Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an 18 month fixed term contract as the matron for Birth Centre, Community & Continuity at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. Are you an experienced leader with excellent people skills looking for a new challenge? Are you passionate about physiological birth, family centred midwifery care and the provision of personalised and seamless services across the maternity pathway?
This senior midwife will join a dynamic, skilled and ambitious leadership team at an exciting time; in which services for women and birthing people alongside support for staff have never been more important.
Main duties of the job
This role will be key in driving forward the Better Births Transformation project and the post holder will be passionate about the philosophy of care within the transformation agenda. We have been fortunate to be an early adopter for this program and from this have developed a caseloading team on each site. This has been a fantastic opportunity to work sector wide in the NWL sector. The post holder will move forward with this agenda, to include coordinating further caseload, integrated community and birth centre teams. This will reflect the March 2019 targets of 20% continuity of carer.
We have extended midwifery roles within our well established team and pride ourselves in the support we provide with these, they are inclusive but not exhaustive of midwife led services for: breech , VBAC, Birth Choices and complementary therapies.
Our Birth Centre opened in 2015, ahead of our Trust merger. We are proud of the facilities that we provide and continue to encourage women to use this facility. Our ambition with the increase in continuity of carer is that the utilisation of this will increase year on year. This also falls in line with our ambition to increase homebirth uptake; this continues to be a challenge for us given that 60% of women who book with us are out of area.
This is an exciting post that demands a dynamic, forward thinking and proactive experienced midwife in post. Their philosophy of care must be supportive of women's choice and how to provide this care safely.
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.
We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that are PROUD to Care for nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.
We're one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff says they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.
Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as 'Good' in all five of the main domains of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of 'Good'. We've also been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating for 'use of resources' by an NHS Improvement inspection.
Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing significant Capital year on year in our estate. We have recently completed a £30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and are planning an ambitious £60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Managerial
- To have overall operational responsibility for a defined clinical area
- To directly-line manage the midwifery staff of the defined clinical area
- On a daily basis ensure that the clinical area is being co-ordinated effectively and be highly visible within the defined clinical area for staff, patients and visitors alike
- Have acknowledge of the in-patients within the clinical area and ensure that individualised care plans and pathways have been written and implemented.
- Ensure availability for patients to discuss specific issues and develop patient feedback systems whereby the quality of patient experience can be monitored and continual improvements delivered. Engage with the MSLC and other patient user groups to support this objective.
- Liaise with the wider Trust network and ensure integration of the real time patient feedback system within the defined area of responsibility.
- To act in the absence of the Head of Midwifery.
- Responsible for effective communication systems within the defined clinical area and ensure effective and efficient team working within the multi-disciplinary framework.
- Develop effective working relationships with all members of the multi-disciplinary team including external agencies to ensure seamless care pathways for all women
- To identify client needs and expectations and be responsive to those in development of the designated clinical area.
- To ensure Child Protection Policies are adhered to within the clinical environment and all Child Protection concerns communicated to the Named Midwife for Child Protection.
- To manage resources effectively and efficiently within the agreed budget allocation.
- To supervise the maintenance of stores and equipment. With due regard for the budget, requisition supplies, repairs and replacement of equipment. Take responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of supplies and equipment
- Ensure all staff are aware of and deliver proper and economic use of equipment and supplies.
- Have overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of data entry for clinical area, including generating statistics. Ensure these are disseminated appropriately.
- To undertake staff recruitment in liaison with the Recruitment and Retention Midwife and the wider Trust Recruitment and Retention team.
- To develop, agree and implement service objectives for their designated clinical area with the wider midwifery management team, the Service Director and Clinical Director.
- Ensure staffing rotas provide 24 hour cover within agreed staffing establishments and make recommendations and adjustments as necessary to ensure safety at all times.
- To lead service improvements relevant to the area of responsibility.
- Develop, deliver and implement action plans for improvement to services within the defined area of responsibility. These should be developed from recommendations as set out in national guidance e.g. NICE, CEMACH, NCEPOD, HCC, as well as Trust strategies and guidance.
- Lead any short term action groups with remit to deliver service improvements within the defined area of responsibility.
- Provide clinical leadership on a day to day basis, gaining and maintaining respect and support of all colleagues.
- Ensure professional behaviour at all times and act as an expert role model in all aspects of work.
- Demonstrate expert knowledge and practice in relation to care of women ensuring that practical midwifery skills and knowledge are based on up to date research and evidence. Community and Birth Centre Matron - Job description November 2018 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 7
- Utilising this expert knowledge, support and inform other staff in their decision making relating to patient care.
- Monitor practice within the defined area of responsibility through audit and formulate action plans based upon recommendations.
- Ensure that all policies, guidelines and protocols relevant to the area of responsibility are up to date and in line with current research evidence.
- Ensure that there is an Infection Control Lead Professional (ICLP) for each area and support them in ensuring that all audits relevant to infection control are completed and that high standards of cleanliness are maintained at all times.
- Provide leadership and role model excellence in infection control particularly in relation to hand washing and hand hygiene. Challenge others if poor hand hygiene is demonstrated.
- Develop and implement strategies in conjunction with the ICLP for ensuring excellence in cleanliness and hygiene standards within the defined area of responsibility.
Clinical Governance
- Manage resources to facilitate local and national audit, surveys and clinical trials that come through the Maternity Clinical Effectiveness Group.
- To intervene and where necessary, investigate and act on complaints in accordance with the Trusts Complaints Procedure on behalf of the Head of Midwifery. Ensure delegated formal complaints are investigated professionally, promptly and thoroughly and responses delivered to a high quality standard within the agreed timeframe.
- To ensure that Health and Safety Policies and Procedures are implemented and meet the responsibilities lay down by the Health and Safety at Work Act. Community and Birth Centre Matron - Job description November 2018 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 8 2.4 To work with the maternity management team in developing and implementing a Total Quality approach to service provision.
- Monitor and process clinical incidents and accidents relevant to the area of responsibility and report outstanding issues to the Managers Meeting every week. Undertake prompt investigations and reviews and complete management investigation reports in conjunction with the Clinical Risk Manager as per the Trust Policies and within the Trust agreed timeframe. Any deviation from the timeframe should be escalated to the Clinical Risk Manager and the Head of Midwifery.
- Formulate and agree learning forums and actions arising out of clinical incidents, accidents and complaints to ensure that incident reporting is seen as a positive tool and that the working environment is continually evolving in line with recommendations. Attend the Maternity Services Meeting and report bimonthly/monthly as required.
- Ensure any report writing is carried out to a high standard. Reports should be written in a coherent manner, using a methodical approach, high level of literacy and appropriate use of grammar.
- Formulate gap analysis and action plans when National guidance and reports are published which are relevant to the defined area of responsibility. Work with relevant personnel to ensure that recommendations to changes in practice in light of research and developments are implemented and embedded in practice.
- Act as co-chair of the maternity safety group.
- To contribute to the Maternity governance meetings representing the issues relating to the defined area of responsibility.
- Responsible for contribution to the development and implementation of policies and guidelines for the care of women.
- Ensure that all new staff are orientated effectively to the area and awareness made of all local guidelines and policies and Trust policies e.g. Fire, Major Incident Planning, Infection Control Community and Birth Centre Matron - Job description November 2018 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 9
- Contribute to the maintenance of information systems relating to Confidential Enquiries into Maternal and Child Health in which maternal and neonatal deaths are reported.
- To encourage, develop and monitor audit in the area in order to integrate relevant findings into the practice of the department.
Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Managerial
- To have overall operational responsibility for a defined clinical area
- To directly-line manage the midwifery staff of the defined clinical area
- On a daily basis ensure that the clinical area is being co-ordinated effectively and be highly visible within the defined clinical area for staff, patients and visitors alike
- Have acknowledge of the in-patients within the clinical area and ensure that individualised care plans and pathways have been written and implemented.
- Ensure availability for patients to discuss specific issues and develop patient feedback systems whereby the quality of patient experience can be monitored and continual improvements delivered. Engage with the MSLC and other patient user groups to support this objective.
- Liaise with the wider Trust network and ensure integration of the real time patient feedback system within the defined area of responsibility.
- To act in the absence of the Head of Midwifery.
- Responsible for effective communication systems within the defined clinical area and ensure effective and efficient team working within the multi-disciplinary framework.
- Develop effective working relationships with all members of the multi-disciplinary team including external agencies to ensure seamless care pathways for all women
- To identify client needs and expectations and be responsive to those in development of the designated clinical area.
- To ensure Child Protection Policies are adhered to within the clinical environment and all Child Protection concerns communicated to the Named Midwife for Child Protection.
- To manage resources effectively and efficiently within the agreed budget allocation.
- To supervise the maintenance of stores and equipment. With due regard for the budget, requisition supplies, repairs and replacement of equipment. Take responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of supplies and equipment
- Ensure all staff are aware of and deliver proper and economic use of equipment and supplies.
- Have overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of data entry for clinical area, including generating statistics. Ensure these are disseminated appropriately.
- To undertake staff recruitment in liaison with the Recruitment and Retention Midwife and the wider Trust Recruitment and Retention team.
- To develop, agree and implement service objectives for their designated clinical area with the wider midwifery management team, the Service Director and Clinical Director.
- Ensure staffing rotas provide 24 hour cover within agreed staffing establishments and make recommendations and adjustments as necessary to ensure safety at all times.
- To lead service improvements relevant to the area of responsibility.
- Develop, deliver and implement action plans for improvement to services within the defined area of responsibility. These should be developed from recommendations as set out in national guidance e.g. NICE, CEMACH, NCEPOD, HCC, as well as Trust strategies and guidance.
- Lead any short term action groups with remit to deliver service improvements within the defined area of responsibility.
- Provide clinical leadership on a day to day basis, gaining and maintaining respect and support of all colleagues.
- Ensure professional behaviour at all times and act as an expert role model in all aspects of work.
- Demonstrate expert knowledge and practice in relation to care of women ensuring that practical midwifery skills and knowledge are based on up to date research and evidence. Community and Birth Centre Matron - Job description November 2018 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 7
- Utilising this expert knowledge, support and inform other staff in their decision making relating to patient care.
- Monitor practice within the defined area of responsibility through audit and formulate action plans based upon recommendations.
- Ensure that all policies, guidelines and protocols relevant to the area of responsibility are up to date and in line with current research evidence.
- Ensure that there is an Infection Control Lead Professional (ICLP) for each area and support them in ensuring that all audits relevant to infection control are completed and that high standards of cleanliness are maintained at all times.
- Provide leadership and role model excellence in infection control particularly in relation to hand washing and hand hygiene. Challenge others if poor hand hygiene is demonstrated.
- Develop and implement strategies in conjunction with the ICLP for ensuring excellence in cleanliness and hygiene standards within the defined area of responsibility.
Clinical Governance
- Manage resources to facilitate local and national audit, surveys and clinical trials that come through the Maternity Clinical Effectiveness Group.
- To intervene and where necessary, investigate and act on complaints in accordance with the Trusts Complaints Procedure on behalf of the Head of Midwifery. Ensure delegated formal complaints are investigated professionally, promptly and thoroughly and responses delivered to a high quality standard within the agreed timeframe.
- To ensure that Health and Safety Policies and Procedures are implemented and meet the responsibilities lay down by the Health and Safety at Work Act. Community and Birth Centre Matron - Job description November 2018 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 8 2.4 To work with the maternity management team in developing and implementing a Total Quality approach to service provision.
- Monitor and process clinical incidents and accidents relevant to the area of responsibility and report outstanding issues to the Managers Meeting every week. Undertake prompt investigations and reviews and complete management investigation reports in conjunction with the Clinical Risk Manager as per the Trust Policies and within the Trust agreed timeframe. Any deviation from the timeframe should be escalated to the Clinical Risk Manager and the Head of Midwifery.
- Formulate and agree learning forums and actions arising out of clinical incidents, accidents and complaints to ensure that incident reporting is seen as a positive tool and that the working environment is continually evolving in line with recommendations. Attend the Maternity Services Meeting and report bimonthly/monthly as required.
- Ensure any report writing is carried out to a high standard. Reports should be written in a coherent manner, using a methodical approach, high level of literacy and appropriate use of grammar.
- Formulate gap analysis and action plans when National guidance and reports are published which are relevant to the defined area of responsibility. Work with relevant personnel to ensure that recommendations to changes in practice in light of research and developments are implemented and embedded in practice.
- Act as co-chair of the maternity safety group.
- To contribute to the Maternity governance meetings representing the issues relating to the defined area of responsibility.
- Responsible for contribution to the development and implementation of policies and guidelines for the care of women.
- Ensure that all new staff are orientated effectively to the area and awareness made of all local guidelines and policies and Trust policies e.g. Fire, Major Incident Planning, Infection Control Community and Birth Centre Matron - Job description November 2018 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 9
- Contribute to the maintenance of information systems relating to Confidential Enquiries into Maternal and Child Health in which maternal and neonatal deaths are reported.
- To encourage, develop and monitor audit in the area in order to integrate relevant findings into the practice of the department.
Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Professional knowledge acquired through a degree or diploma, supplemented by specialist training
- Masters or equivalent qualification/experience
- Teaching and assessing qualification
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Leadership qualification
Experience
Essential
- Post registration clinical experience
- Operational Management experience in an acute hospital setting
- Experience of developing policies and protocols
- Experience in staff recruitment, appraisal and personal development planning
- Experience in managing performance, capability, sickness, grievance and disciplinary processes
- Budgetary management experience
Desirable
- Understanding of quality assurance and experience in leading change, innovation and practice development
- Experience in skill-mix review and workforce planning
- Experience of leading service development projects
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of key performance measures relating to Midwifery
- Ability to organise, plan and prioritise workload to meet deadlines
Desirable
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Professional knowledge acquired through a degree or diploma, supplemented by specialist training
- Masters or equivalent qualification/experience
- Teaching and assessing qualification
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Leadership qualification
Experience
Essential
- Post registration clinical experience
- Operational Management experience in an acute hospital setting
- Experience of developing policies and protocols
- Experience in staff recruitment, appraisal and personal development planning
- Experience in managing performance, capability, sickness, grievance and disciplinary processes
- Budgetary management experience
Desirable
- Understanding of quality assurance and experience in leading change, innovation and practice development
- Experience in skill-mix review and workforce planning
- Experience of leading service development projects
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of key performance measures relating to Midwifery
- Ability to organise, plan and prioritise workload to meet deadlines
Desirable
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).