Specialist Mental Health Practitioner - First Steps Team, Almondbank House, Perth

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Specialist Mental Health Practitioner - PKC14342
£47,601 - £50,773
First Steps Team, Almondbank House, Perth

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 6 Registered Mental Health Nurse in the First Steps Team currently based within Children and Families Social Work, Almondbank House, Lewis Place, Perth.

The team provides a multi-agency approach to early intervention and assessment of risk for unborn babies and infants up to 12 months old.  

The First Steps Team undertakes assessment and provides support to expectant parents where there are concerns for the wellbeing and safety of their unborn child.

The First Steps Team work with expectant and new parents with a range of complex issues which can include: trauma, mental health issues, substance use, domestic abuse, learning disabilities, and offending behaviour.

To provide the best support possible to families, the First Steps Team is a multi-agency team which includes a Mental Health Practitioner and a Drug and Alcohol worker.

These workers work closely with the Social Workers and Senior Social Care Officers within the Team to provide assessment and support tailored to each expectant parent’s needs. 

Please note, we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this post.

Skills & Experience Required

Applicants should have a knowledge and understanding of child and adult protection legislation and perinatal mental health.

You will require a flexible working approach and be able to support parents in the community.

The successful post holder will be required to work autonomously to complete mental health assessments, formulate plans of care and intervention for parents and carers.

An ability to share your conclusions with professionals and participate in forums including children’s hearings, child protection planning meetings and child’s plan meetings will be required.

There will also be an opportunity to develop the role further through your skills and experience, which could include new ways of working which may best serve the mental health needs of parents / carers and infants.

The successful candidate will contribute to the strategic development of an improved integrated Mental Health, IDART and Children and Families Service.

Clinical supervision will be provided by a band 7 Registered mental health nurse.

You must be registered on Sub-part 1: RN1 or RNA or Sub-part 2: RN2 of the NMC Register.

You must have a valid UK driving licence as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross.

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package (including public holidays)
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits
• Paid PVG Scheme Membership
• Paid SSSC annual membership for relevant positions

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

All new employees have a four-month probationary period. Further details are available in the FAQs at “How to apply for a job or apprenticeship with us”.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Ann-Marie Kennedy, Team Manager - First Steps on 01738 472260 or by email at AKennedy@pkc.gov.uk to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW”

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

Working with children and/or protected adults is regarded as a regulated role and under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.