Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and Passionate midwife to work as the lead for the co located Midwife-Led Birthing Unit (MLBU) at West Suffolk Hospital. This is an excellent opportunity for a midwife with strong clinical leadership skills and a passion for facilitating physiological birth to work in a senior role. The post holder will be committed to supporting implementation of national improvement initiatives, be organised and able to motivate a team.
The post holder must have a high level of skill and respond well to change, contributing to shaping our future service and staff. The midwife must be able to demonstrate excellent leadership skills, be a caring and compassionate individual focused on providing excellent quality care, working within the values held by West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
This is a permanent post 30 hours per week.
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for providing personalised care to approximately 2,400 women in the West Suffolk area during their childbirth experience. We offer both choice of lead professional and place of birth at home, on our co-located MLBU or multi-professional labour suite.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide clinical leadership, facilitate professional development, and carry continuing overall responsibility for the management and co-ordination of the co-located Midwifery-Led Birthing Unit. The post holder will ensure a high standard of woman-centred care is delivered effectively and efficiently within available resources.
The post holder will be allocated clinical and managerial time within the rota to support the needs of the service. The role will include supporting midwives and women in spontaneous labour and promoting physiological birth, with guidance from Trust policies and guidelines.
Management responsibilities will include line management of midwives and support staff and participation in the Manager on Call rota. The post holder will be able to demonstrate a high level of communication and organisational skills and will be a key stakeholder for the development and management of individuals within the MLBU team. They may be required to deputise for the Maternity Inpatient Matron in her absence and, as required in order to maintain the midwifery service, carry the midwifery staffing bleep, or cover for other ward managers.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Management Responsibility
- Provide effective clinical leadership and support to all midwives and students.
- Continued responsibility for providing professional leadership to the team. The coordination and development of team activities in the Midwifery-Led Birthing Unit to ensure the delivery of a cost-effective, efficient and quality service.
- Be innovative in introducing quality approach to service provision by setting, implementing, monitoring and evaluating standards of care.
- Ensure optimal use is made of available resources to provide appropriate and effective cover over a 24hour period. To ensure the appropriate skill-mix at all times within the available resources. Also to ensure safe level of care is provided by appropriate skill-mix and deployment of staff.
- Participate in the selection process for new staff and student midwives. Plan and initiate induction and orientation programmes, which integrate newly-qualified and new members of staff.
- Undertake annual appraisal of midwives and support staff, build personal development plans with midwives and empower midwives to achieve their objectives by providing ongoing support and expert leadership.
- Be responsible for the operational management of personnel issues such as the management of sickness absence, including interviewing staff following each episode of sickness, and take appropriate action in line with Trust policy.
- Report complaints and untoward incidents to the midwifery managers, investigate as necessary and be proactive in preventing further incidents. Support the risk management strategy.
- Co-ordinate team representation at clinical audit and professional meetings within the maternity service and disseminate information to ensure effective communication.
- Ensure effective and efficient use of all resources. Be aware of budgetary responsibilities and ensure adequate systems are in place for maintenance of equipment and resources.
- Take responsibility for communicating to and leading staff in meeting new Trust or national initiatives.
- Deputise for the Maternity Inpatient Matron in her absence and as required in order to maintain the midwifery service, carry the 519 staffing bleep, cover for other ward managers and be part of the Manager On Call monthly rota
Clinical Responsibility
- Be an expert in normal midwifery and act as a resource by providing support and development opportunities for staff and students.
- Carry continuing responsibility for the assessment of individual care needs and provide leadership in promoting midwifery-led care and physiological birth.
- Ensure that midwifery practice is in keeping with current research and appropriate for the individual woman, and participate in the development of implementation of research-based midwifery practice.
- Liaise with the maternity managers and work together on new staff initiatives.
- Promote team building and maintain cohesion within clinical areas to establish a positive working environment and promote and support autonomous practice.
- Maintenance of a twenty-four hour maternity service for women and participate in on-call commitments as required.
Professional Responsibility
- Work within the statutory framework governing midwifery practice. Act as a role model by providing strong leadership and maintaining a high standard of professional expertise and conduct.
- Be proactive in conducting audit and participate in the development, monitoring and audit of standards of care.
- Be actively involved in the clinical governance agenda, taking a lead role in subsequent change process.
- Maintain accurate, legible and contemporary records in accordance with Trust guidance.
- Participate in the appraisal of midwives, monitoring developments to ensure they fulfil the role of the midwife with confidence and competence.
- Be conversant with safeguarding procedure. Participate in planning meetings, conferences and prebirth assessment.
- Maintain and develop own professional competence and be responsible for own statutory requirements.
- Maintain and develop own clinical skills to provide quality care and lead the team, giving training and support.
- Ensure cohesion within the team by regular dissemination of information on developments in Division activities.
- Act as host to women and visitors using the service and raise positively the public profile of the WestSuffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
Educational Responsibility
- Supervise and support the development of less experienced staff within the clinical areas to provide supervision and facilitate opportunities for practical and theoretical educational development.
- Provide mentorship and preceptorship to midwives and students in a supportive environment for learning and development.
- Provide suitable learning environment for all learners and engage in clinical teaching to ensure all learning needs are met.
- Act as a link with educationalists to ensure students needs are met.
Personnel Responsibility
- To demonstrate continuous evidence of developing clinical and managerial knowledge and expertise.
- Ensure all staff are acquainted with current legislation and are familiar with local policies and personnel procedures.
- Be responsible for health and safety, and the welfare of staff, clients, and the public.
- Be responsible for action to be taken in event of fire, child abduction and major accident, ensuring that junior staff are updated in these procedures.
- Be responsible for supporting midwives throughout the revalidation process.
NB
In this job description the terms woman, women, and woman centred care are used, however these terms encompass all women and pregnant / birthing people
Job description
Job responsibilities
Management Responsibility
- Provide effective clinical leadership and support to all midwives and students.
- Continued responsibility for providing professional leadership to the team. The coordination and development of team activities in the Midwifery-Led Birthing Unit to ensure the delivery of a cost-effective, efficient and quality service.
- Be innovative in introducing quality approach to service provision by setting, implementing, monitoring and evaluating standards of care.
- Ensure optimal use is made of available resources to provide appropriate and effective cover over a 24hour period. To ensure the appropriate skill-mix at all times within the available resources. Also to ensure safe level of care is provided by appropriate skill-mix and deployment of staff.
- Participate in the selection process for new staff and student midwives. Plan and initiate induction and orientation programmes, which integrate newly-qualified and new members of staff.
- Undertake annual appraisal of midwives and support staff, build personal development plans with midwives and empower midwives to achieve their objectives by providing ongoing support and expert leadership.
- Be responsible for the operational management of personnel issues such as the management of sickness absence, including interviewing staff following each episode of sickness, and take appropriate action in line with Trust policy.
- Report complaints and untoward incidents to the midwifery managers, investigate as necessary and be proactive in preventing further incidents. Support the risk management strategy.
- Co-ordinate team representation at clinical audit and professional meetings within the maternity service and disseminate information to ensure effective communication.
- Ensure effective and efficient use of all resources. Be aware of budgetary responsibilities and ensure adequate systems are in place for maintenance of equipment and resources.
- Take responsibility for communicating to and leading staff in meeting new Trust or national initiatives.
- Deputise for the Maternity Inpatient Matron in her absence and as required in order to maintain the midwifery service, carry the 519 staffing bleep, cover for other ward managers and be part of the Manager On Call monthly rota
Clinical Responsibility
- Be an expert in normal midwifery and act as a resource by providing support and development opportunities for staff and students.
- Carry continuing responsibility for the assessment of individual care needs and provide leadership in promoting midwifery-led care and physiological birth.
- Ensure that midwifery practice is in keeping with current research and appropriate for the individual woman, and participate in the development of implementation of research-based midwifery practice.
- Liaise with the maternity managers and work together on new staff initiatives.
- Promote team building and maintain cohesion within clinical areas to establish a positive working environment and promote and support autonomous practice.
- Maintenance of a twenty-four hour maternity service for women and participate in on-call commitments as required.
Professional Responsibility
- Work within the statutory framework governing midwifery practice. Act as a role model by providing strong leadership and maintaining a high standard of professional expertise and conduct.
- Be proactive in conducting audit and participate in the development, monitoring and audit of standards of care.
- Be actively involved in the clinical governance agenda, taking a lead role in subsequent change process.
- Maintain accurate, legible and contemporary records in accordance with Trust guidance.
- Participate in the appraisal of midwives, monitoring developments to ensure they fulfil the role of the midwife with confidence and competence.
- Be conversant with safeguarding procedure. Participate in planning meetings, conferences and prebirth assessment.
- Maintain and develop own professional competence and be responsible for own statutory requirements.
- Maintain and develop own clinical skills to provide quality care and lead the team, giving training and support.
- Ensure cohesion within the team by regular dissemination of information on developments in Division activities.
- Act as host to women and visitors using the service and raise positively the public profile of the WestSuffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
Educational Responsibility
- Supervise and support the development of less experienced staff within the clinical areas to provide supervision and facilitate opportunities for practical and theoretical educational development.
- Provide mentorship and preceptorship to midwives and students in a supportive environment for learning and development.
- Provide suitable learning environment for all learners and engage in clinical teaching to ensure all learning needs are met.
- Act as a link with educationalists to ensure students needs are met.
Personnel Responsibility
- To demonstrate continuous evidence of developing clinical and managerial knowledge and expertise.
- Ensure all staff are acquainted with current legislation and are familiar with local policies and personnel procedures.
- Be responsible for health and safety, and the welfare of staff, clients, and the public.
- Be responsible for action to be taken in event of fire, child abduction and major accident, ensuring that junior staff are updated in these procedures.
- Be responsible for supporting midwives throughout the revalidation process.
NB
In this job description the terms woman, women, and woman centred care are used, however these terms encompass all women and pregnant / birthing people
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- NMC Registered midwife.
- Personal/professional development at degree level or soon to complete.
- Evidence of relevant clinical updating.
- Mentorship qualification.
Desirable
- Evidence of further education in research and audit.
- Multi-professional obstetric training (PROMPT).
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- ExPost-registration experience in all areas of midwifery practice.
- Experience of co-ordinating a Labour Suite environment.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Must be able to practise in all areas in accordance with the NMC Code.
- Is a champion for midwifery led care.
- Able to facilitate and assess the professional development of midwifery practice.
- Is visible as an expert in normality and demonstrates forward-thinking, evidence-based approach towards midwifery care and women's choice.
- Able to act as a midwifery specialist adviser to team members and other professional groups in formal and informal settings.
- Previous experience and involvement in midwifery research or audit.
- Able to use research to plan, implement and evaluate concepts leading to improvement of the service.
Desirable
- Previous experience of people management.
- Evidence of resource management.
- Evidence of innovative practice.
Management
Essential
- Can demonstrate sound leadership ability.
- Is proactive in succession planning.
- Has knowledge of resources and people management.
- Good time management skills with the ability to prioritise workload.
- Able to demonstrate a broad understanding of women's health needs within the concept of changing healthcare provision.
Desirable
- Budgetary awareness and experience.
- Leadership course.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Always puts patients first and demonstrates a customer service focus.
- Demonstrates passion for excellence and the ability to inspire and motivate others.
- Innovative approach to change and modernisation.
- Interest in personal and professional development.
- Respects, values and cares for others.
- Supports learning and development of self and others.
- Supports and promotes equality and diversity.
Desirable
- Seeks out and takes opportunities for improving the service.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- NMC Registered midwife.
- Personal/professional development at degree level or soon to complete.
- Evidence of relevant clinical updating.
- Mentorship qualification.
Desirable
- Evidence of further education in research and audit.
- Multi-professional obstetric training (PROMPT).
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- ExPost-registration experience in all areas of midwifery practice.
- Experience of co-ordinating a Labour Suite environment.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Must be able to practise in all areas in accordance with the NMC Code.
- Is a champion for midwifery led care.
- Able to facilitate and assess the professional development of midwifery practice.
- Is visible as an expert in normality and demonstrates forward-thinking, evidence-based approach towards midwifery care and women's choice.
- Able to act as a midwifery specialist adviser to team members and other professional groups in formal and informal settings.
- Previous experience and involvement in midwifery research or audit.
- Able to use research to plan, implement and evaluate concepts leading to improvement of the service.
Desirable
- Previous experience of people management.
- Evidence of resource management.
- Evidence of innovative practice.
Management
Essential
- Can demonstrate sound leadership ability.
- Is proactive in succession planning.
- Has knowledge of resources and people management.
- Good time management skills with the ability to prioritise workload.
- Able to demonstrate a broad understanding of women's health needs within the concept of changing healthcare provision.
Desirable
- Budgetary awareness and experience.
- Leadership course.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Always puts patients first and demonstrates a customer service focus.
- Demonstrates passion for excellence and the ability to inspire and motivate others.
- Innovative approach to change and modernisation.
- Interest in personal and professional development.
- Respects, values and cares for others.
- Supports learning and development of self and others.
- Supports and promotes equality and diversity.
Desirable
- Seeks out and takes opportunities for improving the service.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
