Specialty Doctor Perinatal Psychiatry

The Adult Mental Health Directorate is responsible for providing a comprehensive range of mental health services to Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan (population of 498,571 served). The Directorate focuses its services on individuals aged between 16 and 65 years of age with severe and/or enduring mental health problems. Services have been organised within the context of eight discrete neighbourhoods within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, each neighbourhood served by its own CMHT. The three Vale CMHTs have been merged into one larger Locality Team. In-patient facilities are located at Hafan Y Coed Unit at University Hospital Llandough and at other locations around Cardiff. The post holder may be required to work at any of these units. Liaison work with other hospitals in the catchment area may be necessary from time to time

This post entails caring for women with mental health problems throughout the perinatal period i.e. in pregnancy and up to the first year postnatal throughout Cardiff and Vale UHB. It is possible that in the future this may be extended to the second year postnatal and involve more work with the family as a whole and greater consideration of infant mental health. The team works closely with maternity services and health visiting and also is part of the Managed Clinical Network of Perinatal Mental Health Services across Wales. The community service has gradually developed over the last 21 years and was greatly boosted by monies from the Welsh Government given to all Health Boards across Wales to develop or improve Perinatal Mental Health Services. The perinatal mental health service has developed strong working relationships between the different professions and the multi-disciplinary team is supportive and the Perinatal Psychiatry role is highly valued.