Job summary
Are you an experienced clinical leader passionate about shaping the future of maternity and neonatal care?
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an exceptional leader to join the Children, Young People & Families Directorate as Associate Director for Maternity and Neonatal Services. This pivotal role will support the Maternity & Neonatal Triumvirate in delivering operational and clinical objectives across the Somerset system.
This is a 24month project-based post providing dedicated leadership to the Triumvirate (Director of Midwifery, Associate Medical Director and Service Group Director), focusing on the successful re-launch of Yeovil District Hospital's Maternity & Neonatal Services. The postholder will lead the development, oversight and delivery of a new Somerset-wide Neonatal Service as part of this re-launch.
The interview process includes a situational judgement test alongside the formal interview. This skills-based assessment involves a two hour exercise supported by Recruitment on the day. You will be asked to produce a written report in Word based on evidence provided (PDF and PowerPoint formats). If you require any reasonable adjustments, please let the Recruitment team know and we will support you accordingly.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for someone who:
- Is a Registered Nurse or Midwife with extensive experience in maternity and neonatal services.
- Has a proven track record in leading major change projects using QI methodology.
- Demonstrates exceptional leadership, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Holds a Master's level qualification (or equivalent experience) and ideally a leadership or QI qualification.
- Has comprehensive knowledge of national maternity and neonatal priorities, clinical governance, and workforce planning.
You will:
- Lead the transformation of neonatal services across Somerset, ensuring safe, equitable, and personalised care.
- Provide visible, inspiring leadership to maternity, neonatal, and paediatric teams, embedding a culture of excellence and innovation.
- Work collaboratively with clinical leaders, the Neonatal ODN, and service user groups to co-create seamless pathways for babies and families.
- Deputise for the Director of Midwifery at Trust Board and senior governance meetings.
- Drive quality improvement initiatives and ensure compliance with national standards and regulatory requirements.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Service Transformation
- Lead, oversee and deliver the Somerset Neonatal Services Transformation Project.
- Develop a comprehensive neonatal transformation plan aligned with national standards, Trust objectives and future sustainability.
- Work with neonatal, maternity, paediatric leaders and MNVP to coproduce service developments ensuring seamless, family centred pathways.
- Collaborate with the South West Neonatal ODN to ensure consistent, high quality care across Somerset.
Operational & Clinical Leadership
- Provide visible senior leadership across maternity and neonatal settings, ensuring safe care, robust governance and compliance with CQC and BAPM standards.
- Lead workforce planning, safe staffing reviews, service modernisation and delivery of clinical quality standards.
- Act as a senior decisionmaker supporting patient flow, escalation policies and service resilience.
Governance, Quality & Safety
- Lead risk management processes, incident investigation, data analysis and reporting across the service group.
- Embed QI approaches to achieve sustainable improvements in safety, experience and outcomes.
- Ensure national recommendations (NICE, CNST, SBLCBv3, Three Year Delivery Plan etc.) are implemented effectively.
People Leadership & Workforce Development
- Line manage the Neonatal Matron and provide senior leadership to midwifery and neonatal teams.
- Drive workforce retention, career development pathways and wellbeing initiatives.
- Promote a culture of civility, inclusion and respect, ensuring compliance with NMC standards.
Financial & Resource Management
- Act as budget holder for maternity and neonatal nursing portfolios.
- Ensure effective use of resources, cost improvement delivery and appropriate utilisation of temporary staffing.
- Contribute to business planning, risk evaluation and service investment proposals.
Partnership Working
- Build effective relationships with regional networks, safeguarding teams, LMNS/ICB partners, service user groups and clinical colleagues.
- Represent maternity and neonatal services at Trust, regional and system level meetings.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Service Transformation
- Lead, oversee and deliver the Somerset Neonatal Services Transformation Project.
- Develop a comprehensive neonatal transformation plan aligned with national standards, Trust objectives and future sustainability.
- Work with neonatal, maternity, paediatric leaders and MNVP to coproduce service developments ensuring seamless, family centred pathways.
- Collaborate with the South West Neonatal ODN to ensure consistent, high quality care across Somerset.
Operational & Clinical Leadership
- Provide visible senior leadership across maternity and neonatal settings, ensuring safe care, robust governance and compliance with CQC and BAPM standards.
- Lead workforce planning, safe staffing reviews, service modernisation and delivery of clinical quality standards.
- Act as a senior decisionmaker supporting patient flow, escalation policies and service resilience.
Governance, Quality & Safety
- Lead risk management processes, incident investigation, data analysis and reporting across the service group.
- Embed QI approaches to achieve sustainable improvements in safety, experience and outcomes.
- Ensure national recommendations (NICE, CNST, SBLCBv3, Three Year Delivery Plan etc.) are implemented effectively.
People Leadership & Workforce Development
- Line manage the Neonatal Matron and provide senior leadership to midwifery and neonatal teams.
- Drive workforce retention, career development pathways and wellbeing initiatives.
- Promote a culture of civility, inclusion and respect, ensuring compliance with NMC standards.
Financial & Resource Management
- Act as budget holder for maternity and neonatal nursing portfolios.
- Ensure effective use of resources, cost improvement delivery and appropriate utilisation of temporary staffing.
- Contribute to business planning, risk evaluation and service investment proposals.
Partnership Working
- Build effective relationships with regional networks, safeguarding teams, LMNS/ICB partners, service user groups and clinical colleagues.
- Represent maternity and neonatal services at Trust, regional and system level meetings.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional registration (NMC)
Desirable
- Leadership qualificationQuality Improvement qualification
Experience
Essential
- Broad clinical experience relevant to maternity and neonatal careEvidence of advanced leadership qualitiesKnowledge of SBLCBv3, CNST MIS, and national maternity/neonatal standardsExcellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
Desirable
- Experience in research and audit
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional registration (NMC)
Desirable
- Leadership qualificationQuality Improvement qualification
Experience
Essential
- Broad clinical experience relevant to maternity and neonatal careEvidence of advanced leadership qualitiesKnowledge of SBLCBv3, CNST MIS, and national maternity/neonatal standardsExcellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
Desirable
- Experience in research and audit
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).
