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Job summary

Main area
Maternity
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 18.75 hours per week
Job ref
279-8273046-SEP26
Employer
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Sussex County Hospital / Princess Royal Hospital
Town
Brighton
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/09/2026 23:59

Employer heading

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Midwife

Band 7

 About our Trust

Candidate Information Pack

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients, our people and our communities. Whatever your role here at UHSussex you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We value compassion, inclusion and respect as our core values. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme  for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form: https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

 

Job overview

This is a key role in developing and maintaining high standards of care for women and birthing people who are developing, or at risk of developing mental health problems in pregnancy and the early post natal period. You will be joining a well-established service and you will be expected to work with the multidisplinary team within in the Perinatal Mental Health (PNMH) clinics.

You will have a high level of relevant expert knowledge and skills which you will use to manage, develop and lead care and care pathways and for pregnant and new mothers/birthing people with current or historic mental health needs. The role will be responsible for case loading women with identified mental health diagnosis.

This role includes participation in the Manager on Call rota.

This role includes cross site working between the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Main duties of the job

Support, assist and advise women with, or at risk of, perinatal mental illness and their families to supplement the care provided by their midwives.

· Develop individual care plans and make referrals to additional specialist support where required.

· Act as an advocate for women to ensure they get the specialist mental health care.

· Liaise with specialist perinatal mental health service (SPMHS), and other services and partner agencies to ensure that women with severe mental illness are receiving active and effective support

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Support, assist and advise women with, or at risk of, perinatal mental illness and their families to supplement the care provided by their midwives.

· Develop individual care plans and make referrals to additional specialist support where required.

· Act as an advocate for women to ensure they get the specialist mental health care.

· Liaise with specialist perinatal mental health service (SPMHS), and other services and partner agencies to ensure that women with severe mental illness are receiving active and effective support

· Managing the professional expectations of multidisciplinary teams

Act as a role model to other members of the team, demonstrating professional behaviours and exemplary conduct.

· Deal with and manage conflict in the first instance within the clinical area & escalate where appropriate.

· Provide clear feedback to staff members in a way that is conducive to maintaining and improving performance.

· Performance manage staff in line with Trust policy with support from the HR department

· Able to communicate highly complex and highly sensitive information to patients & other departments (both internal and external) regarding care and treatment using effective communication skills both verbal and non-verbal

· Through effective communication overcome barriers to understanding & act as the patients advocate supporting the decision of women

· Demonstrates kindness and compassion by being non-judgemental; treating all staff equally; being honest and giving timely and constructive feedback

· Communicate highly contentious information to patients, family members or health care professionals with regards to diagnosis and treatment.

· Using negotiating, persuasive and reassurance skills to overcome barriers to acceptance of information, advice and knowledge.

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants. 

 If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application. 

 

Person specification

Essential and Desirable

Essential criteria
  • NMC Registered Midwife
  • Experience managing own caseload of patients
  • Knowledge of data protection, confidentiality etc.
  • Significant post reg experience
Desirable criteria
  • Effective teaching and presentation skills
  • Post grad qualification or equivalent experience in related field
  • Management/leadership experience/working towards
  • Experience of working with complex service users

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthHappy 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.

Application numbers

This advert has been capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, it will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in this post to prevent you from missing out on applying for this opportunity.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sarah Barwick
Job title
Named Safeguarding Lead Midwife
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01243788122
Additional information

Please contact Sarah via email for more information

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