Specialist Mental Health Practitioner (PAIR) - CFHD

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the newly established Parent Infant Relationship (PAIR) Team at a formative stage of its development. We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic practitioner with a passion for infant mental health, attachment and early relationships who is keen to help shape and grow this innovative specialist service within the MERS Pathway.

The PAIR Team has been developed to strengthen support for babies, parents and carers during the earliest years of life, recognising the vital role that early relationships play in shaping emotional wellbeing, development and lifelong outcomes.

This maternity cover post offers the opportunity to work within a developing specialist service alongside passionate colleagues who are committed to improving outcomes for babies and families across Devon. As the service continues to grow and embed, the successful applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to service development and help shape the future direction of the PAIR offer.

We are particularly interested in applicants who already have experience working within infant mental health, attachment-focused services, parent-infant relationship work, early years mental health or related areas of practice.

Main duties of the job

Provide specialist assessment and intervention where there are concerns regarding the parent-infant relationship.

Work collaboratively with colleagues across CFHD and partner agencies, including Health Visiting, Perinatal Mental Health Services, Family Hubs, Midwifery Services and Children's Services.

Deliver evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions that promote infant emotional wellbeing and strengthen parent-infant relationships.

Provide consultation, training and support to professionals working with infants and families.

Participate in multidisciplinary discussion, formulation and care planning.

Contribute to safeguarding processes and multi-agency working where required.

Support the ongoing development and evaluation of the PAIR service.

Why Join the PAIR Team?

This is a unique opportunity to join a newly launched specialist team at an exciting stage of its development. The PAIR Team is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-informed care that recognises the importance of early relationships in shaping lifelong outcomes.

You will be part of a supportive multidisciplinary team with opportunities for ongoing learning, supervision, innovation and service development. Most importantly, you will help make a meaningful difference to babies, parents and families at the earliest stage of life, when intervention can have the greatest impact.

About us

At Children and Family Health Devon, we are dedicated to improving the physical and mental health of children and young people across Devon and Torbay. We aim to create an environment where children and young people can thrive and are committed to reducing health inequalities and providing specialised support, empowering them to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

Our children and young people say

We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.

Who we are

We are an alliance of NHS organisations led by Devon Partnership Trust. We are a group of professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, nurses and many other professions.

Join us in beautiful Devon

With access to moors, sea and cities, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy Devon. Whether you enjoy spending time in the cultural hub of Exeter, exploring the Jurassic coastline or discovering the world surfing reserve in North Devon there really is something for everyone.