Job summary
- Main area
- perinatal care
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 374-LL0191
- Employer
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- East Sussex – East and West localities
- Town
- .
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 6
We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.
We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.
Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.
Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver high‑quality perinatal and infant mental health support across East Sussex.
The post holder will provide specialist PIMH input to families, support Health Visiting teams with complex cases and triage, and work closely with partner agencies to ensure safe, coordinated care pathways.
You will lead and coordinate Parent and Child Wellbeing group interventions, supporting their quality, consistency and expansion, while mentoring and supporting other facilitators.
Main duties of the job
The role includes line management and supervision , contributing to a compassionate, skilled and resilient workforce.
You will support training and service development in line with the Family Hubs and Start for Life agenda, contribute to audit and evaluation, and promote perinatal and infant mental health awareness across the wider service.
Working for our organisation
A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.
In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.
There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.
Statement on the Use of AI
We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.
Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.
We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Professional qualification in a relevant health, psychology or social care discipline to degree level or equivalent, with current registration (e.g. NMC, HCPC)
- Professional knowledge acquired through degree level supplemented by training and or combination of additional post reg / post graduate specialist training, experience and or short courses
- Evidence of post-qualification training/CPD in PIMH, infant mental health, attachment, trauma, or parent–infant relationships
Desirable criteria
- Postgraduate qualification or accredited training in a relevant therapeutic or relational intervention (e.g. CBT-informed approaches, counselling skills, Video Interaction Guidance (VIG), parent–infant or attachment-based interventions)
- Training in clinical supervision, mentorship or leadership, relevant to supporting and supervising other practitioners.
- Additional specialist training related to perinatal loss, birth trauma, trauma-informed practice, or compassionate/relational models of care
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of identifying and supporting parents with perinatal mental illness and parent infant relationship need
- Experience of undertaking telephone-based triage or face to face assessment, using sensitive and professional communication to identify family needs and support access to appropriate interventions or support pathways in a way that matches the level of need
- Experience of managing difficult or sensitive conversations, using professional judgement to support safe decision-making while working within appropriate professional boundaries
- Experience of working with a range of mental health conditions including suicidal ideation, trauma and crisis.
Desirable criteria
- Recent experience of service or project development / audit and evaluation
- Experience of line managing staff
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate skills needed to deliver quality supervision
- Knowledge of the impact of birth trauma, perinatal loss and perinatal mental health on infant mental health
- Knowledge of a range of psychological interventions and appropriate application and ability to explain to others.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of compassionate mind approach and transactional analysis models
- Knowledge of attachment theory and its application in practice
- Knowledge of trauma sensitive care
Other
Essential criteria
- Ability to travel across county as required in a timely and efficient manner
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lucille Haston
- Job title
- Specialist Perinatal Infant Mental Health Practic
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07815978786
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