, group and family work to clients where appropriate.
  • Promote mental health wellbeing and physical outcome;
  • Promote stability in education and work;
  • Reduce episodes of crisis;
  • Manage risk within team, Directorate and Trust structures;
  • Work to relevant professional and ethical guidelines, and within the framework of Directorate and Trust policies and procedures.
  • Contribute to screening and outcome measures in clinically meaningful ways to demonstrate treatment effectiveness and seek feedback about user experiences. 

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

 

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

 

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

 

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

 

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Person specification

Training & Qualification

Essential criteria
  • CQSW and Degree in social work or DIPSW
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
  • AMHP
  • Psychotherapy training

Experience

Essential criteria
  • At least 4 years post qualifying
  • Experience of CAMHS and/or Adult Mental health service
  • Demonstrable experience of working with families in a variety of community settings
  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team working
Desirable criteria
  • Working with people from ethnically diverse backgrounds and anti-discriminatory/equal opportunity practice
  • Experience at providing training, educational opportunities to service users and other professional groups

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria
  • An understanding and utility of’ Mental Health Act 1983 Mental Capacity Act 2005 Care Act 2014 Children Act 1989 Children and Social Work Act 2017
  • Skills in risk assessment and management
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of policy/protocol development
  • Previous experience of working with child protection experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardLondon Healthy workplaceTrust IDNo smoking policyAge positiveHSJ Best places to workCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Stonewall Silver 2022Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Armed Forces Covenant Bronze AwardHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Cass Niko
Job title
Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
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