Divisional Director of Maternity & Child Health

Job responsibilities

Professional Leadership & Governance

• The post holder will have responsibility for multiple departments/services across the Division and will provide professional leadership to nursing/midwifery/AHP and nonmedical clinicians.
• Lead responsibility to ensure all nursing/midwifery/AHP and nonmedical clinicians adhere to their professional codes of conduct, addressing concerns or poor performance to maintain patient safety, outcomes and experience.
• Divisional Lead for Infection Prevention and Control to minimise the risk of hospitalacquired infection.
• Responsible and accountable for designing, developing and implementing a robust system to evidence and monitor nursing/midwifery/AHP and nonmedical contribution to national and local strategic objectives.
• Responsible and accountable for analysing and interpreting complex and sensitive data from acuity and dependency tools to determine staffing establishments and clinical quality and safety.
• Responsible and accountable for implementing a robust system of monitoring and continuous improvement aligned to the Trust Ward Accreditation Scheme.
• Develop a culture encouraging innovation, creativity and professional challenge in the interests of patient care and practice.
• Ensure Nursing and Clinical Practice is compliant with national standards (NICE, CNST, CQC etc.).
• Act as a role model, upholding high standards of professional behaviour and maintaining clinical knowledge and skills.
• Integrate corporate nursing/midwifery/AHP and nonmedical clinical plans with Divisional service plans.
• Ensure professional agendas are delivered through leadership of Lead Nurses, Matrons, Senior Nurses and key AHP and nonmedical clinicians.
• Ensure self and staff are compliant with PDR, mandatory training and revalidation.
• Ensure quality of care meets agreed standards and provide divisional responses to poor clinical or professional standards.
• Analyse external and internal data (complaints, National Strategy, CQC, CNST/NHSLA) and make expert judgements on patient safety.
• Analyse, synthesise and present complex information (including surveillance/data graphs) to influence key Trust decisions.
• Jointly lead, as part of the divisional triumvirate, the development of Divisional Strategies responsive to internal/external drivers and contributing to the wider Health Economy agenda.
• Provide reports and recommendations to the Divisional Management Team, Corporate Meetings and Trust Board.
• Advise and update Executive Directors, Trust Board subcommittees and professional forums on strategies to achieve Divisional and corporate objectives.
• Divisional lead for patient experience and user involvement.
• Lead and monitor divisional responses to complaints and serious untoward incidents, agreeing and monitoring action plans.
• Lead the Divisions Public and Patient Engagement and Experience plans, fostering a culture where this is valued across all departments and disciplines.
• Monitor and report on Divisional progress against Trust Nursing, Risk and Quality Strategies, driving change where required.
• Ensure the Division meets its equality and diversity duties.

Communication & Key Relationships

• Facilitate and lead effective communication of complex, challenging and contentious information internally and externally.
• Assist the Chief Nursing Officer, Chief AHP and Deputy Chief Nursing Officer in delivering National, Regional and Local professional strategic objectives, taking lead responsibility for the Division.
• As Divisional Lead for Infection Prevention and Control, collaborate closely with the Corporate IPC Team to deliver the annual plan.
• Divisional Lead for Safeguarding Adults and Children, working with the Head of Safeguarding to deliver the Safeguarding Strategy.
• Collaborate with the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer on educational programmes aligned to Trust and Divisional strategic aims.
• Responsible for midwifery/nursing/AHP contributions to Divisional Assurance Executive Team Meetings (DDOP, DMD, DDON).
• Ensure Trust KPIs are achieved, supporting the Divisional Management Team in managing Lead Nurses/Midwives, Matrons, Senior Nurses/Midwives and key AHP and nonmedical clinicians.
• Provide expert advice to the Division on all professional matters, coopting appropriate professionals as required.
• Achieve strong relationships between the Trust and the population it serves, ensuring patients are central to healthcare decisions.
• Achieve strong relationships between the Trust, CCG and NHSEI to ensure patients and staff are central to healthcare decisions.
• Maintain excellent relationships with ICB, Local Authority teams and other stakeholders to ensure a positive Trust image.
• Consult with healthcare partners to consider capacity across the area, reviewing demand, access, clinical capacity and performance to optimise resource use.

Responsibility for Finance

• Jointly accountable with triumvirate colleagues for monitoring nursing/midwifery/AHP and nonmedical financial resources across multiple services, ensuring balance to budget.
• Accountable for identifying and delivering Cost Improvement Schemes without negatively impacting patient safety or quality.
• Review and ensure timely, appropriate use of pay and nonpay resources to maximise efficiency and optimise care delivery.

Responsibility for Human Resources

• Use workload information to identify staffing and skillmix requirements and implement systems supporting talent management, role development and workforce planning aligned to Trust and Divisional strategy.
• Professionally accountable for effective use of nursing/midwifery/AHP and nonmedical resources, contributing to continuous improvement and productivity.
• Line manage senior midwifery, nursing and AHP staff (consultant nurses, ACPs, Lead/Specialist Midwives, nurses & AHPs, matrons, senior midwives/nurses), undertaking performance reviews and PDPs.
• Provide constructive feedback and take remedial action where performance falls below required standards.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, supervision and shadowing opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to develop nursing, midwifery and AHP roles beyond traditional boundaries to enhance patient experience and staff potential.
• Develop job descriptions and recruit to posts in line with Trust policy.
• Chair interview panels and lead recruitment for the divisional clinical workforce, supporting wider Trust recruitment as required.
• Ensure divisional HR performance monitoring reports (IPR, vacancy reports) are comprehensive and submitted on time.
• Assist in resolving conflicts within the Division and wider Trust.
• Conduct disciplinary hearings and make decisions up to and including dismissal.
• Professionally accountable for compliance with professional codes of conduct and ensure appropriate action in cases of misconduct, including referral to professional bodies where necessary.

Responsibility for Health & Safety

• Ensure all employees report accidents, complaints, equipment defects, near misses and untoward incidents in line with Trust procedure.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation including COSHH, Workplace Risk Assessments, RIDDOR etc.

Responsibility for Education

• Responsible for developing and delivering the education and training needs analysis within the Division.
• Ensure effective care is delivered by appropriately trained and competent nursing/midwifery/AHP and support staff.
• Participate in developing others through training, education and development.
• Implement development of nonmedical research and audit across the Division.
• Promote a culture of learning, research and evidencebased practice to reduce clinical variation and improve quality of care.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Midwife with current NMC registration
• Degree in Midwifery subject or relevant experience
• Master's degree or working towards or relevant experience

Desirable

• RSCN/RN
• Leadership and/or management qualification
• Concise investigation training

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience at a senior Midwife level including strategy development, budgetary control and clinical leadership
• Evidence of high level of professional credibility
• Experience of implementing governance structures/risk management
• Experience of partnership working
• Experience of facilitating and leading organisational change
• Experience of multi-agency and system wide working
• Experience of managing high level risk stratification

Desirable

• Experience of working in different provider/commissioning organisations Safeguarding leadership role

Skills

Essential

• Experience of a high level of communication skills that have influenced strategic direction across services/teams/organisation that have brought about innovation and improved outcomes
• To have experience, credibility and skills in co-production working as equal Page 2 of 3 members of a senior leadership team whilst maintaining integrity for their accountable and responsible areas.
• Evidence of significant recent strategic leadership the midwifery profession
• Evidence of having professionally led a range of services
• Proven experience of leading and delivering teams /services that deliver improved outcomes and Track record of meeting organisational targets.
• Evidence of leading high-level strategies that drive improved outcomes across populations
• High level of emotional intelligence and ability to manage sensitive and contentious information
• Ability to interpretate complex information and adjust strategic plans to ensure successful delivery of objectives within timescales.
• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking in the analysis of data and in behaviour of self and others.
• Proven transformational leadership skills across a range of services.
• Evidence of compassionate and caring leadership skills which results in an empowered workforce.
• Ability to manage multiple complex transformational change projects
• Excellent time management skills
• Experience in motivating others

Desirable

• Experience of working in different provider/commissioning organisations Safeguarding leadership role

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of knowledge of the Infection Prevention and Control agenda
• Evidence of knowledge of the Safeguarding agenda
• Evidence of knowledge of national, regional and local strategic drivers for change with respect to professional workforce and models of care
• Evidence of continuous professional and/or personal development

Additional

Essential

• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Assertive and decisive
• Ability to work well under pressure and prioritises effectively
• Resilience
• Able to participate on relevant on call rota

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).