Job responsibilities
Womens services:
As the only NHS Trust in London with womens and specialist childrens services on one site we have unique opportunities to provide excellent, high-quality, integrated care for mothers, babies and children.
Our directorate provides high quality care to patients across South East London, as well as delivering a range of specialist services both nationally and internationally. We treat approximately 40,000 gynaecology patients, and deliver 6,400 NHS births and 350 private births a year.
We have one of the largest NHS IVF units in the UK, which includes our flagship Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis services. Alongside our clinical services, we are integrated with colleagues at Kings College London, delivering a significant programme of research and development.
Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder will
Work in accordance with the NMCs rules and code of conduct for midwives.
Maintain and develop professional knowledge and competence in accordance within the NMC recommendations.
Implement recommendations from Government and professional bodies in relation to maternity care.
Act as a role model for midwifery practice to all staff within the directorate.
Formulate and ensure all staff are aware and implementing the evidence-based protocols agreed for the Womens directorate.
To identify areas for improvement and to take a lead role in designing, implementing and supporting new and existing initiatives e.g. group antenatal care;
Identify areas of practice, which require further investigation and initiate and participate in both midwifery and medical research and audit programmes.
Participate in the teaching and dissemination of professional and clinical knowledge to all learners and members of staff.
Provide a mentor support system for students and midwives within the Midwifery practice.
Lead, co-ordinate and manage clinical activities in relation to provision of midwifery care model in order to improve/maintain care in the hospital and/or primary care setting.
Participate in appraisals of AFC Band 6 midwives, on at least an annual basis in line with Trust policies.
Arrange and develop orientation programmes, which familiarise new members of staff with the organisational and clinical demands of the unit and Midwifery practice.
Act on, participate in the investigation of complaints, incidents and accidents and report to your Midwifery Matron as appropriate.
Ensure that working conditions are safe in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Deputise for the Antenatal clinic & Community Midwifery Matron as required.
To be fully informed of the risk management strategy, be responsible for reporting incidents, risk assessment and development of action plans to reduce risk and complaints.
The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated including:
Communication
- Establish a robust communication pathway with all midwifery teams.
- Work closely with the teams, liaise with other departments and members of the Trust to ensure the smooth running of the maternity pathways, and assist the functioning of the team.
- Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills when dealing with all levels of staff across the trust and be able to challenge senior staff around pathway performance.
- Ensure women are communicated with in a sensitive and effective manner and problems are dealt with promptly and efficiently.
- Play a key role in the further implementation of digital technology
Quality
- Ensure that women and their families receive high quality clinical care and have a positive experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
- Actively engage service users through the facilitation of feedback.
- Collect, analyse and share relevant data on midwifery services.
- In conjunction with the other multidisciplinary colleagues, provide monthly reports of activity.
- Facilitate a high quality, cost effective specialist service through monitoring and audit and other quality initiatives agreed by the Trust.
- Play a lead role in key developments relating to the midwifery service.
- Participate in the development of policies, protocols and clinical guidelines in support of the specialist service.
- Set, monitor and review standards of care on a regular basis and initiate corrective action plans
- Identify and intervene where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for women and staff and to escalate as appropriate.
Management and leadership
- Be a visible leader who is accessible to women, visitors and staff.
- Maintain skills and knowledge in clinical midwifery practice.
- Provide a leadership role model and demonstrate expert knowledge and high standards of clinical practice.
- Co-ordinate the provision of midwifery services, effectively liaising with multidisciplinary and multi-agency colleagues.
- Develop the role according to changing needs and research findings, within the resources available.
- Maintain accurate records of the clinical service and ensure that confidentiality of information is adhered to.
- Organise own work, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and other staff members.
- Implement new initiatives where possible to run a cost effective, timely service.
- Adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures, ensuring that all staff do the same.
- Assist the senior management team as an expert practitioner with the strategic planning for the service within the Trust
- On behalf of the Chief Midwife and Head of Gynaecology Nursing, ensure performance management, and personal development of staff whom they manage, and conduct appraisals on at least an annual basis in line with Trist policy.
- Contribute to the recruitment, induction, training and retention strategies for staff for whom they are responsible.
- Ensure appropriate succession planning for staff is in place, supported by training and development opportunities as appropriate.
- Influence, motivate and involve individuals and teams to reach necessary performance targets and expectations.
Financial responsibility
- Act as an authorising signatory within agreed limits.
Education and training
- Participate in the development and implementation of education and training programmes within maternity, ensuring equity of provision and consistency.
- In collaboration with colleagues, be responsible for monitoring and regulating training and development of midwifery and support staff.
- Be responsible for developing own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others.
- Lead on the development of midwives in facilitating study days and monthly meetings.
The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated including:
Confidentiality / Data Protection / Freedom of Information
Post holders must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 1998. Post holders must not, without prior permission, disclose any information regarding patients or staff. If any member of staff has communicated any such information to an unauthorised person those staff will be liable to dismissal. Moreover, the Data Protection Act 1998 also renders an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information.
Following the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2005, post holders must apply the
Trusts FOI procedure if they receive a written request for information.
Equal Opportunities
Post holders must at all times fulfil their responsibilities with regard to the Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy and equality laws.
Health and Safety
All post holders have a responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations, to ensure that the Trusts health and safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.
Infection Control
All post holders have a personal obligation to act to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). They must attend mandatory training in Infection Control and be compliant with all measures required by the Trust to reduce HCAIs. Post holders must be familiar with the Trusts Infection Control Policies, including those that apply to their duties, such as Hand Decontamination Policy, Personal Protective Equipment Policy, safe procedures for using aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps.
Risk Management
All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with the Trusts use of risk assessments to predict and control risk, as well as the incident reporting system for learning from mistakes and near misses in order to improve services. Post holders must also attend training identified by their manager, or stated by the Trust to be mandatory.
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
Post holders have a general responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
Smoking Policy
It is the Trusts policy to promote health. Smoking, therefore, is actively discouraged. It is illegal within Trust buildings and vehicles.
NHS Plan
We are committed to meeting the rights and standards required by the NHS plan. We expect our staff to be aware of these rights and standards and to be fully involved and co-operative in meeting them.
