Perinatal Psychiatry

Working in Perinatal Mental Health Services at GMMH

Perinatal Mental Health Services at Greater Manchester Mental Health provide specialist care for women across the whole of Greater Manchester during pregnancy and the postnatal period. Our services are designed to support women with moderate to severe mental health needs, while keeping the mother–infant relationship at the centre of care and improving outcomes for the wider family.

The service includes a range of specialist pathways, including three community perinatal mental health teams, a Maternal Mental Health Service (PETALS) focusing on perinatal trauma and loss, and a prison in-reach pathway supporting women who are pregnant or postnatal while in custody. For women who are acutely unwell, the Mother and Baby Unit at Laureate House provides inpatient care, allowing mothers to receive intensive treatment while remaining with their babies in a safe and therapeutic environment.

Consultants work with women experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties, including mood disorders, psychosis and complex presentations. Care is delivered flexibly, at the right time and in the right place, with interventions tailored to meet the needs of individuals and their families. Services work closely with partners across health, social care and the voluntary sector, ensuring integrated and joined-up perinatal care.

Multidisciplinary and Specialist Working

Perinatal services at GMMH are delivered by a highly skilled and well-established multidisciplinary team, including Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Pharmacists. Consultants work closely with specialist perinatal pathways and partner services to deliver integrated psychological, pharmacological and psychosocial interventions.

The Mother and Baby Unit at Laureate House has been established for over 40 years, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in managing severe perinatal mental illness while supporting bonding, attachment and family outcomes. The service’s specialist skill set, combined with strong collaborative working, allows Consultants to contribute meaningfully to the recovery of both mother and baby.

Culture and Ways of Working

The culture within perinatal services is compassionate, committed and highly collaborative. Teams are passionate about improving outcomes for mothers, babies and families, and are known for going above and beyond to deliver high-quality care. There is a strong focus on shared learning, supervision and professional development, with extensive training opportunities embedded within the service.

Consultants join a supportive and well-established Consultant body, with eight substantive Consultants who meet regularly to discuss complex cases, provide peer support, cover leave and jointly develop training and service initiatives. This creates a positive, collegiate environment in which consultants feel valued and supported.

Opportunities for Consultants

Consultants in Perinatal Services have access to a wide range of development opportunities, including specialist training across perinatal pathways, psychological treatments and service development. There are in-house teaching programmes, and consultants are actively encouraged to attend and contribute to national conferences, teaching and professional networks.

There are also opportunities to engage in research through the Perinatal Research and Innovation in Mental Health (PRIME UK) unit, supporting involvement in academic work and evidence-based service development.

Consultants are viewed as leaders in service improvement and are actively involved in shaping pathways, developing new initiatives, leading audits, supervising junior doctors and facilitating complex case discussions. Planned future developments include expanding the service’s capacity to manage more complex presentations and strengthening links with parent–infant services and other partner pathways, such as IAPT.

Support for New Consultants

New consultants are supported through a tailored induction programme, access to regular supervision, attendance at consultant meetings and opportunities to shadow teams across different pathways. This structured support ensures a smooth transition into the service and helps consultants build confidence in their role quickly.

Perinatal services at GMMH offer an exciting, dynamic and supportive environment in which consultants can develop specialist expertise and shape the future of perinatal care. There is strong enthusiasm for service development, an established and welcoming consultant body, and real opportunities to develop interests in areas such as substance use, ADHD and autism within a perinatal context.

Prospective Consultants should have a genuine commitment to perinatal mental health and a desire to work as part of a specialist, family-focused service. In return, GMMH offers a positive, forward-thinking environment where consultants are supported to grow, innovate and make a meaningful difference to the lives of women, babies and families across Greater Manchester.